Meet the team

David's journey with the Trust began in 2007, when he joined as an Education, Wildlife, and Outreach Officer in Hackney. He played a pivotal role in the development and delivery of Woodberry and Walthamstow Wetlands.

Over time, his role evolved to Director of Development, where he led the Fundraising and Marketing teams. As well as managing the development of London Wildlife Trust’s large-scale natural heritage and habitat restoration projects across London. David was appointed as CEO in 2023.

David's expertise extends to forging partnerships across the public, private, and charity sectors. He is passionate about nature recovery and reconnecting people to the natural world. Focusing on the transformation of urban spaces to benefit both people and wildlife.

Katie is an experienced senior leader in the not-for-profit sector, with extensive experience in Fundraising, Marketing and Communications. She specialises in delivering strategy and transformation programmes, and has held senior roles at British Red Cross, Diabetes UK and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity and has worked in a range of other UK charities including NSPCC and Bliss. She is a member of the advisory panel for Missing People and a trustee for Tree Aid.

Sam brings extensive experience in biodiversity and green infrastructure policy and delivery, with much of her career dedicated to nature recovery in London. Before joining the Trust as Director of Nature Recovery, she was the strategic lead on biodiversity at the London Borough of Waltham Forest, shaping policy and action to enhance urban nature.

Prior to this, Sam led the Greater London Authority’s biodiversity and rewilding programmes, where she established the Mayor’s Rewild London Fund. A passionate advocate for urban wildlife and connecting people with natural spaces, she has a particular interest in how ecologically led design can create resilient and wildlife-rich cities.

Mathew leads on developing the Trust’s collaborative research programme and evidence-led nature recovery work in London. He works to identify research partnerships that can enhance our understanding of habitat management and species reintroduction, ensuring our nature recovery efforts are measurable and effective.

In addition to his research role, Mathew is developing a digital archive of the Trust’s historical resources, preserving decades of knowledge for future nature recovery practitioners. He also provides ongoing support and mentoring to the wider team, sharing his extensive expertise gained over more than three decades in the sector.

Fascinated by the relationship between nature and society in cities, Mathew first joined the Trust in 1988, and has since served three terms as a member of staff, and (between 2002-09) as a trustee. He is a Full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management, Society for the Environment, and a Green Flag Award judge.

Charlie joined London Wildlife Trust in October 2021 having worked closely over the previous four years mobilising and managing Walthamstow Wetlands as a partnership project with the London Borough of Waltham Forest. 

Her background is in events and hospitality, with extensive experience managing cafés, high-profile events and overseeing visitor operations across a range of unique London heritage venues. 

Responsible for the operational management of the Trust's visitor centre nature reserves; Walthamstow, Woodberry and Camley Street as well as generating commercial income through a programme of ticketed events, private hire, retail and cafés.

With an emphasis on visitor experience, she is focused on developing the customer journey across all our reserves. Ensuring that visitors feel welcomed and engaged with a diverse offer that appeals to a broad range of audiences across London and beyond.

Rufus joined ITV in 2011 as Group Marketing and Research Director, leading a transformation of all of ITV’s marketing and research activities. In January 2013, ITV rebranded its entire business, creating a multi-award winning identity and leading to a new marketing approach across all of ITV’s touch points. This work has led to ITV winning Media Week’s brand of the year, Drum’s rebrand of the year, the Grand Prix at the Transform Awards and ITV’s first ever IPA Effectiveness Award. More recently Rufus oversaw the marketing of ITV’s first new channel launches for over eight years, as well as the re-launch of on-demand service ITV Hub.

Rufus previously spent 10 years at Channel 4. Joining as part of E4’s launch marketing team, Rufus played a key role in the launch of one of the UK’s most successful youth brands, winning Media Week’s launch of the year. Rufus helped lead the further development of the Channel 4 family with the launch of More4 and the pioneering 4oD service.

