Our Team

Our Team

Meet the directors and heads of The Rivers Trust teams that make our work happen.

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Alex Adam

Deputy Director, Strategic Development & Stewardship

Alex is our Deputy Director of Strategic Development & Stewardship, leading a team of seven to develop and manage corporate and cross-sector partnerships.

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Amina Aboobakar

Strategy & Stewardship Director

Amina is our Strategy & Stewardship Director, leading a team of nine to drive commercial and market opportunities for The Rivers Trust movement. Her team works to expand our partnerships, funding streams, and strategic initiatives, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.

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Barry Bendall

Operations Director

Barry is our Operations Director, overseeing The Rivers Trust’s project delivery, Human Resources, and IT teams. He plays a key role in managing and enhancing our internal processes, ensuring we operate efficiently and effectively to maximise our impact.

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David Johnson

Technical Director

David is one of our Technical Directors, coordinating our Technical Team of nine analysts and data scientists and ensuring the highest technical quality in our work. His team produces data-driven outputs, such as our sewage map, and develops innovative ways to use data and evidence to better understand river environments and drive effective action. He also leads technical engagement with key partners, strengthening collaboration across the sector.

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Mark Horton MBE

All Ireland Director

Mark is our All Ireland Director, leading the growth and development of The Rivers Trust across the island of Ireland. He oversees a dedicated team of 15, working to strengthen the network of local Trusts, build strategic partnerships, and drive forward initiatives that protect and restore Ireland’s rivers. In addition to his role at The Rivers Trust, he is also the Chief Executive of Ballinderry Rivers Trust, where he leads efforts to enhance freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity at a local level.

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Mark Lloyd

CEO

Mark is our Chief Executive Officer, responsible for overseeing our direction and strategy. He joined The Rivers Trust in 2019 after 10 years as Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal, where he played a transformational role representing the UK’s three million anglers and taking legal action against polluters. Much of that work was focussed on protecting water quality, a subject close to Mark’s heart. Prior to that, Mark was Chief Executive of Thames21, one the Rivers Trust’s current members. He therefore is deeply familiar with the culture, challenges and opportunities of the Rivers Trust movement.

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Michelle Walker

Technical Director

Michelle is our Technical Director, and she works with the rest of our Technical Team of data scientists and analysts to provide innovative ways of using data and evidence to help understand river environments and deliver river improvements. In particular, she leads The Rivers Trust’s Citizen Science projects, empowering communities to collect and use environmental data to protect their local waterways. Michelle also drives our work on sewage pollution, using data-driven insights to highlight issues and push for solutions.

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Rob Collins, Director of Policy & Science

Rob Collins

Director of Policy and Science

Rob is our Director of Policy and Science leading he Rivers Trust’s work to ensure that scientific insights inform legislation, regulation, and management practices. He also serves as Secretariat for the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA), facilitating collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, businesses, and local communities to promote integrated, catchment-scale solutions for healthier rivers and landscapes.

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Tessa Wardley, Director of Communications & Advocacy

Tessa Wardley

Director of Communications and Advocacy

Tessa is our Director for Communications and Advocacy. Leading a team of 11 communications professionals to deliver the strategic approach for communications that establishes the Rivers Trust Movement as the leading environmental NGO for rivers, and the preferred partner to help rivers and communities thrive.