Governance

Abby is Head of Sustainability at Openreach, leading on the strategy for climate, nature and the circular economy. She has previously built and managed award-winning sustainability strategies for Selfridges and the John Lewis Partnership. From 2014-2019 she was a director of Volunteer Engagement at Pride in London, responsible for recruitment, training, deployment and wellbeing for over 1000 volunteers - and winning the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2017. She lives in Guildford and enjoys hiking the North Downs Way with her wife and son.

Adam has worked in the Environment sector for over nearly 35 years starting at Peterborough City Council then for a Wildlife Trust and the National Trust at Wicken Fen.  He became a FWAG adviser in Surrey and Hants in the 1990’s joining the Countryside Agency in 1999 to work on National Park designations and AONB policy.  Since joining Natural England in 2006 he has worked in a number of roles including as a Strategy/Partnership Manager and Area Manager in the South East.  His current role is as Natural England’s Deputy Director for Landscapes and Protected Sites in England. Adam was a board member on the Surrey Nature Partnership and has lived in Dorking for 30 years.

Amy is the Principal Consultant of Nature Strategy at Nature Metrics, working on nature disclosure frameworks, biodiversity loss-gain accounting, and landscape assessments. She previously worked at Deloitte and Bank of America, primarily modelling climate and nature risks. From 2021-2023, Amy was the Borough lead for Friends of the Earth Climate Action Group.

Amy holds a BSc in Mathematics, an MSc in Climate Science, a chartership in Green & Sustainable Finance, and is a certified Climate Risk Professional. In her spare time, she is a cyclist and a trail runner.

Angela retired in 2017 from Ernst & Young LLP, where she was a partner, a Chartered Accountant and a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. She has significant financial and commercial experience working with businesses over a 28 year period.  Angela has an honours degree and a doctorate in Geology and has a lifelong passion for the outdoors, nature and wildlife.

Caroline worked for WWF, the conservation charity, as Head of Internal Audit for 18 years before she retired at the end of 2020. A qualified accountant, her role was to lead her team reviewing the organisation’s capacity to meet its important conservation goals both in the UK and overseas. More recently Caroline has served as a trustee on the Board of Blue Ventures, the marine conservation charity. With a degree in Human Environmental Studies, and a passion for nature, Caroline brings a range of skills which will benefit SWT operations and the Trustee Board.

James is a senior advisory lawyer for Credit Agricole CIB, with broad experience in capital markets, regulation and legal aspects of Environmental, Social and Governance. He has a keen interest in all things nature. He has an MSc in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health, guest lectures in nature finance and has taken part in conservation volunteering in Surrey for a number of years, including as part of the executive committee of Guildford Environment Forum. His legal background, linked to his environmental experience and passion, will undoubtedly assist the Trustee Board.

Matt has over 20 years’ experience working in environmental consultancy and property/land management in the utilities sector. He has worked at National Grid since 2013 and currently heads up the Electricity Transmission Property team. He has experience in leading teams, managing and enhancing large land portfolios, de-risking contaminated land, and delivering land and property related capital projects. He has a Masters in Soil and Environment Pollution, and Environmental Economics. Is a Chartered Scientist (CIWEM) and a Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC).

Nina is a senior business and people leader with over 25 years of international strategy, innovation and sustainable growth expertise. She was a Partner in global innovation consultancy, ?What If!, and a Managing Director at Accenture before moving to specialise in helping businesses create people and planet positive growth. She is passionate about regenerating our world and has a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors. She has lived in Surrey for 9 years and shares her home and garden with her family, one dog and an assortment of visiting hedgehogs and bats.

Pam has been a volunteer and advisor with our education team for many years, sharing her wealth of knowledge gained over 40 years of teaching biology. She has a passion for the benefits of outdoor learning and is enthusiastically involved in the endless opportunities that SWT provide for all ages.

Peter has over 40 years experience working in environmental science. With a keen interest in plants, animals and ecology from an early age, he went on to study for a degree in Plant Sciences at Cambridge University. During his career he worked as a field trials biologist, multi-discipline project manager and global product development manager, environmental stewardship manager and as an ecological risk assessor. As part of his environmental stewardship role he was responsible for creating projects to enhance farmland landscapes and wildlife biodiversity. Peter is a keen gardener with a wild garden and was recently appointed to the Royal Horticultural Society science committee. 

Simon was born in Surrey and has been active in conserving its wildlife since 1974. He started volunteering for Surrey Wildlife Trust in 1982 to manage Dawcombe Nature Reserve on behalf of the Trust. In addition to his role in practical conservation, Simon has experience of the wide range of activities needed to promote and conserve wildlife in Surrey and the UK. He was awarded an MSc in Environmental Management in 2001.

Simon has been SWT’s Voluntary Reserve Manager at Dawcombe for over 30 years and also at the Trust’s Fraser Down Nature Reserve since 2007. In addition he manages several areas for wildlife for private landowners. Simon has worked professionally in conservation, for SWT managing various sites and conservation projects and for the National Trust as SE Regional Nature Conservation Adviser and as their representative on DEFRA’s Major Landowners’ Group. He is particularly keen to promote high standards and continuity in conservation management of SWT's land, and is a champion for the contribution volunteers can make to the work of the Trust.

Peter is an experienced finance professional and passionate conservationist. As an accountant he has held roles within various businesses, investment banks and more recently provided financial consultancy services to SME’s. His own sustainable property business is well established. More recently holding a Finance Director role within a local community group Peter has led many urban greening projects. He has recently set up his own charity to create and nurture connection to the natural environment within his local community. Peter also enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and 2 young daughters, mountain biking and is a keen cold-water swimmer.