Staff

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  Dr Tom Tew – Chairman

  Tom worked for English Nature and Natural England for over 20 years and was a member of the Executive Board as Natural England’s Chief Scientist until 2010; he is now Chief Executive of The Environment Bank. A mammalogist by training, he has a broad interest in wildlife conservation. Tom lives in Lincolnshire and has been a trustee since 2004. He was appointed as Chairman of the Trust in 2008. Tom is also a Trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund, and sits on the HLF West Midlands Regional Committee.

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  Dr Malcolm Newdick – Trustee

  Malcolm is a company director of an IT business in Oxfordshire. After a PhD study of the urban fox he has retained an interest in wildlife conservation and research. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2006.

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  Robert Lucas – Trustee

  Robert is Chief Executive of the Field Studies Council. He has taught in the environmental field for many years and has extensive knowledge of charity administration. He lives in mid-Wales near to one of the VWT’s bat reserves and joined the Board of Trustees in 2007.

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  Matthew Norman – Trustee

  Matthew Norman is an independent Family Office executive advising several family clients. He has extensive experience in the Single Family Office space and provides next generation mentoring. Prior to becoming independent in 2014, Matthew spent eight years managing the wealth of a Brazilian family within their London based single family office. His previous experience includes working with two Sovereign Wealth Funds on their consolidated portfolio reporting and treasury operations, as well as working at a Russian Hedge Fund. Matthew is the Deputy Chairman of the Family Office Council and holds an MA in International Conflict Analysis. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2010.

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  Dr David Bullock – Trustee

  David is Head of Nature Conservation at the National Trust with an extensive background in ecology. A Batworker Trainer, his particular interest has been management of bats in historic buildings which culminated in the recent publication ‘Bats and Historic Buildings’. He lives in Gloucestershire and was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2011.

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  Sally Ford-Hutchinson – Trustee

  Sally’s experience is in market research and marketing communications. She is a former Chairman of The Market Research Society and was Global Planning Director of the International Advertising Agency DMB&B. She has been running her own consultancy The Thinking Shop for the last twelve years where she advises clients about their services and brands. Sally has experience as a trustee having worked for a number of years with both Nottingham Trent University and the National Centre for Social Research. Her personal interest in wildlife has taken her all over the world. She joined the Board of Trustees of the VWT in 2015.

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  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 at University College, Galway, on the summer activity of the lesser horseshoe bat. 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.

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  Ruth Hanniffy – Ireland Projects Support Officer

  Ruth studied Zoology at the National University of Ireland Galway, undertaking a dietary analysis of the lesser horseshoe bats at Dromore Stables in County Clare. She then completed a Masters in Wildlife Management and Conservation at the University of Reading, carrying out analysis of the density and habitat preference of small mammals on Paxton Pits Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire. Following this she joined the Environment Agency for 8 years as a Biodiversity Officer working on river enhancement and restoration on the River Thames and its Tributaries. Upon returning to Ireland Ruth worked with Inland Fisheries Ireland as a fisheries assistant carrying out National Water Framework Directive fish surveys of lakes and rivers throughout Ireland. Ruth is a wildlife, landscape and conservation photographer. Office: Oranmore, County Galway.

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  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. Office: Ledbury.

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  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, Wales.