Senior Management Team
Kathy Wormald, Chief Executive Officer
Kathy joined Froglife in 2007, after nearly 20 years in the NGO sector. She has a background in accountancy and management and her broad range of experience includes poverty relief, human rights, environment and conservation; Kathy has been a trustee for the Pesticides Action Network Europe, the Women’s Environment Network and the Bhopal Medical Appeal.
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Jenny Tse-Leon, Conservation, Evaluation & Research Manager (MATERNITY LEAVE)
Jenny joined Froglife in 2014 and worked as our Head of Learning and Communications until taking up her new role as Conservation, Evaluation and Research Manager in April 2021. She is now responsible for our reserves, citizen science projects (such as Discovering Reptiles, Toads on Roads, Garden Wildlife Health and our Dragon Finder App), the work we do to evaluate the impact of our projects and our research. Her expertise is in engaging people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with nature conservation and she holds an honorary lectureship at The University of Brighton.
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She feels that engaging people from all walks of life, especially those that wouldn’t normally take part, is critical for conservation in the long-term.
Sheila Gundry, Operations Manager
Sheila joined Froglife in September 2017 as Development Manager for Education, Learning and Communications and in 2021 took over as Operations Manager. Reporting to the CEO she oversees Froglife’s projects and manages the majority of the staff across the organisation. Sheila is a specialist in environmental education – she loves finding creative ways of teaching and learning about the environment. She has extensive experience of managing major projects and developing new ones. She is a qualified secondary school teacher and is particularly interested in active, hands on learning techniques. Outside work she is often to be found exploring wild places and having adventures in the natural world.
Andrew Smart, Conservation and Science Manager (MATERNITY COVER)
Andrew joined us this year after 25 years of working in Higher Education, teaching zoology and conservation. He worked on the conservation of loggerhead and green turtles in the Mediterranean in the 1980s and great crested newts and common toads on the Avon levels in the ‘90s.
Over the last 10 years, he’s also been working with the University of Cardiff and Cornwall College Newquay on the Kinabatangan River and has carried out survey work on frogs and toads in the Borneo rainforest.
Moving to Cornwall has limited his work on great crested newts, but Andrew has carried on working on palmate newts and freshwater invasive species and has been involved in lizard surveys on the Cornwall Coast Path.
Peterborough Team
Clare Middleton, Reserve Warden & Trainer
Clare joined Froglife in 2022 as the Learning Officer for the Green Pathways Project and was successful in getting the Reserve Warden and Transforming Lives Trainer role from July 2023.
Clare has turned her hand to many things with a range of experience from different sectors both in work and volunteering. Most relevant to her current roles being a Community Garden Manager and volunteering with conservation groups locally coppicing and managing habitat. Also managing and training teams within the DWP.
The best places to find Clare in her spare time are out and about nature spotting, in her garden growing veg or on the riverbank fishing.
Ellia Cobb, Trainee
Ellia joined Froglife in May 2023 as a trainee reserve warden for the Transforming Lives project. Her work as a taxidermist is what really inspired her to join Froglife. She experienced the impact on our wildlife firsthand and wanted to help make a difference.
Ellia is very passionate about animals and her fascination with nature is something that has grown on her, it sparked from her love and admiration for birds and taking the time to appreciate the local wildlife. It has since broadened to other species and she is excited to gain further knowledge.
Chloe Davey, Trainee
Chloe joined Froglife in 2023 and is currently training to become a Reserve Warden through the Transforming Lives Project. She has always had a strong passion for wildlife and wants to share her enthusiasm with others. She looks forward to learning more about conservation and hopes to help raise her community’s awareness. Her favorite amphibian is the common frog.
Jade Walton, Trainee
Jade joined Froglife in May 2023 as a Trainee Reserve Warden in Peterborough as part of the Transforming Lives project.
After years in university and academic environments, Jade felt the need to reconnect with the natural world, rediscovering the passion she had as a child for all things nature. She is particularly excited to get involved with reptile and amphibian surveying.
Jade loves all critters, but has a particular soft spot for the wonderful slow worm.
Kaitlin Oliver, Trainee
Kaitlin first discovered Froglife through volunteering in 2022, during this time she gained valuable experience and a desire to work in conservation. In May 2023 she became a trainee reserve warden with the Transforming Lives Project.
Working for Froglife has helped Kaitlin appreciate the smaller and less-seen species in the world and the need to preserve them and the habitats they live in.