Rufus started his career in advertising, working at McCann Erickson and JWT as an account manager, working on blue chip FMCG clients including Kellogg, L’Oreal and Nescafe, as well as Gulf Air’s first ever UK advertising using the language skills he developed studying French and Arabic at Oxford University.

Stephen is a Non-Executive Director of the British Coatings Federation and currently runs his own Marketing and Business Consultancy. Formerly Global Marketing Director for the Trade Business in AkzoNobel’s Decorative Coatings Division, he retired in 2015, after 33 years of service.

With extensive knowledge of marketing, business, brand, and communication strategy and customer insight, he held previous roles as Director of Marketing in EMEA and UK Trade Marketing Director for AkzoNobel and ICI.

He has lived and worked in the UK and Malaysia and graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in chemistry followed by a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, when he joined ICI.

With a lifelong interest in nature and wildlife, Stephen firmly believes that engaging and demonstrating the awe and wonder of wildlife to people will ensure that wildlife flourishes and people enjoy the benefits in wellbeing that this brings. He wants to be an active part of the London Wildlife Trust which has a vital role in making this connection real and tangible for all Londoners in the short and long term.

Hannah is a chartered accountant with a background in audit and forensic accounting before moving to the not-for-profit sector 8 years ago. Since then she has been Head of Finance/Finance Director of several charities; her current role is at the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). When Hannah moved to London, she missed the countryside but soon realised that London has plenty of wildlife and green spaces of its own. Hannah really enjoys helping on task days at her local nature reserve and is a member of their Friends Committee which helps to manage the reserve. Hannah would love the opportunity to use her experience to help London’s wildlife to thrive.  

Marcus is an architect, masterplanner and Managing Partner of JTP; an award-winning UK architectural practice with studios in London and Bristol.

With 20 years’ strategic leadership experience, Marcus’s approach is founded on long-term vision, adaptability and resilience to challenges.  At JTP, he has overseen significant organisational change and growth, whilst establishing a people-first culture which has seen the practice recognised nationally as a best employer. 

With extensive experience of large-scale regeneration projects across the UK and internationally including new urban quarters, mixed-use neighbourhoods and garden communities he has created places that are ecologically rich and climate resilient, and that contribute to nature recovery and biodiversity net gain. Marcus strongly believes in meaningful community and stakeholder engagement and drives design excellence and innovation through participatory and collaborative co-design processes.

Marcus has long been a supporter of the London Wildlife Trust and has most recently collaborated with the Trust in creating new bio-diverse parkland at The Green Quarter in Southall.

In his role as Trustee, Marcus is committed to actively advocating for nature recovery initiatives and championing the value of wildlife and nature in the city.

Over the last ten years Kapila has championed the use of evidence in improving organisational decision-making. Most recently Kapila worked at the think tank Doteveryone and led their research on the gig economy and public attitudes to advocate for a more responsible technology sector. Prior to that Kapila worked at the disability charity Scope where he helped transform them into an evidence and impact led organisation. Before that Kapila started his career as an Economist in the public sector. He wants to be a trustee because he loves London, but dreams of it being wilder and more nature-friendly. He hopes to help the Trust make wildlife more accessible to more Londoners. 

Dani joined Netflix in 2018 and is currently Director of Marketing, Planning & Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to Netflix, Dani led marketing efforts at BAFTA and the BBC - working across high-profile nature programming including Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Great Barrier Reef, Big Blue Live and Wild Alaska Live. Over the last 10 years she has been committed to furthering the integration of climate topics and eco practices into the TV industry, and is passionate about inspiring and enabling connection with the natural world, through broadcasting and beyond. 

Outside of work, Dani is a travel writer and wildlife photographer, often found adventuring, trail running and exploring the wild spaces of North London. 

In 2020, Dani was named as one of the world’s most promising marketers in The Drum’s Future 50 List, and was selected for the Women In Film & TV mentoring scheme in 2022. In 2024, Dani was recognised as a Climate Changemaker by the Edinburgh International TV Festival for her contributions to climate awareness. Dani holds a certification in Sustainable Development from The Earth Institute at Columbia University, and a First Class Honours degree from King’s College London. 

