AGM 2026

Rupert Taylor 

Rupert grew up in Somerset and has had a keen interest in the county’s wildlife from a very early age, with his experience as a young ornithologist sparking a lifelong interest in our wildlife. Initially training as a science teacher, Rupert moved into management consultancy and worked for over thirty years in helping organisations go through significant change and was previously head of Ernst & Young’s sustainability business for UK Financial Services, helping banks and insurance companies deliver on their nature and biodiversity commitments.

Rupert is passionate about helping nature recovery and, as an experienced trustee, Rupert has a broad experience of building engagement with diverse groups, including being a very active supporter of promoting change for the disability and neurodiversity communities, as well as working on heritage/restoration projects.

Stephen Rogers

Stephen was elected a trustee in 2023 and chairs the Finance, Audit and Risk committee. He has been pleased to support our excellent finance team with the recent introduction on a new accounting system which both improves financial control and management information.

Stephen had a 35-year financial career with PwC, ending up as senior audit partner in Leeds. He then spent 10 years as a non-executive director of two Northern listed companies and was a trustee and the treasurer of the Leeds Community Foundation charity.

Steve has three adult daughters and six grandchildren, all of whom love nature - Steve hopes the Wildlife Trust can make our natural world even more amazing for them.

Amy Coulthard

Amy is currently Head of Operations at Entrade leading the creation of high integrity environmental markets to drive investment in nature based solutions. Previously Amy has had a long career with Natural England before becoming Director for Nature’s Recovery at Avon Wildlife Trust leading on projects ranging from badger vaccination trials to the creation of the Bristol Avon Catchment market. Amy has been a trustee of Bath City Farm since 2019.

Ellie Collier 

Ellie Collier is Chief Executive of The Anchor Society and an experienced charity leader with expertise in strategic leadership, governance, fundraising, financial oversight, and community engagement. Previously Chief Executive of Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol, she led the organisation’s strategy, operations, volunteer engagement, and long-term sustainability, helping to strengthen its role as a valued community green space and heritage site. She also served for six years as a Trustee of Voscur, Bristol’s support and development agency for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 

Through her executive and trustee roles, Ellie has developed significant experience in board governance, strategic planning, risk management, and constructive challenge. She has worked extensively with charities, community groups, public bodies and other stakeholders, building partnerships and supporting organisations to become more resilient and financially sustainable. 

Passionate about nature recovery, public access to green spaces and community involvement, Ellie is committed to Somerset Wildlife Trust’s vision for a Wilder Somerset. She brings valuable charity sector leadership, governance expertise, and a strong commitment to helping the Trust achieve its long-term ambitions.

Felicity Alvey 

Felicity Alvey is a sustainable finance specialist with nearly a decade of experience spanning investment management, consultancy, government, and academia. She is currently Programme Director for ClimateWise at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, where she works with insurers, policymakers, and academic partners to advance climate resilience, nature-positive outcomes, and sustainable finance. 

Felicity brings significant expertise in green finance and nature markets. Previously, as Head of Sustainable Finance Innovation at the City of London Corporation, she led work to strengthen the UK’s position in sustainable finance, including developing the organisation’s strategic approach to nature finance. She worked extensively with government, financial institutions, and civil society organisations to identify barriers to investment in nature recovery and develop practical solutions to mobilise private finance. 

Her experience also includes leading research programmes and translating academic evidence into practical frameworks and recommendations for industry and policymakers. Through her work, she has developed strong stakeholder engagement skills, bringing together partners from across finance, government, academia, and the environmental sector to address complex climate and nature-related challenges. 

She has a personal connection to Somerset through her family and childhood, and brings valuable expertise in sustainable finance, strategic thinking, and environmental policy to the Board.

Joshua Dean

Joshua Dean is an internationally recognised environmental scientist and research leader based at the University of Bristol, specialising in climate change, the global carbon cycle, and the role of wetlands and peatlands in nature recovery. His work has strong relevance to Somerset, including research at RSPB Greylake Nature Reserve and Gold Corner Farm, as well as technical support for greenhouse gas monitoring at Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Honeygar Farm. 

Joshua brings extensive expertise in environmental science and evidence-based decision making. He leads major research programmes exploring carbon cycling, land management, and climate impacts, managing over £3 million of active research funding, and contributing to more than £10 million of research income throughout his career. His work brings together government departments, conservation organisations, land managers, and international research partners to develop practical solutions for environmental challenges.

Alongside his academic work, Joshua is Founder and Chief Technology Officer of a research-led company exploring renewable fuel verification and voluntary carbon markets, providing valuable insight into green finance and emerging environmental markets. Through his leadership roles at the University of Bristol, including Director of Research for the School of Geographical Sciences, he has developed experience in strategy, governance, budgeting, and organisational development. Joshua brings exceptional scientific expertise, innovation, and strategic thinking to the Board, helping to support Somerset Wildlife Trust’s vision for a Wilder Somerset.

Owen Hewlett

Owen Hewlett is a senior sustainability executive with extensive expertise in climate policy, environmental markets, carbon accounting and nature-positive solutions. He is Chief Technical Officer at the Gold Standard Foundation, one of the world’s leading organisations for climate and sustainable development standards and has spent more than a decade working at the forefront of environmental finance and sustainability governance. 

Owen brings significant expertise in green finance, particularly in the development of carbon markets, blended finance mechanisms and certification systems that support investment in climate and nature outcomes. He has held influential governance positions as a Technical Council Member of the Science Based Targets Initiative and a Standards Board Member of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, helping to shape internationally recognised frameworks that underpin credible environmental action and investment. 

His work is grounded in science-based decision making and includes leading research, developing technical methodologies and facilitating collaboration between experts to address complex environmental challenges. He has also worked on projects relating to agriculture, land use and greenhouse gas methodologies, including initiatives supporting tenant farmers and nature-positive land management.

Owen has strong personal links to the region and a long-standing interest in nature conservation. He has worked closely with organisations including WWF and has maintained memberships with conservation charities since childhood.