How we're run

"I was thrilled to receive the invitation to become Patron of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, and absolutely delighted to accept it. It is clearly a great honour to be offered a position previously held by the late Duke of Westminster, and I realise that I have very big shoes to fill. 

“I am passionate about protecting the natural world and naturally feel a particular attachment to the wonderful Cheshire countryside and wildlife on my own doorstep. My family and I spend as much time outdoors as we can, and we have seen for ourselves and fully appreciate the great work that the Trust is doing. 

"I look forward to supporting the Trust in furthering its Mission and I hope to be able to contribute to their important work not just as a figurehead and ambassador, but by offering real practical help to advance their agenda. I very much look forward to getting to know and working with the whole of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust team.” 

Felicity joined the Trust as President in 2011, after a long career as a well-known regional and national journalist and more recently, as a prominent advocate of the arts, healthcare and regeneration issues across the North West. Felicity played a key role in the relocation of a number of the BBC's services from London to Media City in Salford, along with supporting the hugely successful Lowry Theatre and acting as one of the founding board members of the former North West Development Agency. She is also the chairman of University Hospital South Manchester at Wythenshawe, recently acknowledged as Britain’s greenest hospital. 

Felicity regularly attends many of the Trust's key annual events, including hosting and chairing the AGM and Members' Day. 

Bill is an experienced Finance Director who is keen to contribute to the success of the Trust.  A Chartered Accountant with a maths degree and an MBA, he worked for Shell for 20 years in the UK and internationally, and then in the public sector in further and higher education. Bill has a strong interest in and concern for wildlife and conservation of natural environments. He became a Trustee at the AGM in 2016 and wants to use his finance and general management experience and background to support and develop CWT to deliver on its objectives in the interests of wildlife, as well as our members and volunteers.

Bill says “I have enjoyed my time involved with the Trust. I have gained from the experience and learned a lot from meeting and working with Trustees, all levels of staff, and volunteers and members. I believe the Trust is well run and has a good staff team and Trustees, and that it remains open to strive for improvement. Our ambition should be to continue to grow the Trust and its impact”

Bill is also a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer for the NeuroMuscular Centre in Winsford. He is married and lives in Christleton, near Chester. Bill enjoys spending time with his family, travel, cycling, bird watching, playing tennis and badminton, and watching a wide variety of live sport, theatre and music.

Claire is a corporate lawyer with over 18 years’ experience advising and supporting businesses on legal, governance and regulatory compliance matters across a variety of sectors. She has a strong interest in raising awareness about the importance of ethical working practices and driving corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Born in Lancashire, Claire studied for her law degree at the University of Nottingham before completing her post-graduate studies at the College of Law in Chester. She completed her legal training contract at a law firm in Manchester and has lived in Cheshire ever since.

A nature lover from an early age, Claire is incredibly passionate about animal welfare and wildlife preservation. A greenspaces volunteer and member of her local conservation group, Claire’s hobbies include playing tennis and climbing mountains, but she enjoys nothing more than long walks in the countryside with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Jamie is a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor, working as a private client tax specialist within a ‘Big 4’ accounting firm. He is passionate about technology and digital transformation, and his financial acumen, digital innovation skills, boundless energy and creative thinking led to him being recognised as one of the 2020 eprivateclient ‘Top 35 Under 35’.

Jamie has always fostered a love of the great outdoors, and he enjoys spending as much time as he can in nature. He is a keen gardener, an avid skier, and a cycling and running enthusiast.

Jamie is a father to two young children, and it was this life event that inspired him to become more involved in the preservation and promotion of wildlife, as he began to truly recognise the critical importance of protecting our planet for future generations, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to connect with nature.  

After graduating from the University of Manchester in modern languages and business management, Sarah started her career in economic development and inward investment at the North West Development Agency. But having grown up in North Wales and then travelling extensively across the world, predominantly on nature related adventures in developing countries, her focus shifted towards her passion for wildlife and conservation, thus, driving her to forge a career in the sector and to play her part in improving the environment.

During the last 10 years, this has involved consulting businesses on the renewable energy technologies and sustainability and, working in the parks and green spaces sector; where she has been demonstrating and communicating the value and importance of the natural environment.

Sarah currently works at the Environment Agency where she is involved in Defra’s Natural Capital Urban Pioneer programme for Greater Manchester. This focuses on exploring ways to unlock funding and finance for the natural environment, whilst also influencing decision makers to improve both the quality and quantity of natural environments within urban areas.

As well as having a passion for the natural environment and conservation, Sarah loves blues dancing, travelling and hill walking.

Born in Macclesfield and raised in Rainow, John’s passion for wildlife came from a childhood which is increasingly rare and wild – monitoring badger setts, fishing, building dens, being outside day after day in the hills and moors of north east Cheshire.

After university, John spent over twenty years building brands and businesses and managing and developing teams for Procter & Gamble, Diageo and Britvic, more recently working with entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses.  John gained personal experience of conservation when he owned and managed a 42 acre smallholding under a Higher Level Stewardship Agreement to encourage wildlife.