Tony’s career in nature conservation encompassed a variety of roles with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), from threatened species breeding programmes, through to nature reserve management, visitor centre creation and operation, and as Chief Executive.



Tony was initially based at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire and later in Llanelli, where he delivered and operated WWT’s wetland based visitor centre in Wales, alongside the local authority. Then, back at Slimbridge, he was to manage the Millennium Conservation Visitor Centre and oversaw the creation and opening of the London Wetland Centre in Barnes in 2000, in partnership with Thames Water and Berkeley Homes. These were three quite different places to share his passion for birds and nature with new audiences, young and old alike.

In 2003, Tony became the RSPB’s Director for South West England, responsible for nature reserves, visitor centres and commercial operations throughout the region, until retiring in 2015. During his time in Exeter, he was on the Heritage Lottery Fund’s South West Committee and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership Board.

Since retiring in 2015, Tony has been a Trustee of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Chair of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and a Biffa Award Board member. He is currently Chair of the Isles of Scilly AONB Partnership.

Tony moved back to the Southeast three years ago and now lives in South West London, where he is discovering and rediscovering some wonderful urban and suburban nature rich sites, both locally and further afield in London.

Shara works at the European Climate Foundation in the UK Programme, supporting the UK climate community to ensure a fair transition to net zero emissions. Prior to joining the ECF, Shara has worked in various roles in policy and political campaigns in not-for-profit organisations. Shara started her career as a graduate at Green Alliance, an environmental think tank, working for the Greener UK coalition. Shara has lived in London for several years, after moving from her hometown in the Midlands, and is excited to support the Trust to empower citizens to connect with their local natural world.

Shara holds a BA in International Relations and a MSc in Sustainability and Consultancy.

Rachel is a Chartered Environmentalist with over 40 years’ experience in providing environment and sustainability advisory services. She has worked in the Property, Infrastructure and Government sectors, most of it in London and the Southeast. She has developed company environment and sustainability strategies and led their implementation, through engagement of staff and integration of processes, leading to the generation of significant environmental benefits.



Rachel has extensive experience over the full range of environment and sustainability disciplines, giving her a wide understanding of their application and integration to make a successful business. Her experience was instrumental in achieving the high standards of environment and sustainability performance in her roles on construction and operation of the High Speed 1 railway.  This was recognised nationally by two industry awards. She was the Winner of the National Rail Awards - Outstanding Personal Contribution (Management) award (2013) and received an MBE for Services to the Rail Industry (2014).



As a Client Representative for Environment and “critical friend” her interest in working as a Trustee developed. She is a currently a trustee for The Southwood Foundation in 2018, following her work assisting with the preparation of the application for Charitable status and developing relevant objects and strategies. Rachel is also helping to develop a volunteer hub, connecting volunteer ecologists with community groups requiring ecological advice, in Sussex with the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Andrew is currently Chief Impact Officer for Foodsteps, a London based tech company that provides environmental impact data for food. He founded foodmadegood.org and oneplanetplate.org during his tenure as CEO of the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA). The SRA is a London based not for profit organisation that helps hospitality businesses make better decisions for the planet and for wildlife.

Andrew has held board positions with the Zero Carbon Forum and WRAPs Courtauld Commitment. The common thread between all these is the focus on addressing the climate and nature crisis through changing our food system. Andrew brings knowledge of hospitality, food and climate and aims to help support the trusts hospitality work, and its use of food to engage new audiences in conservation.

Andrew is a geography graduate and has an MSc in Business Strategy and the Environment. He has two small children, Elijah and Maeve who share his love of animals and time spent in nature. He wants them to grow up in a world where nature and biodiversity are protected and once again thrive.

