RWT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Dyke ( Swyddog Prosiect Yr Afanc Yng Nghymru Ymddiriedolaethau Natur Cymru )
Alicia has been the Wildlife Trusts Wales (WTW) Welsh Beaver Project Officer since 2016. With over 10 years of experience working with beavers, Alicia is well placed at looking into the feasibility of re-introducing beavers to Wales.
Job Titles:
- Finance Manager
- Member of the Finance Team
Andrew joined the Trust in April 2025, combining his lifelong interest in nature with over four decades of experience in finance and small business support. Having run his accountancy practice for many years, he enjoys helping organisations work smarter through clear financial planning and cloud-based systems. Originally from South Africa, Andrew has a deep connection to conservation and wildlife. Outside of work, he's a keen wildlife photographer and ran wildlife photo tours in Panama and Namibia. He's proud to be contributing his skills to a cause he cares deeply about.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Finance Team
- Fundraising & Communications Manager
Becca joined the team in May 2022. She now manages the admin and communications team. Most of the time Becca is working on applications, and improvements behind the scenes.
Bill retired as a Senior Civil Servant at the end of 2011. He was on the Management Board of Defra (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) for 9 years and before that he was the UK's Deputy Ambassador to the EU.
Bill was Chair of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust from 2011 to 2015 and Vice-Chair from 2016-20.
Bill completed walking the 870 miles of the Wales Coast Path in June 2019. It took him 8 years in all seasons and weathers!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Land and Farm Advisors Team
This is Caroline's second stint with RWT, previously working on the Green Connections project as a consultant, and as Conservation Manager, which fulfilled a lifetime ambition!
Prior to moving to Wales in 2021, Caroline worked for 21 years with the RSPB as an Education Officer and for 6 years at the Barnet Environment Centre. Caroline delights in sharing her passion for nature and has taught over 100,000 children and adults during her career. Over that period Caroline has worked on other nature reserves and Birkbeck College, London University, as a senior lecturer in ecology, conservation, environmental education and interpretation and as a course coordinator, delivering courses to BSC and MSc students on nature reserves.
Living in the middle of an upland farming area Caroline is aware of the pressures farmers are facing. She has spent time getting to know the farmers in her area, finding out what is working for wildlife, where improvements can be made and offering support when needed.
Caroline is an experienced birder and naturalist with a passion for Wales and all its wildlife. She is currently surveying her local area for Cudyll Cymru.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Finance Team
- Office Manager
Catrin first started as a volunteer trainee in 2022, and has gone on to run two youth projects at RWT. She has worked as part of the Green Connections project, written blogs for an organic farm, and spent the summer working as a Gilfach warden. She is fluent in Welsh and loves teaching people about Welsh names for wildlife!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Reserves and Conservation Team
- Pentwyn Project Officer
Chloe has moved onto the exciting new role of Pentwyn Project Officer for the Trust. She started working for RWT in April 2021, and really enjoyed both of her previous roles. She has an enthusiasm for wildlife and excellent engagement skills which she utilises to work with the local community in her new role.
Job Titles:
- Wilder Lugg Project Officer
Coming from a role in consultant Ecology, Dan is our new Wilder Lugg project Officer and will be working with the local community to develop a vision for a sustainable future in the upper Lugg catchment. From a farming background, Dan is passionate about rural communities and conservation working together.
With a background in the arts, land-work, ecology and currently studying an MSc in Sustainability & Ecology at the Centre of Alternative Technology, Machynlleth - Dan hopes to put his diverse range of skills to use in this exciting new role. Passionate about Wales and its people and having spent time travelling and living overseas, Dan now looks forward to putting his efforts into the beautiful landscapes of mid Wales.
Edmund is Bursar to a monastery, administering that charity's financial, property and commercial affairs. He has qualifications in tax and accountancy and previously was a self-employed taxation and business adviser, primarily doing sub-contract work for accountants and solicitors.
Edmund has been Honorary Secretary of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust since 1991.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Assistant
- Member of the Finance Team
Elin joined us in 2024 and is thrilled to support RWT's digital marketing efforts. With previous volunteer experience in campaigns and fundraising with the Trust, she's well-prepared for the role. Elin's love for nature and the Welsh countryside drives her commitment to our mission.
Gafyn is a rural practice chartered surveyor and land agent.
Job Titles:
- Community Wildlife Officer
Grace has completed a bachelor's degree in wildlife conservation at the university of Kent. She started working with the RWT in May 2024 as Reserves Intern for the Green Future Leaders project and is excited to take on her new role of Community Wildlife Officer at the Trust. She is enthusiastic about wildlife and is looking forward to working with local communities within the extraordinary landscapes on Radnorshire.
James was formerly Estates Senior Manager at Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, where he worked since 2016. In this post he was responsible, amongst other things, for the overall management and strategic development of 54 nature reserves, covering more than 500 hectares of land.
Before moving to Herefordshire, he spent eight years as Reserves Officer at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, having started his career in 2004 in a similar role at BBOWT, the trust covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Jen is originally from Dorset and first began her career volunteering with her local Wildlife Trust, which is where it all began. She fell in love with Radnorshire during family holidays as a child and moved to the area in 2016.
During her career she has worked as a Countryside Ranger on the South West Coast Path National Trail, as a Tree Surgeon for a County Council, a Lecturer in an Agricultural college, and as an Area Ranger in North Dorset, where she managed Nature Reserves and Rights of Way. Jen currently works in the Elan Valley, managing a team of Rangers on the 72 square mile estate.
