How we're run

Sue joined the board in May 2023 and is Chair Designate until the AGM. Sue has been in the nature conservation sector since the early 1990s. After nine years at the National Trust, Sue was CEO of the Woodland Trust for almost nine years. She also worked for Earthwatch, the Chilterns AONB and DEFRA. She has been trustee of a number of charities and has been on the Boards of a National Park and an AONB. Sue has a small farm in the Brecon Beacons where she and her husband are making improvements to help nature. These include restoring some ancient woodland and creation new woodland. They are also reinstating hedgerows and shelter belts to help lesser horseshoe bats because the farm is in between three maternity roosts of European significance.

Edmund is Bursar to a monastery, administering that charity’s financial, property and commercial affairs.  He has qualifications in tax and accountancy and previously was a self-employed taxation and business adviser, primarily doing sub-contract work for accountants and solicitors. 

Edmund has been Honorary Secretary of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust since 1991.

Chris was on the Senior Management Team of the Brecon Beacons National Park for many years before leaving to set up his own countryside management consultancy. 

In 2005 he became the Consultancy Manager for Radnorshire Wildlife Services, retiring in 2012.  Chris became the Vice-Chair of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust in 2014 and was Chair from 2016-2020.

Chris is the Radnorshire (VC43) butterfly recorder and a member of the Powys Local Access Forum.

Jen is originally from Dorset and first began her career volunteering with her local Wildlife Trust, which is where it all began. She fell in love with Radnorshire during family holidays as a child and moved to the area in 2016.

During her career she has worked as a Countryside Ranger on the South West Coast Path National Trail, as a Tree Surgeon for a County Council, a Lecturer in an Agricultural college, and as an Area Ranger in North Dorset, where she managed Nature Reserves and Rights of Way. Jen currently works in the Elan Valley, managing a team of Rangers on the 72 square mile estate.

Jen currently lives in Rhayader and remains a regular volunteer with RWT on their many reserves.

Leigh began his career as an analytical chemist and lab manager in the water industry, specializing in detecting pesticide residues and other persistent organic pollutants like PCBs. He then transitioned to environmental management, becoming an Environmental Auditor for Powys County Council's "Green Dragon®" environmental management scheme.

During his tenure, he recognized the significant environmental impact of light pollution from street lighting. Powys held Green Dragon level 5 accreditation, equivalent to the European Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), which required an annual environmental report. This report highlighted the energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and wildlife impact of street lighting.

Upon retiring in 2018, Leigh focused on improving lighting quality in his hometown of Presteigne by installing Dark Skies compliant lighting. In January 2024, Presteigne and Norton became the first International Dark Sky Community in mainland Wales and England. He continues to promote Dark Skies through the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust’s Dark Sky Working Group, encouraging other communities to follow suit.

Leigh also monitors river water quality and supports the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust’s efforts to address pollution in the Wye and Lugg rivers. In his spare time, he enjoys astronomy and is an active member of the Marches Astronomy Group and the “Caring for God’s Acre” churchyard task team, where he is improving his scything skills.

Joss Garman joined the board in January 2024. Currently the Executive Director of the European Climate Foundation, he has worked at the intersection of environmental campaigns, policy, politics and philanthropy for twenty years including through leadership roles in Greenpeace and the Institute for Public Policy Research. He has been named as one of the UK's most influential voices on climate change by Politico, The Sunday Times and The Guardian.

Born and raised in Radnorshire, where some of his family still live, he is frequently out and about exploring RWT reserves with his wife and two sons.