Kaitlin also has a passion for moths and enjoys moth trapping at night. She is learning about the habitats and species of moths in different regions of the UK.
Madeleine Barnes, Trainee
Madeleine joined Froglife in May 2023 as part of the Transforming Lives Project. While pursuing an education in computer science and games design, Madeleine realised they preferred being closer to nature than a machine and left for the great outdoors. With a passion for eco-friendly gardening, Madeleine hopes to make supporting wildlife more accessible for everyone.
Nathan Gardner, Trainee
Nathan joined Froglife in 2023 as a Trainee Reserve Warden, as part of the Transforming Lives Project.
Nathan discovered a passion for community engagement through studying Literature and Creative Writing at university. After graduation, he jumped at the opportunity to begin a career in conservation with Froglife, an organization very familiar to him from his childhood. Bringing his creative background to the team, he hopes to inspire that same wonder and fascination for wildlife.
Rachel Coyle, Project Officer
Rachel joined Froglife in 2023 as the Peterborough Neighbourhood Wildlife Corridors Project Officer.
She graduated with a BSc in Anthropology from the University of Kent, where she further developed her interest in conservation and the natural world.
Rachel has a background in education and is a qualified Primary teacher.
She has a passion for teaching others about wildlife and wild habitats. She enjoys encouraging others to engage in the outdoor environment. Rachel has been actively involved in forest school activities and has also volunteered with Kent Wildlife Trust and Essex Wildlife Trust. Outside of work Rachel will be found enjoying the natural surroundings, walking and camping.
London Team
Amy Stocking, Project Manager
Amy joined Froglife in October 2022 as Project Manager for the Leaping Forward for Dementia project in London. Amy has a variety of experience engaging with communities of all ages. Prior to this role she spent 8 years working for community libraries, facilitating library events and teaching digital skills to older people. She has also worked as a primary school teacher.
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She owes her love for wildlife to her parents, who would walk her through their local nature reserve every Saturday on their way to visit her grandparents, as well as her shy, rescue dog Pip, who she likes to walk (on a lead!) in wild spaces, at dusk (when you can spot the really good wildlife!).
Her favourite amphibian is the warty and magnificent common toad!
Midlands Team
Christina Nijjar, Project Manager
Christina joined Froglife in September 2022 as the Coalface to Wildspace Project Manager. She is excited to be working on a new and innovative project in the Midlands- an area not previously worked in for Froglife!
Christina has previously worked for the Wildlife Trust, Groundwork WM and the RSPB and has a background in environmental education. She has a passion for engaging people about the hidden worlds we coexist with and spends most of her free time outdoors exploring.
Her favourite reptile is the beautiful slow worm
Elsbeth Leighton, Project Assistant
Elsbeth joined Froglife in November 2022 as the Coalface to Wildspace Project Assistant. She has a degree in Zoology and a Master of Research degree focused on conservation and ecology.
Previously she has worked for a grassroot conservation NGO to support community-led conservation projects in Madagascar, worked one season as a seasonal ecologist, and enjoyed getting her hands dirty whilst volunteering with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. Now she is excited to be working with local communities in the midlands to foster a greater love for amphibians and improve their habitat locally.
Elsbeth loves all amphibians and reptiles, but she is especially fond of the charming common frog.
Kyra Trewby, Sessional Worker
Kyra joined Froglife in March 2023 as a Sessional Worker for the Coalface to Wildspace project. She is passionate about helping people fall in love with nature and take action for it.
She has previously worked at the RSPB, helping communities living in urban areas to connect to nature on their doorstep.
She’s also involved in Growing Up Green, a family arts festival that celebrates action on climate change in Birmingham and Black Country.
Scotland Team
Louise Smith, Development Officer
Louise joined the Froglife team in January 2017 as the Learning Officer working on the Green Pathways project based in the Glasgow Office. Louise is also the Learning Officer for the Green Pathways for Life Project.
After graduating in 2015 with an MSc in Applied Marine and Fisheries Ecology she had been volunteering with several different conservation charities near Glasgow to increase her land-based conservation experience.
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Jessica Lockhart, Learning Officer
Jessica joined Froglife in 2023 as a Learning Officer on our Green Pathways Project in Glasgow.
She is an outdoor educator and forest school practitioner with five years’ experience working in a local afterschool.
Jessica has a passion for accessible, holistic care and learning and loves to see children and young people with additional support needs thrive.
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More recently, Jessica has grown her knowledge of circular economies and small-scale organic farming working as an Organic market gardener in Glasgow. Her current dream is to create two ponds on the farms she works on!
