Sue Evans
Director, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Cymru
Mob: 07767 019305
Email: sevans@gwct.org.uk
A Welsh-speaking farmer's daughter from Anglesey, Sue qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1995 and after travelling and working abroad for 15 months she established Tir Enteprieses Ltd in 2000 and became a Chartered Mediator in 2003.
Her focus shifted to policy work and she worked as Director of Policy CLA in Wales until 2013.
She was invited to work as Senior Advisor to Welsh Government’s Natural Resource Management team on sabbatical for two years until October 2015. The main task was to design and deliver a new approach to agri environemnt schemes which materialised as the Nature Fund.
Keen to work with a research based organisation who deliver practical answers for farmers and others in the countryside Sue became Director Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Wales in April 2017. Sue became a Nuffield Scholar in 2017 with a study investigating the best ways for farmers to influence policy and regulation.
Matthew Goodall
Advisor for Wales
Tel: 07741 902021
Email: mgoodall@gwct.org.uk
Matt previously worked as an ecological consultant, biodiversity officer and game management lecturer. He joined the GWCT in July 2018 as an advisor and has played a vital role in building the GWCT's profile in Wales, working on our Welsh projects and undertaking advisory visits, biodiversity assessments, training courses and talks across Wales.
Lee Oliver
EVSMS Project Manager
Email: loliver@gwct.org.uk
Born and brought up on the beautiful Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales, Lee is a first language Welsh speaker and comes from a farming community where his Grandfather farmed sheep and beef. Lee lives with his family of three children and partner Alaw on the site of his grandfather’s farm in a house he built with his father.
Lee studied ‘Environmental Risk Management BSc’ at Cardiff UWIC, on graduating he worked in boatbuilding and then spent time in South Africa working on cattle and game farms.
“Although I have shot all my life my experiences in South Africa solidified my deep interest in conservation and game management, it also taught me the fundamentals of centrefire rifles and their use”
On returning from South Africa, Lee began work with ‘Keep Wales Tidy’ with whom he worked for a total of 18 years.
“My work with KWT taught me the importance of working with volunteers to achieve conservation goals, additionally my work with schools also demonstrated that the same goals for conservation and environmental gain can be achieved much easier through educating the next generation”
During his time with KWT, Lee was awarded a Winston Churchill travelling fellowship. His studies and travel took him to New Zealand where he studied ‘The Control and Management of Invasive species’.
“Many of the methodologies I studied and used in New Zealand I have been able to apply in my work in Wales. My hope is I can still use these within my role with GWCT.”
“Shooting, fishing and particularly deer stalking are an important part of my life. I was brought up to respect any quarry and shooting has always been about providing food for my family. Conservation and environmental management sits along side this as another passion of mine”
Rugby has also played a major role in Lee’s life, playing for 20 years for local, County and North Wales teams now retired from rugby his other passions are surfing and spending time with his three children and partner.
Bleddyn Thomas
Project Officer
Tel: 07506 921086
Email: bthomas@gwct.org.uk
I grew up in a rural Welsh-speaking community in Ceredigion where I developed a keen interest in wildlife, in particular birds. I studied for four years at the University of Sheffield, obtaining an integrated master’s degree in Biology.
Following university, I assisted Owen Williams (with whom I have been ringing woodcock with since my early teens) on a project investigating whether woodcock could be used as an indicator species for soil health. I have also undertaken a Conservation and Aviculture Internship with Dr Nick Fox of International Wildlife Consultants, where I was exposed to fields such as avian breeding, falconry, and beaver management.
Currently based in west Wales, I look forward to facilitating and pursuing other conservation projects in Wales which utilise scientific evidence and encompass what the GWCT stands for.
Emma Mellen
Engagement & Communications Officer
Email: emellen@gwct.org.uk
GWCT Wales Engagement & Communications Officer Emma Mellen PgCert & BA Hons, from Monmouthshire
I have worked marketing in the agricultural sector and craft beer and cider industry previously; recently finishing a three-year fixed term appointment with the British Charollais Sheep Society, where I led a Hill Farm project. I am passionate about the countryside, horse riding and my dogs – I grew up rough shooting with my dad, and over more recent years I have specialised in HPR training with my GSP team. I am a first-time farmer, with commercial and pedigree sheep and a calf-rearing enterprise on a tenancy farm in South East Wales. I am excited to be joining GWCT Wales in this new position.
David Lewis
Membership Recruiter
Email: dlewis@gwct.org.uk
GWCT Wales
The Maltings
East Tyndall St,
Cardiff CF24 5EA