Jen currently lives in Rhayader and remains a regular volunteer with RWT on their many reserves.
Joss Garman joined the board in January 2024. Currently the Executive Director of the European Climate Foundation, he has worked at the intersection of environmental campaigns, policy, politics and philanthropy for twenty years including through leadership roles in Greenpeace and the Institute for Public Policy Research. He has been named as one of the UK's most influential voices on climate change by Politico, The Sunday Times and The Guardian.
Born and raised in Radnorshire, where some of his family still live, he is frequently out and about exploring RWT reserves with his wife and two sons.
Leigh began his career as an analytical chemist and lab manager in the water industry, specializing in detecting pesticide residues and other persistent organic pollutants like PCBs. He then transitioned to environmental management, becoming an Environmental Auditor for Powys County Council's "Green Dragon®" environmental management scheme.
During his tenure, he recognized the significant environmental impact of light pollution from street lighting. Powys held Green Dragon level 5 accreditation, equivalent to the European Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), which required an annual environmental report. This report highlighted the energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and wildlife impact of street lighting.
Upon retiring in 2018, Leigh focused on improving lighting quality in his hometown of Presteigne by installing Dark Skies compliant lighting. In January 2024, Presteigne and Norton became the first International Dark Sky Community in mainland Wales and England. He continues to promote Dark Skies through the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust's Dark Sky Working Group, encouraging other communities to follow suit.
Leigh also monitors river water quality and supports the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust's efforts to address pollution in the Wye and Lugg rivers. In his spare time, he enjoys astronomy and is an active member of the Marches Astronomy Group and the "Caring for God's Acre" churchyard task team, where he is improving his scything skills.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Land and Farm Advisors Team
Rhys is a lifelong naturalist and has spent ten years as a land manager and conservation consultant in Radnorshire and Ceredigion, helping improving woodland, wetland and meadows throughout the seasons. He has been involved with successful species reintroduction programmes and is an accomplished field-sign detective. He has a particular affinity for the mustelid family, but also for fish, birds and moths.
Rhys loves to be outside, boots on the ground, whether it be working on surveys, livestock management, hedgelaying, shelter construction, wetland creation or pond maintenance. Concerned with climate issues, the depopulation of the rural uplands and dilution of its culture, Rhys hopes to put his experience and love for the land and its people to good use in his role as Farm and Land Advisor.
Richard has built a career in access management for statutory agencies, working for Natural England and latterly Natural Resources Wales.
He also runs a small mixed farm, near Painscastle, grazing traditional Dexter cattle and growing ancient grains.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Reserves and Conservation Team
- Reserves Officer
Robert has completed a master's degree in conservation and land management at Bangor University. He also completed a placement as a full-time volunteer ranger for the National Trust South Devon coast and countryside team, which led onto a seasonal assistant ranger position. These roles included wildlife monitoring, visitor engagement and hosting events, site maintenance, and practical conservation, including leading a weekly volunteer team. He is excited to take on the position of Reserves Officer at RWT, and to explore some of the stunning locations the area has to offer!
Rosie has been a Trustee for Radnorshire Wildlife Trust for 2 years and has a background as a conservationist, and worked as a senior civil servant at Natural England. She's a strong campaigner, and also acts as Chair for the Badger Trust.
Job Titles:
- Wye Adapt to Climate Change? Project Officer
Sarenta has undertaken a master's degree in marine biology at the University of Bangor and has an undergraduate degree in wildlife conservation with zoo biology. She also undertook a placement as a full-time research volunteer in the herpetology department at Bristol Zoo, which inspired her to undertake research on common frog genetics and conservation. Sarenta is passionate about wildlife and enjoys working with farmers and local communities. She's now looking forward to her new role as a Wye Adapt to Climate Change? Project Officer for RWT and exploring more of Radnorshire's stunning landscape.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Reserves and Conservation Team
- Head of Conservation )
Silvia has been with RWT since 2018, when she started as the Exploring Gilfach Assistant Project Officer, since then she has had many hats, and delivered many projects; from Black Grouse, to Toads and moths, as well as youth work and habitat management. Silvia's Romanian background has helped her understand the importance of conserving Radnorshire's wildlife and the positive impact that people working together can have. Her environmental degree and extensive experience in biodiversity work have given her a deep understanding of key issues, threats to biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change on UK habitats. In some of her previous roles, Silvia has worked with landowners both to learn from them as well as to understand their work. She is aware of the current issues that farming in Wales faces, and is always ready to extend her understanding of Welsh agricultural trends and concerns, agri-environmental schemes, and agricultural policies.
Sue joined the board in May 2023 and is Chair Designate until the AGM. Sue has been in the nature conservation sector since the early 1990s. After nine years at the National Trust, Sue was CEO of the Woodland Trust for almost nine years. She also worked for Earthwatch, the Chilterns AONB and DEFRA. She has been trustee of a number of charities and has been on the Boards of a National Park and an AONB. Sue has a small farm in the Brecon Beacons where she and her husband are making improvements to help nature. These include restoring some ancient woodland and creation new woodland. They are also reinstating hedgerows and shelter belts to help lesser horseshoe bats because the farm is in between three maternity roosts of European significance.
For the last 25 years or so, Victoria has built a career in the financial services industry in London. Her last role was Head of Institutional for Artemis Investment Management. Whilst she may not have a background in conservation, a passion for nature restoration has helped build knowledge and life on a farm has provided some hands-on experience.
She hopes that her experience, knowledge and skillset will bring a different perspective to the management of the Trust.