When not working you’ll find Jessica hill walking with her dog Missy, wild swimming or sewing clothes and dancing! Preferably at a ceilidh or festival!
Jessica loves all amphibians and reptiles but has a nostalgic soft spot for slow worms.
Somerset Team
Zak Mather-Gratton, Project Officer
Zak joined Froglife in January 2020 as Project Officer on the Somerset Green Pathways for Life project. He has a BSc in Ecological Science from Edinburgh University, and an MSc in Sustainable Forest and Nature Management from Copenhagen University.
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Sussex Team
Will Johanson, Project Manager
Will joined Froglife in April 2022 as the Discovering Dewponds project trainee and in 2023 became the project’s Manager.
Will graduated from the University of Kent with a BSc in Anthropology, where he was fascinated to explore the relationships between people and nature across the world. He has held a lifelong passion for wildlife and wild spaces and is enthusiastic about sharing this with others, having experience working in the outdoor activity sector and volunteering with Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust.
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Will is lucky to have grown up around the South Downs and is privileged to be part of a project making a positive difference for the reptiles, amphibians and communities living within this amazing landscape. His favourite native reptile is the water-loving grass snake!
Lily Walwyn, Trainee
Lily joined Froglife in 2023 as the trainee on the Discovering Dewponds project.
Lily has a lifelong interest in nature and wildlife, particularly amphibians and reptiles. She studied Modern Languages at Durham University and has a background working with marginalised communities through various roles.
She joined the Sussex team in July, having previously lived in Warwickshire, where she volunteered with various conservation projects, including with Warwickshire Amphibian and Reptile Team. She held the role of Campaigns Ambassador for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s inaugural Youth Committee, working to get more young adults involved in conservation.
Outside of work, she enjoys being out and about looking for wildlife, knitting, and the occasional pub quiz.
Yorkshire Team
Darren Starkey, Operations Manager: Small Projects
Darren joined Froglife in February 2021 to manage the Yorkshire Tails Of Amphibian Discovery Project. In 2022 he took on the role of Operations Manager for Froglife’s smaller projects.
Darren previously worked for the RSPB managing two large nature reserves in Yorkshire and before that, he worked for the Environment Agency in several conservation and project management roles. Darren is a graduate of York St John’s University where he gained a BSc Honours in Environmental Science.
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Finance and Office Team
Marie Homewood, Finance & Admin Officer
Marie started her working career in the pub trade until she had her children and decided to hang up the party shoes. Not knowing what she really wanted to do she went into the travel industry where she worked within Finance Departments and Aviation Admin. On being made redundant Marie started to study towards her AAT qualification completing Level 3, which lead to getting a role for 4 years in a Data & electrical company where she put into practice her studies and gained great experience. Marie then joined Froglife in October 2014 due to previous employer relocation and the chance to expand her accounting knowledge.
Ashlea Mawby, Communications Officer/ Toads on Roads Coordinator
Ash was first involved with Froglife back in 2011 as a participant in the Wildlife Ambassadors project and had been an enthusiastic volunteer thereafter, being awarded various accolades for her commitment. She joined the Froglife staff team in June 2016 as the Conservation Youth Worker Trainee for the Green Pathways project in Peterborough.
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Froglife Ecological Services
Kathy Wormald, Director
Further details in Senior Management Team section above.
James McAdie, Operations Manager
James joined Froglife in 2010 to take over the FACT project (formerly Peterborough Environment Enrichment Project) and since moved on to become the River Nene Dragon Finder Project Manager (until the projects’ end in May 2019) and Head of Projects. He now serves as the Froglife Ecological Services’ (FES) Operations Manager.
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Researchers
Michael Hartup, Intern
Michael joined Froglife in 2013 through an internship funded by the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species to investigate small wildlife road tunnels using automated camera systems. Michael has a background in broadcast engineering, and worked for BBC Outside Broadcasts for over ten years. He guaranteed television facilities for some of Europe’s largest live events for Sky, ITV, ESPN and the BBC before moving to special camera projects.
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John Howieson, PhD Student
John is a PhD student at the University of the West of Scotland, who has partially been funded by Froglife since 2020. John’s project seeks to identify the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms behind salt resilience in UK Amphibian species and to better understand the impacts of salt pollution and sea level rise on amphibians. John has previously worked in conservation at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and is particularly interested in evolution and using genetic data to understand species ecology.
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