If you wish to contact anyone from the team please email: wales@gwct.org.uk
Lee Oliver
Director, GWCT Wales
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 studied Environmental Risk Management at Cardiff UWIC. On graduating, he worked in boatbuilding and then spent time in South Africa working on cattle and game farms.
Lee has been with the trust for nearly 5 years, and has worked on a number of projects involving species such as, Woodcock, Fallow Deer, Curlew and Grey Squirrel. He is also a CAA Drone Pilot and has developed this work within the trust for surveying species.
“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 alongside this as another passion of mine.”
Sue Evans
Policy Director, GWCT Wales
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-environmental 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.
Owen Williams
GWCT Wales Chair
Owen is a countryman, wildlife artist and writer living in Ceredigion. Being a long-time supporter of the GWCT and its evidence-based approach to land management, his interest in woodcock pushed him to set up the Woodcock Network to encourage more ringing and study of woodcock across the UK. Through this initiative he worked closely with Andrew Hoodless and the GWCT research team, sharing his data and assisting with ringing and tagging of woodcock in Wales for their Woodcock Watch project. He also designed and conducted a scoping study on woodcock and soil health on his ringing sites in West Wales.
It was this experience that gave him an acute understanding of how much effort goes into fieldwork, and the subsequent delivery of peer-reviewed science that convinced him to accept the role of GWCT Welsh Chairman and become a trustee in 2022.
Despite his responsibilities as Welsh Chairman, Owen continues to paint wildlife and ring woodcock, and is spending an increasing amount of time writing on countryside matters, having been asked to be a regular contributor to the online countryside writers platform Scribehound.
Hannah Farnell
Project Manager, Land of the Curlew
I was born in Wales and raised in the Shropshire countryside with frequent visits to Wales to see family and holiday in beautiful locations, so it holds a special place in my heart. Trying to decide what job you want can be a challenge, but I knew that I always wanted to spend my time doing something meaningful for nature.
I studied animal behaviour at university with the intention to apply my knowledge to conservation. I find animal behaviour fascinating, including the impacts it can have on conservation efforts. I strayed from the conservation goal shortly to train as a canine behviourist, which has given me a great insight into the complexities of species behaviour and how dogs can be used in conservation.
I have project-managed a variety of nature recovery efforts across Wrexham including: wildflower meadows, pond creation, tree planting and species-specific recovery efforts, such as the installation of swift boxes and callers. I am now honored to deliver an essential recovery project for the Eurasian Curlew alongside passionate people, contributing to science-led efforts.
I love being out in nature from a strong coffee in the garden, to walking my dog or finding a new adrenaline sport to try. I aim to give everything my best and look forward to being a part of the GWCT team efforts.
Kaylee Fay
Project Officer, Land of the Curlew
I moved around quite a lot growing up, but my passion for wildlife and the environments they inhabit has always remained constant. Wherever I lived, I found ways to connect with nature through hiking, sea swimming, and spending time outdoors, which sparked my interest in ecology and conservation from an early age.
I graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a degree in Ecology and Environmental Science, developing a strong foundation in ecological survey techniques, habitat management, species conservation, and environmental monitoring. My dissertation focused on Eurasian curlews in Montgomeryshire, investigating disturbance factors and their potential impacts on this iconic and declining species.
During my placement year with GWCT Wales, I gained valuable experience supporting conservation projects and developing practical skills in ecological fieldwork. Following my placement, I continued with GWCT Wales as a Conservation Assistant, contributing to a range of projects across Wales and further developing my understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing wildlife conservation.
I am now proud to be the Land of the Curlew Project Officer, working to support the conservation of one of Wales’ most iconic and threatened bird species. I am passionate about combining scientific knowledge, practical conservation, and effective communication to help create positive outcomes for wildlife, landscapes, and the people who depend on them.
Logan Crimp
Agriculture and Conservation Officer, GWCT Wales
I’ve grown up on a shooting estate on Anglesey as the son of a Gamekeeper. This gave me a strong background in game management and wildlife habitat restoration/improvement. While living on the estate I have also worked on other environmental projects such as tree planting, invasive species management and hedge planting/laying.
I graduated from Bangor University with a degree in Environmental Conservation, this strengthened my theoretical knowledge of environmental practices while also giving me a better understanding of how to deal with human-conservation conflicts.
I enjoy being out in all weathers either shooting, beating or working my gun dogs. My true passion is being able to work within countryside and ensure that there is a more resilient and sustainable future. That’s why I am very excited to be joining GWCT Cymru as the Agriculture and Conservation Officer.
Matthew Goodall
Head of Education and Advisor for Wales and NW England
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 the country.
Project Officer, Land of the Curlew
Rachel Grant
Placement Student, GWCT Wales
The Welsh countryside has always been an integral part of my upbringing from growing up near Wrexham. This has allowed me to truly appreciate the wildlife and landscape we have in this country and why there is a great need to protect and conserve it. This is especially true once I began to see how human practices can have both positive and negative ecological impacts, such as farming on local biodiversity. I developed my interest and curiosity further academically at the University of Sheffield, where I have been studying Ecology and Conservation for the past 2 years.
Although my time at university so far has been deeply rewarding, I’m looking to develop wider context and application of ecological principles and skills I have learnt. This involves integrating social and political aspects and using industry methods and technologies (such as GIS or drone surveying) into projects to answer questions and test hypotheses. Despite honing my interests on botany, mycology and sustainable agriculture at university, I’m just as eager to explore other areas, like ornithology, whilst on placement. I’m excited to gain wider perspectives and experiences that university simply doesn’t offer alone, especially with the expertise of the GWCT team.