Natalie Buttriss
Chief Executive
Natalie was appointed as the Trust’s first CEO in 2007, bringing to the Trust extensive business, marketing and fundraising skills. Her responsibilities include working with the Board of Trustees in leading the strategic direction of the Trust, developing policies and managing the staff, finances and resources. She is directly involved in developing key partnerships and funding bids and ensuring the work of the Trust is promoted to relevant audiences. Prior to the VWT, Natalie worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years primarily for environmental charities.
Hilary Macmillan
Communications Manager
Hilary has worked part-time for the Trust since 2000. She leads on media relations and the editing and production of Trust publications. She also plays a key role in HR and health and safety matters. Hilary has a background in conservation education and is a qualified teacher. After a number of years in mainstream teaching, she became Head of Education for a County Wildlife Trust. This was followed with the setting up of a successful Environmental Education Consultancy. She currently teaches in the independent sector alongside her role with the Trust.
Lizzie Croose
Projects Support Officer
Lizzie joined the Trust in 2008 after gaining a first class degree in Environmental Management and Sustainability at the University of the West of England. Her role involves providing support to the Trust’s conservation projects, fundraising and communications activities. She has a keen interest in pine martens and is actively involved in the Trust’s pine marten research and survey work. She is also currently training for a bat licence and often helps with the Trust’s bat work. Lizzie is a member of Worcestershire Bat Group and Gloucestershire Mammal Group.
Christine Jillians
Finance Officer
Christine studied archaeology at Durham University before deciding on a career change. She chose to use her enthusiasm for maths to pursue a career in accountancy and completed her accountancy qualifications working for a number of financial firms. Christine has a keen interest in conservation and decided to marry this interest with her financial skills, joining the Trust in 2007 as Finance Officer. Christine works part-time for the Trust and in her spare time helps with the finances of another local charity.
Dr Henry Schofield
Conservation Programme Manager
Henry has worked for the Trust since 1990. After studying for a PhD in the ecology and conservation biology of lesser horseshoe bats, he set up the Trust's first bat reserves for this species. This was followed by further projects on rare tree bats. His role is to have an overview of the Trust's conservation and research projects and to develop and oversee the Trust’s conservation policy. Henry has a long-term interest in bats but enjoys working on all mammals. He is a keen amateur photographer and a trustee of BatLife Europe. Office: Presteigne.
Dr Kate McAney
Mammal Development Manager (Ireland)
Kate has worked for the Trust in Ireland since 1991. She manages 13 lesser horseshoe bat reserves located along the west coast, from Mayo in the north to Kerry in the south. Since 2010, she has run pilot studies on the Irish stoat in County Galway. She promotes mammal conservation and research through lectures, bat walks and publications. Kate completed her PhD on the summer activity of the lesser horseshoe bat at University College Galway. She has a particular interest in the diet of insectivorous bats; her most recent study was on Bechstein’s bat. Kate was a founder member of the Galway Bat Group and is a committee member of Bat Conservation Ireland. Office: Headford, County Galway.
Colin Morris
Nature Reserves Manager
Colin joined the Trust early in 1992 to undertake a project searching for greater horseshoe bat nursery roosts. Since then, Colin has carried out research on a variety of mammals, including the yellow-necked mouse, stoat and weasel , together with numerous bat species. His innovative approach to practical conservation has seen him design a successful style of bat box, a cool tower for the use of lesser horseshoe bats in size-restricted roosts, and a bat access terminal (bat-slate) that is now in use throughout the UK and in parts of Europe. The major proportion of Colin’s work now concentrates on managing the Trust’s portfolio of nature reserves. Office: Blandford Forum, Dorset.
David Jermyn
Reserves Officer
David, a conservation management graduate, has worked for the Trust since 1996. He has over 20 years experience in undertaking practical countryside management work and carrying out ecological surveys and monitoring work. Since joining the Trust, David has worked on numerous mammal research and survey projects. Species studied include the polecat, dormouse, pine marten and both species of horseshoe bat. In the Spring of 2011, David took over responsibility for managing the Trust’s lesser horseshoe bat reserves throughout Wales and the Marches. Office: Brecon.
Dr Jenny Macpherson
Mammals in a Sustainable Environment Project Officer
Jenny is a mammal ecologist with a background in research on dormice, pine marten, hedgehog, water voles and mink. She gained an MSc in conservation at University College London and then went on to a PhD at Royal Holloway. She joined The Vincent Wildlife Trust at the beginning of 2011 as project officer on the Trust's new partnership project, Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE). Her work on the MISE project aims to involve volunteers and local communities in surveys and conservation of a range of mammal species in west Wales. Office: Brechfa, Carmarthenshire.
Dr Jane Sedgeley
Our Beacon for Bats Project Officer
Jane has been involved professionally in conservation and wildlife research since 1985. She has participated in numerous survey, monitoring and research projects on endangered species both in the UK and overseas. Jane gained a PhD in the ecology of tree roosting bats in 2003. Following her PhD, she led a five-year programme investigating the threats to bats in rural New Zealand. More recently, Jane was one of the local coordinators on a national survey of Bechstein’s bats. Jane joined The Vincent Wildlife Trust at the beginning of 2012 as Our Beacon for Bats Project Officer. Office: Brecon.