How we're run

Oliver Blount, Chair of Trustees

Oliver found a derelict farmhouse near Camelford in 1998 and has spent the years since then restoring it as a family home. The farm has been tenanted and farmed for beef cattle until this year. A new plan for the land will focus more on environmental and ecological aspects. Prior to being able to spend more time in Cornwall, Oliver had an initial spell in the army serving in the Far East with a Gurkha regiment; and latterly a 35 year career in financial services principally in London and with time spent in New York, Milan, Istanbul and Eastern Europe.

Karen Burrows

Karen, a former commercial lawyer with Linklaters, spent over 25 years with BG Group Plc, gaining extensive international management experience and serving as Deputy General Counsel in 1997. Subsequently she held senior roles for BG Group in Trinidad and Canada. From 2012, she was a Board Member of the Environment Agency for six years, focussing on the south west. She served as a governor at Cornwall College (2014–2023), chairing the Finance Committee. Karen also sat on the Local Nature Partnership Board (2019–2022), taking particular interest in the development of green skills. Passionate about the environment, she volunteers with the National Trust and Roseland Environment Action Team. Her hobbies include hiking, rowing, sailing, and skiing.

Jo Coumbe

Jo is Director of Communications at Blue Marine Foundation, an ocean conservation charity with global reach and impact. She brings a wealth of expertise in strategic communications and has overseen some of the most significant environmental media campaigns on ocean protection in recent years. Jo spent more than a decade in national and regional press before turning to conservation and has received a host of awards in recognition of her work. She lives on the north coast of Cornwall with her young family, who can all be frequently found in, on, or near the sea. As a result of her love of the ocean, Jo is particularly passionate about Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s marine conservation work.

Amie Fulton

Amie grew up in rural Midwest USA, where her mother inspired a deep love of nature and environmental responsibility. Now living in Cornwall, she embraces its wild landscapes and ever-changing weather, and contributes her skills to Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Her career spans charities, government, and higher education, with roles in ecological footprint reduction, climate policy, and university leadership. She has held senior roles including Trustee, Board Chair, and University Director, focusing on strategy, planning, and resilience. When not out walking her Newfoundland dog, Amie spends as much time as possible in the water—sailing, bodyboarding, and snorkelling in the beautiful Cornish seas with her husband.

Ian Greaves

Ian grew up on the North Cornwall coast above Trebarwith Strand, fostering a lifelong love of nature. Time spent in the remote Highlands of Scotland deepened his appreciation for wild landscapes. As a key leader at St Eval Candle Co., Ian helped grow the business sustainably while championing environmental values. He served twice as President of the British Candlemakers Federation, founded its Environmental Subgroup, and contributes to the European Candle Makers Association. Ian also led St Eval’s partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust on the Helman Tor beaver project, reflecting his deep commitment to reversing habitat loss and protecting biodiversity, issues he has witnessed firsthand over the years. 

Merlin Hanbury-Tenison

Merlin was born and raised on a farm made up of upland grazing and rare temperate rainforest in the heart of Bodmin Moor.  After a career in the British Army he spent a number of years working around the world as an operations consultant.  He returned to the farm to begin transforming it for the next epoch of environmental land management.  With his wife, Lizzie, he has embarked upon a multi-generational restoration programme that includes planting over 100,000 trees, reintroducing a range of absent native species whilst protecting and improving the mycelial network that connects the forest.  They have also founded Cabilla Cornwall, a forest bathing retreat, that brings people into the temperate rainforest to improve their mental health, learn and feel better.

Raoul Humphreys, Treasurer

Raoul, originally from St Ives and now living in St Just, is a keen amateur naturalist who enjoys birdwatching, botanising, and mothing. A chartered accountant, his diverse career spans the Armed Forces, KPMG, and education. He was Principal and CEO of Cornwall College Group until 2018, leading initiatives such as the expansion of Duchy College, college mergers, and the growth of Higher Education in Cornwall. Now an independent advisor, he focuses on leadership and organisational development. Raoul is committed to Cornwall’s future and serves on various boards, including the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and several community organisations.

