From our core staff and directors, to our ambassadors and trustees, everyone involved in MARINElife is doing great work for our oceans …
Billy Heaney
Ambassador
Billy is an ambassador for MARINElife, and the patron of the Brighton Dolphin Project. He is also an ambassador for Paddlelogger and for the Big Blue Ocean Cleanup.
He has worked alongside Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) campaigning to Save NZ Dolphins. In 2019, Billy was asked to participate in the RSPB’s ‘State of Nature’ campaign. He is currently working alongside WDC once more to end whale and dolphin captivity.
Emily Stevenson
Ambassador
Emily Stevenson is a marine biologist and the co-founder of the award-winning social enterprise: Beach Guardian. Powered by passion, Emily is also a budding environmental reporter, with her weekly ‘Tune in Tuesday’ video blog reaching over a million people worldwide and regularly features on BBC Spotlight.
In 2019, Emily’s work received recognition as a Point of Light award recipient from the British Prime Minister and a Young Citizen Award from the Rotary Club in Great Britain and Ireland. In 2020, Emily was awarded the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action and humanitarian efforts: the Diana Award.
Tom Brereton
Director of Research
As well as his role as Director of Research for MARINElife (a position he has held since 2008), Tom is also Visiting Professor in Conservation Science at the University of Nottingham and Associated Director, Monitoring Research for Butterfly Conservation.
Archie Robertson OBE
Chair of Trustees
Archie is an active & experienced Chair, Non-executive Director and Trustee with demonstrated success working in the transport, energy and environmental sectors.
Also committed to third sector leadership, he possesses a strong skills base as a CEO and business development professional. Archie joined MARINElife as Chairman in 2020.
Rick Morris
Trustee
Rick first discovered MARINElife (known as Biscay Dolphin Research Program) in 1999 on board the P&O ferry ‘The Pride of Bilbao’. On that ship he saw his first cetacean (a Fin Whale) and he has been passionate about marine conservation ever since.
Rick has been a trustee of the charity since 2011 and was chairman from 2015 until 2020. He has been a supporter of BDRP/MARINElife since 1999 and an active volunteer since 2008, conducting surveys onboard large and small boats. His main focus is now on developing MARINElife training and delivering Identification courses to the public and students at Exeter University Penryn Campus both in the classroom and at sea.
Our Staff
Running the charity day-to-day, we’re also fortunate to have:
- Rob Petley-Jones: Routes Manager
- Tricia Dendle: Charity Administrator
- Tessa Milton: Training Course Coordinator
Trustees
Looking after the charity:
- Archie Robertson OBE (Chair)
- Rick Morris (Training)
- Grahame Madge (Communications)
- Beccy MacDonald-Lofts
- Olivia McLaughlin
- Martin Venables (Treasurer)
- Kate Constable (HR)
- Jeremy Worrell (Digital)
- Alun Williams
And we currently have two trustee roles vacant:
- Merchandising
- Scientific
Our secretary to the trustees is Sarah Dove.
Survey Route Coordinators
Making sure the science happens are:
- Carol Farmer-Wright
- Glynis Northwood-Long
- Nicola Simpson
- Rick Morris
- Rob Petley-Jones
Volunteer Officers
Our fantastic team of key volunteers includes:
- Kate Llewellin: Publicity Officer
- Tessa Milton: Social Media Officer
- Glynis Northwood-Long: Wildlife Ambassador (WLA) Coordinator
- Dr Martin Kitching: North East Regional Officer