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Learn a bit more about the people involved in the day to day running of The Nene Rivers Trust
The role of the Executive Team is to administer the day to day running of the Nene Rivers Trust CIO on behalf of our partners, including seeking new projects and coordinating bid submissions to a range of funding streams.
Kathryn joined the team in 2013 as our Chief Executive. During her tenure she has shepherded us through a change in focus and a change in identity with the formation of the Nene Rivers Trust in 2022.
Kathryn’s background includes Applied Sciences, Environmental Science, Aquatic Ecology and Sustainability as well as facilitation, communication and partnership development.
As our leader Kathryn is focussed on fundraising, program oversight and business development as well as mentoring the team as they build their skills and careers within the Trust.
When she isn’t at work Kathryn will often be found in her vegetable garden, or at the local pool swimming laps, which she claims is a meditation. She is the keeper of two large hounds. a flock of hens and an impressive CD collection that she shares with her husband on their small rural property.
Lesley joined the Trust in June 2022 as the Business Manager and brings over 20 years of project management experience.
She has previously worked in a range of sectors and roles including supporting the adult social care sector during the pandemic, commissioning services for children and young people, implementing change management programmes across the children’s workforce and supporting people into education, employment and housing.
As the Business Manager Lesley’s main responsibilities are finance, HR and administering the charity’s Board of Trustees.
When she is not working Lesley likes to get creative with various arts and crafts and spending time in nature.
Aiden joined the team in February 2025 as our River Restoration Officer, bringing four years previous experience in the field as an environmental contractor.
Aiden is a University of Reading Alum. with a passion for improving biodiversity, increasing habitat availability and improving fish passage across the Nene catchment.
He is currently focussed on our WRF (Water Restoration Fund) project, River Ise re-introduction of the grayling and NFM (Natural Flood Management) measures to reduce the impacts of flooding across the catchment and making more space for nature in the process.
When he isn’t at work Aiden will likely be found playing one of his guitars, at the gym or playing Rugby.
Lee joined the team in May 2025 as a Project Support Officer, with previous experience in Zoological and conservation. He quickly found his feet inside the organisation and was promoted to Project Officer in September 2025.
Lee had previously worked in Australia on many different volunteer conservation projects ranging from sanctuaries, data collection for outback species and marine research on the Great Barrier Reef. Within Lee’s Zoological roles he found his passion for UK native conservation became his focus and through many of his own projects was able to establish population growth of many different species of flora and fauna.
He is currently leading the RAIN project with implementing natural flood measures, River restoration within the Nene River catchment, Special Protected area’s, Species re-introduction and also working with Chester house to create a community garden for volunteers and students.
Lee is very active in his spare time with activities such as Skiing, hiking, gym and wood work.
Ryan joined the Trust in April 2025. As a Project Support Officer, his remit includes Education and Community Outreach, with a primary focus on public awareness and engagement within the catchment area.
Although new to conservation and river management, Ryan brings over a decade of experience delivering community projects through arts and heritage across Northamptonshire and beyond—most notably as an Associate Artist with 60 Miles.
Currently, Ryan is leading the development and expansion of NRT’s education programme, including the debut of Roxanne the River Van, our interactive mobile classroom. He is also keen to connect with new partners and groups to further enhance NRT’s offerings for local communities.
Fun fact: Outside of the Trust, Ryan is an internationally produced playwright, specialising in co-creation and genre fiction. His work spans theatre, radio, and virtual reality—including a recent translation of his play for German audiences.
Ryan is a fan of punk rock, professional wrestling, and video games. You’ll often find him in a logoed T-shirt or rock climbing at the Pinnacle Climbing Centre in Far Cotton.
Originally from the Aberdeen area of Scotland and a graduate of both the University of Aberdeen and London Guildhall University, John has a background in Quaternary Geology and has research interests in long-term climate change (including the Quaternary of the Nene Valley), sea level change, the geology of radon and graduate employability. John worked at the University of Northampton from 1993 to 2024 and was Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology from 2016 until his retirement.
Trustee of Nene Rivers Trust since 2022, John took on the role of Chair in September 2025. When not working, John particularly enjoys live music and, with his wife, Linda, is currently trying to walk the length of the Nene Valley Way, one section at a time.
Marian is a self-employed environmental consultant, specialising in environmental impact assessment project management, with over 16 years of environmental consultancy experience in both the public and private sectors, having worked on major road and rail schemes, urban regeneration, mixed use development, retail, oil, gas, energy from waste and wind energy schemes within the UK.
Her work over the last 10 years has led her to becoming knowledgeable on environmental issues and enthusiastic about creating enhancements to the Nene Valley particularly north of Rushden.
Oliver joined the Board in 2013 while still working at the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire as Director of Living Landscapes.
Oliver is also chair of the Nene Valley Nature Improvement Area, having been part of the successful partnership behind achieving one of the first 15 Nature Improvement Areas awarded nationally by central government. He sits on the Local Nature Partnerships for Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.
Oliver has worked in the conservation, sustainability and environmental education sectors for over 20 years both within charities and public bodies.
Following 11 years in Local Government Finance Clive followed his interests in the application of computer technologies to business and especially the Public Sector and spent the next 30 years in I.T. Including a long stint at Hewlett Packard.
Outside of work Clive’s interests included boating and he could regularly be found along the Nene and keeping his cruiser “ Merlot” at the Middle Nene Cruising Club when not out on the sea in Norfolk where he now lives.
Clive has spent most of his life in Northamptonshire and his public service includes Isham Parish Councillor, Wellingborough Borough Council and more recently North Northants Council where he stood down in May 25 having moved.
The quality of our rivers and habitats are important to Clive and being a family man his main drive is to improve understanding, access, habitat and quality for his grandchildren and residents generally.
Formerly a museum curator and Director at East Northamptonshire Council, The river Nene has flowed through Sharn’s life for fifty years from attending school on its banks in Wisbech to more recent lockdown walks. Sharn has learnt so much about the history and ecology of the Nene Valley over this period.
Simon has over 25 years’ experience teaching and researching environmental law, environmental justice, and animal welfare at the University of Northampton. Much of his recent work centres on UK environmental challenges, including water pollution, land use, and the uneven impacts of climate change on marginalised communities. His research actively explores how legal and policy frameworks can support more equitable and sustainable outcomes for both people and ecosystems.
He is currently finalising a book for Bristol University Press examining how “green” technologies can unintentionally reproduce environmental harms, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. Simon has spoken widely—locally and internationally—on issues such as freshwater degradation, river restoration, and climate resilience, and his work aligns strongly with the Trust’s principles of community-led conservation, science-based nature recovery, and inclusive environmental stewardship.
Simon started his commercial property career with commercial property consultants Wilson & Partners in 1986. He stayed with the company through its evolution into Connell Wilson / Lambert Smith Hampton, working in London Docklands between 1991 and 1993 and then later (as a Director) heading up the North Northamptonshire region.
He founded commercial property consultants Prop-search in 2008. Simon is a former 3 term President of Wellingborough & East Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, has Chaired the Wellingborough Town Centre Partnership for some 25 years (and was instrumental in establishing the Wellingborough Town Centre BID) and a former Envoy for SEMLEP.
Simon specialises in advising on commercial property development, renewable energy solutions, investment and agency.