Kate currently works at Girlguiding in public affairs, policy and external affairs. She has a background in working on policy areas relating to young people, youth work and outdoor learning, alongside experience in advocacy and youth engagement. 

Kate has been involved in governance and trusteeship since she was 21, holding trustee roles at Royal Holloway Students' Union and PeaceJam UK before joining London Wildlife Trust. She was previously Chair of the Board of Trustees at Royal Holloway Students' Union. She is very passionate about encouraging more young people to become trustees, and has worked with the Young Trustees Movement as both an ambassador and a member of their Transition Board.

Kate studied physical geography at University and is very interested in how outdoor learning can support young people to connect with nature and feel its benefits. She has hands-on experience of the positive impact of outdoor learning, running a Ranger Guide group who regularly camp, hike and do outdoor activities. 

Charlotte is an Oil and Gas Campaigner at Oceana UK, an NGO fighting to protect UK seas. She works on public and parliamentary facing campaigns to end new oil and gas in the UK, and coordinates a coalition of over 60 NGOs, businesses and community groups to unite the marine voice in the fight against offshore drilling. 

She has held campaigns, research and writing roles at various environmental NGOs, working on environmental justice, fisheries transparency, food system reform and strengthening nature connection. 

Before joining the Trustee Board, Charlotte was part of the London Wildlife Trust Youth Board, working with other passionate young Londoners to tackle eco-anxiety and barriers to entering the nature sector. Her time on the Youth Board encouraged her to apply for the Trustee position, and she is very excited to be continuing her work with LWT! 

Charlotte spends as much time as possible birdwatching, hiking and sea swimming. She loves wildlife of all kinds - big and small - and is looking forward to making positive change for all life that calls London home. 

"I'm Alex and I'm 24 years old. This is my second year on the London Wildlife Trust Youth Board. I'm passionate about environmental recovery in our city and open access to nature. I am originally from the United States and work in the financial trading space." 

"My name is Anelechi and I am in my first year of university, studying Psychology. I decided to get involved with London Wildlife Trust because, as an aspiring human rights lawyer, I am aware that the climate crisis is a human rights crisis as well as an environmental crisis. In my free time, I love to explore parks and woodlands; therefore, as a young person, I believe it is important to maintain a culture to protect our wildlife."

"I’m 20 years old, and in my first year of university at SOAS, completing a Foundation Year before I go on to study Politics and International Relations. I'm autistic and so I have a particular interest in empowering neurodivergent and disabled young people within the wildlife and nature recovery sector. I am also currently a Young Advisor for Waltham Forest Council, interested in exploring the ways young people can influence politicians as well as nature and climate policy."

"I’m Jiya (she/her) and I'm currently researching how Manx Shearwaters are impacted by light pollution for my Master's Degree. This involves a lot of time with chicks and a lot of coding. Besides that, I love doing things in nature, like running, painting, and swimming in wild spaces. I have a love for the natural world, through both academic and recreational lenses, and hope to share that with others. Growing up in London meant a career in conservation wasn't immediately accessible to me, however others have helped me on the path to my goal. I want to learn more and help others too."

"I’m Julia and I am really happy to be part of the London Wildlife Trust Youth Board this year! I believe the planet has given us so much beauty and resources to us that it's time to show some much-needed love back​! I am Scottish and half Mongolian- a developing country which has historically been nomadic. Due to Mongolia’s nomadic nature culturally, we have been very dependent on our environment and weather conditions. This has led to all of our literature, poems, art and culture to have nature at its core and same with Scotland’s natural beauty!  In my day job I work in an environment team and have had multiple experiences in advocacy and youth engagement to stand up for the environment."

"I’m Lily and I’m from Lewisham. I have recently graduated with an MSci in Biology following the completion of my research project on the sensory capabilities of bumblebees and the resulting implications for conservation efforts. I am so excited to be a part of the London Wildlife Trust Youth Board! I am looking forward to being a part of a unit of passionate people working towards a greener and more sustainable future for London."

