Governance
Steve Micklewright
Chief Executive Officer
Led by Steve, our Governance team is responsible for leading and managing Trees for Life so it continues to be one of the most innovative, hopeful, and bold organisations engaged in rewilding and nature restoration.
Sue Sim
Executive Support Officer
Karen Sinclair
People and Resources Manager
Ashley Bigmore
HR Advisor
Nature Restoration
Alan McDonnell
The nature restoration team delivers a programme of major projects. These include all aspects of habitat and species recovery, plus other environmental initiatives, from concept to scoping, feasibility, delivery and review.
James Rainey
Senior Ecologist
Operations and Delivery
Ian Richards
Chief Operating Officer
The operations and delivery teams are responsible for our long-term initiatives. This includes the management of our Dundreggan estate and tree nursery, the delivery of volunteering projects and our organisational sustainability.
Additional Operations and Delivery Staff
Nursery Seasonal Workers: Fiona Cormie, Finian Blaxhall
Dundreggan Rewilding Centre
Laurelin Cummins-Fraser
The management team at the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the world’s first rewilding centre. This includes our An Nead café, our An Spiris accommodation, and the delivery of a varied programme of events, tours, and activities to enable people to experience rewilding in action.
[Recruiting]
Heritage and Gaelic Development Officer
Additional Dundreggan Rewilding Centre Staff
Chef: Sue Reed
Hospitality Assistants: Calum McKeown, Dave White, Jane Tomlinson, Jim Chalmers, Katrina Ruane, Logan Mathieson, Samuel Jenkins, Vicky L
Property Maintenance Assistant: Logan Mathieson
Business Operations Assistants: Jennifer Sutherland, Sarah Woodfin
Fundraising and Marketing
Chris Aldridge
The fundraising and marketing team designs and carries out strategic campaigns to raise funds and boost our charity’s visibility, all in support of rewilding efforts in Scotland. This includes nurturing donor relationships, creating engaging marketing materials, and hitting income targets to further our vision of a rewilded Scotland.
Carol Wilson
Supporter Coordinator
Isabel McLeish
Marketing and Media Coordinator
Claire Slaney
Marketing Officer
Finance
David Russell
Head of Finance
Our finance team ensures the financial health and sustainability of our charity, enabling our rewilding efforts in Scotland to thrive. They manage budgeting, financial planning, and reporting with precision and transparency. By overseeing all financial operations, they support our mission, ensuring every pound is effectively utilised to advance the vision of rewilding in Scotland.
Kasia Czuj
Finance and Data Officer
Dorota Dzida
Management Accountant
Paula MacPherson
Accounts Assistant
Anna Renusch
Accounts Assistant
Board of Trustees
Nigel Fraser | Chair
Nigel brings broad experience in land management, renewable energy, and rural enterprise. Nigel is the Executive Director of a consultancy called Blackhall & Powis, specialising in supporting developers of renewable energy and electricity infrastructure. He is also a director of a firm of property consultants called Highland Rural, who provide professional services to landowners across the region, and co-founder of an electric vehicle sale and lease platform, Bounc-e. Nigel also runs a tourism and property business with his family in Strathglass.
Susan Griffin
Susan has 35 years of experience in project management within the rail water and industries. In 2011 Susan established Great Glen Consultancy, a consultancy business helping deliver projects across Scotland ranging from social housing to off-grid renewable energy. Based in the Highlands, Susan is heavily involved in her own community as chair of Glenurquhart Rural Community Association (GURCA) and Secretary of the Glenurquhart Highland Gathering and games.
Sam Hesling
Brought up on a hill farm just south of Inverness, Sam has been deeply involved in the land-based industry for most of his life. He helps run McGowan Environmental Engineering, a contracting company that specialises in delivering environmental restoration projects. Sam is also a dedicated trustee of the Abriachan Forest Trust, where he lives. When not working or spending time with his young family, he can often be found running in the Scottish Highlands. His commitment to environmental stewardship and his active lifestyle reflect his passion for the social and environmental fabric of the Scottish Highlands.
David Hetherington
David is Nature Networks Manager at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, where he has provided ecological and woodland advice since 2005. He led the Cairngorms Wildcat Project for three years and holds a PhD from Aberdeen University on “The feasibility of reintroducing the Eurasian lynx to Scotland”. He has subsequently published a book with photographer Laurent Geslin, The Lynx and Us, on how people across Europe coexist with the Eurasian lynx.
Davinder Jhamat
Davinder has a career built in commercial real estate and is currently working in residential property. As a trained economist and researcher, she has previously worked for the European Commission, the City of London Corporation, a professional membership body representing retail real estate and other roles. Her executive career is supported with a non-executive portfolio largely in sport. Having worked at local, national and international levels, Davinder has led and engaged experts and government to deliver works of impact, and positive change.
Daniel Keller
Daniel is the CEO of Unifrog. Over the past six years he’s played a central role in taking them from a small start-up to an organisation that’s now revolutionising careers and university guidance around the world. His love of the outdoors means he spends as much of his time outside as possible – usually climbing, surfing or skiing.
Anne Langley
Anne has enjoyed a varied career, working in the public, third and private sectors for organisations including the Department for International Development, The National Trust and Dell Technologies. Her background spans procurement, operations and policy. With expertise in change management, risk, crisis response, and strategy development, Anne thrives when working on projects that deliver sustainable development. Anne is a keen cyclist and volunteers with British Cycling.
Stuart Moncrieff
Stuart is an Enterprise Risk Manager with a background in mathematics and over a decade of experience in finance and risk, the majority of which has been dedicated to sustainable finance at Triodos Bank. Stuart has always been passionate about environmentalism and has participated in rewilding and restoration projects while living in both Ireland and the UK. While living in the Netherlands, he volunteered with WWF and raised funds for them during the 2023 London Marathon.
Michael Scobbie
Michael leads communications at CalMac, the UK’s largest ferry operator, and previously headed up communications and marketing at the Scottish SPCA, one of Scotland’s largest charities. He is also experienced in integrated campaigns, fundraising, policy and community engagement. A keen hillwalker and wildlife photographer, Michael spends as much time as possible exploring the Scottish Highlands.
John Uttley
John retired from a long and varied career with NatureScot in 2024. He headed NatureScot’s work on developing the new field of Nature Finance from 2019, collaborating closely with Government, innovative businesses, finance, academia, civic organisations and NGOs. He catalysed and developed the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS) and co-led the Scottish Nature Finance Pioneers, the UK’s premier Nature Finance network. John is a trained ecologist and also has experience of governance, strategic and business planning
