Dr Lucy Rogers – Chief Executive

Lucy has a background in conservation science and conservation delivery. With a PhD in small mammal ecology from the University of Aberdeen, she worked for a number of years with FERA (now the Animal and Plant Health Agency) at Woodchester Park managing projects on badger ecology and TB epidemiology. Prior to joining the VWT, she was Director of Delivery Programmes for Avon Wildlife Trust, leading the strategic planning, development and delivery of their conservation and community engagement work. Lucy was appointed as Chief Executive for the Trust in 2018. Office: Ledbury.

Tim Bennett – Finance Manager

Tim joined the Trust in 2019 as Finance Officer. He has a background in both the charity sector, having previously worked for Mind Aberystwyth as its Business and Finance Officer, and in the private sector more recently with Balfour Beatty. Through both roles, Tim has a number of years of people management experience. He has a degree in Zoology and has completed his advanced diploma in accounting through the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians). Tim moved into the role as Finance Manager in 2020 and also took on the the duties of Company Secretary. Office: Ledbury.

Jane Abel – Business and Administration Officer

Jane joined the Trust in 2020 as Business and Administration Officer. She has a background in finance and administration, and has worked for a variety of organisations, including the NHS. Jane also has experience of working within the charity sector and within the retail sector. She is a fellow member of the Association of Accounting Technicians. Office: Ledbury.

Rachel Leach – Administration Assistant

Rachel joined the Trust in May 2022 as Administration Assistant. She has a background in business support and administration from, most recently, the National Trust at Snowshill Manor and Garden, and then at the Brockhampton Estate. Before these, Rachel worked at the University of Oxford. She also has a background in arts and cultural heritage with a degree in art and psychology, and postgraduate qualifications in both gallery studies and higher education administration. Her normal working days are Monday and Thursday. Office: Ledbury.

Julia Bracewell – Senior Design and Communications Officer

Julia joined the Trust in 2018 as Design and Communications Officer and then moved into the role of Senior Design and Communications Officer in 2020. She has a background in conservation education and in the production of publications. Julia’s past career has included working for Kent Wildlife Trust as Education Officer where she helped develop the education programme, before taking on the role of Publications Officer and producing a range of education and marketing materials. Julia has also worked for Christian Aid as a writer and editor and, more recently, she worked for a small environmental and development charity based on an organic dairy farm. Julia is a qualified graphic designer, has a degree in Botany, an MSc in Creative (non-fiction) Science Writing and is a qualified science and primary school teacher. Office: Ledbury.

Dr Maria Teresa (Mabli) Agozzino – Communications Assistant

Mabli officially joined the Trust in 2021 having previously volunteered with the Communications Team since 2016. She brings considerable organisational skills and programmatic experience from her former roles as professor, editor, archivist, ethnographer, office manager and author. Mabli is a life-long advocate for animal welfare, nature and conservation, with a particular passion for all things Mustelidae. Office: Ledbury.

Lara Semple – Volunteering and Community Engagement Officer (Maternity Cover)

Lara joined the Trust in 2022 as Volunteering and Community Engagement Officer (Maternity Cover) covering for Laura Lawrance-Owen. She completed a master’s degree in International Nature Conservation from Göttingen University in Germany in 2017, which involved research and fieldwork in New Zealand, Australia and India. Later she volunteered with the Scottish Wildcat Action group on their winter fieldwork survey. This enhanced her passion for threatened British mammals. More recently, she worked at WildCRU and Oxford University on their Environmental Sustainability Team. She is a keen walker and does origami in her spare time. Office: Ledbury.

Dr Henry Schofield – Head of Conservation

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 Steve Carter – Carnivore Programme Manager

Steve is a zoologist with a background in research on a number of mammal species, including water voles and badgers, and with a particular interest in the smaller carnivores. He has a PhD, from Royal Holloway University of London, on the impacts of introduced predators and their management for conservation. Steve joined the Trust in 2016 to develop the Trust's carnivore conservation and research programme. Prior to joining the Trust, Steve worked for many years as a wildlife biologist with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, managing projects on the development and deployment of TB vaccines for badgers. Office: Amberley, Gloucestershire.

Dr Jenny MacPherson – Science and Research Programme Manager

Jenny is a zoologist with a background in research on a range of mammal species, including pine marten, dormice, red squirrel, water vole 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 Trust in 2011 as project officer on the Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE) project, working with volunteers and local communities on surveys and conservation of a range of mammal species in west Wales. In 2014, Jenny became the Trust’s Pine Marten Project Manager, managing the Pine Marten Recovery Project for England and Wales and the reinforcement of pine martens in Wales. She subsequently became Science and Research Programme Manager in 2018. Office: Maesllyn, Ceredigion.