John is the father and primary carer of three young children and now applies what he has learnt professionally to make a difference in three areas of passion:  sport as an Event Director with parkrun; children’s development as a Trustee of a large Scout group; environment as a volunteer community garden leader and Trustee.  John regularly ‘wild swims’ and runs all distances from 5K parkruns to trail marathons. 

John says: “I am honoured and excited to be able to apply my professional skills to a cause I care so deeply about with people who are doing such fantastic work.  In particular I aim to focus on helping to strengthen the engagement of the local farming and residential community with Cheshire Wildlife Trust and growing our membership.  I am sure the next ten years will be amazing as the Trust brings wildlife back to Cheshire.”

Rebecca grew up in Knutsford - where she returns regularly to see family - and now lives on the Cheshire-Flintshire border.  Rebecca is a university lecturer in human geography, with research expertise in young people's environmental care, household environmental impacts through everyday consumption, and community sustainability initiatives.  In her teaching, she works closely with a range of private, public and third sector organisations to provide sustainability-oriented project work opportunities for her students. 

Rebecca’s academic career emerged from her earlier incarnation working in environmental education and as a volunteer youth worker.  As a result, she is looking forward to working with Cheshire Wildlife Trust on their youth and community engagement activities.  When not teaching or researching, Rebecca is likely to be found walking in Cheshire or Flintshire, trying to cram a few more plants into her garden, or indulging in one of her many creative hobbies including stone carving, life drawing and weaving. Rebecca is pictured rescuing a lost lamb whilst out on a run. 

Stephanie is a vet with over 25 years of experience in wildlife conservation and not-for-profit leadership. She holds degrees in Zoology and Veterinary Medicine from Cambridge University and a master’s in Wildlife Health from the University of London. Stephanie began her career in wildlife rehabilitation before moving to Cheshire as Chester Zoo’s vet. There, she advanced to Director of the Living Collection, Science, and Education, playing a key role in the zoo’s growth and its contribution to conservation, public engagement, and scientific research.

As well as a passion for wildlife conservation, Stephanie is committed to helping people reconnect with nature and live more sustainably. She has set up an international conservation and nature connection grant programme, led membership organisations, and served as a trustee for charities in this sector. Currently, she is a director of an organisation supporting the veterinary profession in becoming more sustainable and is involved with a Merseyside-based provider of nature connection experiences.

Stephanie loves living on the Wirral and spending time outdoors with her family and dog. She is also a keen choral singer and scuba diver. Stephanie is excited to be supporting Cheshire Wildlife Trust in protecting and restoring local habitats and species.

Jac settled in Stockport when she moved from Australia in 2017. A senior HR manager for the University of Manchester, she has a scientific and technical background and four decades of experience in project and program management, strategy, governance, financing and delivery of IT projects, mostly for Australian Government and the University.

She has a lifelong passion for the environment, reversing climate change and restoring habitats, and of the benefits of nature for both wildlife and people as an integral part of the environment. She encourages everyone to act now to improve as much as they can where they are for the environment, and to connect with others for inspiration, ideas and the magic that happens when we work together.

Jac has combined her interests in improving all things environmental with her work as often as possible. While at the Australian Department of Environment for ten years she led the Green IT community for Australian Government and initiated projects that resulted in the government’s sustainable computing legislation, plans and practices.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in computing, physics and mathematics and is completing a Master of Science in Senior Leadership. To stay sane, she has created a small jungle of an organic garden and allotment planted for birds and pollinators, now also shared with two badgers, a hedgehog, owls, foxes, and the occasional polecat.

Sajid Javed has over a decade of experience in the global medical device industry, with strong expertise in marketing, strategy, and product management. He holds a PhD and is currently pursuing an executive MBA to further develop his leadership and strategic skills. Passionate about sustainability, Sajid is committed to introducing more environmentally responsible practices within the medical devices sector.

In addition to his professional work, Sajid actively supports local sustainability efforts and is involved in community initiatives focused on environmental protection. His dedication stems from a desire to create a better future for his two young daughters and the wider community.

Sajid enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and is excited to be part of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, eager to contribute to the organisation’s mission of protecting and restoring local habitats and species.

Megan was born and raised in Macclesfield and now living back in Cheshire after spending several years abroad.  She is a professional astronomer and award-winning science communicator, currently employed as a university lecturer where she teaches students about the physics of stars and galaxies and has been lucky enough to observe with some of the best radio telescopes around the world, often located in unique locations with fascinating wildlife.  With twenty years experience in science communication Megan has a passion for sharing the wonders of the universe with people of all ages and delivers public lectures and schools workshops all over the country.

Astronomy is all about using the tools of science to understand the universe in which we exist, but also gives us a unique perspective on how precious the Earth and its ecosystems really are - Earth is still the only place in the universe where we know for certain that life exists.  Megan tries to bring this perspective to her teaching whenever possible and is looking forward to getting more involved with Cheshire Wildlife Trust's education and engagement activities to share this perspective.  She has previously been a Trustee and Vice President of the Royal Astronomical Society and has served on various committees of the International Astronomical Union.

Charlotte Harris, Chief Executive

Ben Gregory, Director of Nature Recovery

Jo Darlington, Director of Fundraising & Engagement

John Garrett, Director of Business & Finance