Paul Rice

Paul and his wife Sally live on Tregonning Hill, overlooking Mounts Bay, where they are restoring Cornish hedges and replacing invasive species with native ones. Passionate about cetaceans, they often explore Falmouth Bay and the Lizard by boat, with sightings of minke and humpback whales. Before moving to Cornwall, Paul worked as a solicitor in both public and private sectors, including roles in the Army and advising on agricultural and land management issues. He also prosecuted wildlife crimes and later became senior partner at his firm, overseeing regulatory compliance and taking on key leadership responsibilities.

Gill Saunders, Secretary

Gill returned to the South West in 2016 and now lives near Boyton, North Cornwall. She is Secretary to Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Board and is developing her five-acre property into a wildlife-friendly space. A former civil servant, she has long been active in conservation, including work with Devon Wildlife Trust. Gill is an experienced trustee and governance expert, with past roles at Phoenix Futures, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity offering recovery through nature, and a London allotment site, where she led community wildlife projects. She’s currently focussed on the post-Brexit impacts of changing agricultural policy on land use and habitat conservation in Cornwall.

Richard Stokoe 

Richard has 25 years of experience in politics, communications, and the environmental sector. He began as an MP’s researcher, later running election campaigns and working with local councils in Westminster, where his PR team won Public Sector Team of the Year. He holds a Masters in Disaster Management and has lectured on risk, communications, and climate change at the University of South Wales. Since moving to Cornwall in 2017, he has become a trustee of a youth homelessness charity and a Marazion Town Councillor. His interests include environmental protection, tornado chasing, Ironman triathlons, and leading cycle tours across Europe.

Louise Thomas

Louise grew up on a farm near Penzance, developing a love for the land and Cornwall. After gaining a degree in Agriculture from Wye College, she pursued a career in horticulture, working with growers and supermarkets across Europe and New Zealand. Now back in Penzance, she lives with her husband on a rented Bolitho Estate farm. The family-run business covers dairy, beef, cereals, and agri-environment schemes. She recently launched a soft furnishings business, providing her with some time away from muddy wellies. Louise is especially interested in exploring how farmers can continue to produce food alongside developing wildlife habitats for a profitable and sustainable future.

Veryan Vere Hodge

Veryan grew up in Constantine, near the Helford River, and returned to Cornwall post-pandemic with her husband Bob and their cocker spaniel, Beau. She has over 25 years of experience in charity leadership and philanthropy, having worked in wildlife, healthcare, education, and higher education sectors. Her career began at Surrey Wildlife Trust, followed by NHS charities, independent schools, and major fundraising roles at the Universities of Exeter and St Andrews. Now based near Bude, she leads strategic fundraising remotely and has also run her own consultancy. Passionate about nature, she enjoys wildlife gardening, homegrown cooking, coastal walks, and year-round sea swimming (no wetsuit!).

Rosie Woodroffe

Rosie Woodroffe is a Professor of Ecology and Conservation Biology. Born and raised in Falmouth, she left Cornwall to go to university, and went on to pursue an academic career focusing on ways to promote the coexistence of people and wildlife. She has worked extensively on the conservation of African carnivores, especially African wild dogs, but in the UK she is best known for her work on the management of badgers to control bovine tuberculosis. She has won multiple awards for her work, including the Marsh Awards for both Ecology and Conservation; she was specially commended by in the Maddox Prize for Standing up for Science, and placed on the BBC Wildlife Power List. A Professor at the Zoological Society of London, she moved back to Cornwall in 2007, and continues to lead the Cornwall Badger Project, promoting coexistence of people and wildlife in Cornwall.

Nick Wylie

Nick is an award-winning creative director and marketeer working strategically in brand development. A specialist in digital communication and MARTECH as well as brand strategy, art direction and commercial leadership, Nick has a background in delivering highly effective digital and offline marketing campaigns for national and international clients across a wide range of sectors. Nick currently works for a group of lifestyle hospitality companies with sites across the UK. Nick is a keen surfer of over 30 years, and loves to spend time with his young family outdoors in Cornwall.