"My name is Liza and I am in my last year of sixth form, studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Chemistry. I found my love for nature from gardening at home and hiking in the countryside for Duke of Edinburgh. It is my first year on the Youth Board, and I am excited to get more young people into caring for the environment. Outside of the Board, I am a social media manager for EcoCounts and head of Eco Society at my school."

"I'm 20 years old and currently studying Economics at university. I'm interested in sustainability, climate change, and how decision-making on individual and societal levels can help us overcome environmental challenges. I hope to use my position on the Youth Board to contribute to some of this decision-making, alongside other talented young people, working together to help build a London that exists in tandem with nature."

"Having lived in cities all my life, doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award was my first foray into nature and wildlife. Since then, my love for the outdoors has grown, and I chose to do a sustainability apprenticeship - working to solve environmental and sustainability issues- whilst studying for a BSc in Environmental Science. Nature provides us with innumerable resources and benefits - ecological, financial, emotional, and physical - but for many of us, especially those who live in cities, nature tends to exist on the periphery, rather than as an integrated and acknowledged aspect of our lives. I'm really excited to be joining the Youth Board, and for this opportunity to support the work of London Wildlife Trust in championing London's nature recovery and enabling more Londoners, including the next generation, to access and experience nature."

"Some of my best memories have been formed in nature. I am so excited to be able to give back to the nature reserves that have brought me so much joy, especially through the intense time of sixth form. I want to be able to campaign for more natural spaces for people in London and be part of protecting the spaces we already have. I am looking forward to hearing what Londoners and young people want to improve at the reserves and working hard to make it happen as I want everyone to be able to utilise the space as much as they can. It is amazing to be part of a group that will bring young people’s voices to the forefront and give us agency as we will be the ones suffering the acute effects of climate change and a loss of biodiversity."

"I'm really excited to be joining the Youth Board this year! I studies chemistry at university, focusing on bioorganic and bioinorganic chemistry, which gave me a deep appreciation for how nature works on a molecular level and how everything is connected. I now work in an environment and sustainability engineering team, where I help support greener, more resilient cities. I'm passionate about using science and systems thinking to protect biodiversity and bring more nature into everyday urban life - I can't wait to help more young people feel empowered to take action for the environment."

"My name's Sophie, but you can call me Soph. I've always loved nature and wildlife. Growing up, I'd rush home to watch the Discovery Channel. That early interest has grown into a real passion for protecting the natural world, and one day I hope to open a city farm that connects people to animals, food and the environment. As a Youth Board Member with London Wildlife Trust, I'm excited to learn more about restoring nature, protecting urban wildlife, and making sure young people have a voice in creating a greener future."

"Growing up in Hong Kong and now living in London, I have spent much of my life in concrete jungles. It has made me appreciate the importance of having access to nature as a place to take a breather from the hustle and bustle of city life and connect with people. Through my studies and research, I have seen firsthand how social and economic disparities shape access to natural spaces. The social deteminants of health framework shows us that inequality extends far beyond income, influencing whether people can live, work, and thrive in healthy environments, This perspective drives my passion for ensuring that nature is treated as a public good for everyone, as it is fundamental to wellbeing. I am excited to bring this passion into the Youth Board, where I hope to reframe nature as a space of belonging and connection for all young Londoners. By drawing on my background in advocacy, community engagement, and strategic communication, I want to amplify youth voices, connect underrepresented communities with nature, and inspire collective action that empowers young people to take ownership of protecting our nature. I am currently pursuing a Master's in Public Policy, which deepens my commitment to embedding equity, inclusion, and empowerment into environmental and urban planning."

"I'm currently doing an MA in Shakespeare Studies. Due to this, I focus a lot on creative responses to nature, and I recently completed my coursework on natural bodies of water in Shakespeare's plays. Creating positive relationships between communities and nature is really important to me, so I'm honoured to join the Youth Board and help preserve nature in a way that is accessible and centres London's wonderful wildlife!"