Skip navigation |

Staff profiles

Pond Conservation is led by the Senior Management Team

Dr Jeremy Biggs, Director

Jeremy is an internationally recognised expert in ecology and policy issues of freshwaters, including biological assessment and monitoring.

Penny Williams, Technical Director

With a background in ecology, conservation and geology, Penny has worked for Pond Conservation for 20 years as a freshwater ecologist, with particular interest in translating science into practice and making a practical difference to the ecological quality of freshwaters.

Janey Forgan, Finance Director

Janey joined the Pond Conservation team at the beginning of May 2011 to head up all financial management.

Dr Pascale Nicolet, Senior Freshwater Ecologist and Million Ponds Project National Coordinator

Pascale is a Senior Freshwater Ecologist with extensive experience of wetland plant and macroinvertebrate surveys, ecological assessments and monitoring. She is currently managing the Million Pond project in England and Wales and coordinating the MAVA project in the European Pond Conservation Network.

Pond Conservation staff

Anna Bransden, Million Ponds Project Wales Officer

Anna joined Pond Conservation in 2012 to help with the final stages of phase 1 of the Million Ponds Project in Wales. Anna has a background in ecology and recently completed her PhD on upland ponds in mid-Wales.

Becca Cleaver, Million Ponds Project Northern Officer

Becca works on the Million Ponds Project helping people create ponds in Northwest England, Northeast England and Yorkshire & Humber. Becca has worked in freshwater and amphibian conservation, especially great crested newts, for nine years, with a particular focus on delivering biodiversity targets and helping volunteers contribute to biological recording and conservation.

Jo Fever, Office Manager

Jo joined Pond Conservation as the Office Manager in 2008 after several years of administration in the publishing sector. She supports all staff; keeping them organised, providing admin support, HR advice and website editing. She is also working with the Million Ponds Project team supporting them with all admin requirements.

Sally Lane, Fundraising Officer

Sally joined Pond Conservation in 2011, having worked previously at Oxfam and the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust. She raises funds to support the core costs and project work at Pond Conservation.

Dr Naomi Ewald, Freshwater Research Manager

Naomi is an experienced fresh water ecologist who previously helped the Million Ponds Project team to create lots of factsheets and species dossiers for the pond creation toolkit and update the BAP species map tool. Now Naomi is heading up the development and management of Pond Conservation's research and contract work.

Corey Cannon, Freshwater Surveillance Project Officer

Corey joined the Pond Conservation team in November 2011 to start work on a new surveillance project in partnership with Natural England and Defra.

Sian Davies, Water Friendly Farming Research Manager

Sian joined the Pond Conservation team in November 2011, funded through a partnership project with Syngenta to look in detail at the chemical effects of farming on freshwater habitats.

Associated staff

David Orchard, Ponds Project Officer

Based with the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, David coordinates and manages the amphibian and reptile part of the Million Ponds Project. He is busy developing and delivering a targeted programme of pond creation and restoration work throughout England and Wales for amphibian and reptile Biodiversity Action Plan priority species.

Contract staff

Rod d'Ayala

Rod carries out specific work for Pond Conservation, such as responding to public enquiries, pond surveys and advising local authorities and others on pond issues, for example planning related issues. Rod also does a wide variety of ecological consultancy work for individuals and organisations, including surveys, management advice, small-scale practical management and pond creation.

To contact us