Who we are

Steve Micklewright

Chief Executive Officer

Steve is responsible for leading and managing Trees for Life so it continues to be one of the most innovative and dynamic organisations involved in forest restoration and rewilding.

Doug Gilbert

Dundreggan Operations Manager

Doug oversees the management of Dundreggan. Planning new planting areas, implementing the Estate’s Deer and Forest Management Plans, liaising with visiting experts and contractors and welcoming volunteers to Dundreggan Lodge are all part of his job.

Alan McDonnell

Conservation Manager

Alan is responsible for delivering our 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.

Colin Mackenzie-Blackman

Head of Fundraising & Engagement

Colin is responsible for our communications and fundraising activity, working to ensure that individuals, communities and organisations are inspired to help rewild the Scottish Highlands.

Paul Greaves

Skills for Rewilding Training Programme Manager

Paul is responsible for the management of the National Lottery Heritage Funded Skills for Rewilding project, ensuring trainees have the chance to learn new skills in horticulture, forestry, community engagement and deer and estate management.

Allan Common

Dundreggan Deer Manager

Allan is responsible for managing the deer at Dundreggan. He also helps with conservation projects, construction and maintenance of buildings and equipment.

Jill Hodge 

Dundreggan Nursery Manager

Jill manages the tree nursery and helps organise tree planting and other volunteer tasks at Dundreggan. She also welcomes visitors who come to plant trees and hear about the work of Trees for Life.

Tomas Loyante Barea

Head of Finance and Systems

Tomas is responsible for the financial management of Trees for Life, ensuring best practice is achieved and the charity is fully accountable for its financial decisions.

Fiona Holmes

Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project Manager

Fiona manages the Caledonian Pinewood Recovery project. She especially focuses on building relationships with landowners to help increase the ecological management of pinewoods in private ownership.

Laura Miller

People and Resources Manager

Laura makes sure everyone at Trees for Life is safe, supported and happy in their work. She leads on HR, health and safety, and organisational policy and development. Laura helps link our different teams together, and ensures the organisation has everything, and everyone, it needs.

Becky Priestley 

Red Squirrel Project Manager

Becky runs our Red Squirrel Reintroduction Project. She carries out habitat assessments, liaises with land owners and, most importantly, sources, catches and moves red squirrels to establish new populations.

Chris Aldridge

Individual Giving and Marketing Manager

Chris manages, plans and delivers all aspects of Trees for Life’s communications and marketing, especially focusing on donor stewardship and co-ordinating online and print communications and editing web content.

Cait Gillespie

Fundraising and Marketing Officer

Cait helps promote the work of Trees for Life, supporting communications and project appeals. She also answers queries from the public, and helps run our social media channels.

Catherine Faulkner 

Partnerships Manager – Corporates

Catherine works with businesses that are passionate about supporting rewilding in the Scottish Highlands. Her role includes creating partnerships with companies that want to give back to nature and engage their staff with our key activities.

Sarah Kent

Partnerships Manager – Trusts and Foundations

Sarah is responsible for securing funding from charitable trusts and foundations. Her role includes providing feedback to funders about how their donations are helping to rewild the Scottish Highlands.

Laurelin Cummins-Fraser

Director – Dundreggan Rewilding Centre

Laurelin is responsible for the development of the new Rewilding Centre, which will open in 2022. She will oversee day-to-day operations and its staff, ensuring its financial sustainability and meeting objectives to benefit surrounding communities, promote local heritage and engage a wider audience with rewilding.

Kat Murphy

Rewilding Centre Education Manager

Kat is responsible for the development and delivery of educational programming at the new Rewilding Centre. She will build relationships within the educational and wider communities, and support the overall visitor experience so that a larger, more diverse audience can benefit from connecting with natural and cultural heritage.

James Rainey

Senior Ecologist

James ensures the work of Trees for Life is built on sound ecological foundations. His research and fieldwork helps guide our rewilding activities, and influences the land management practices we advocate. James is currently surveying Caledonian pinewoods on land managed by Forestry and Land Scotland.

Tom Gilpin 

Conservation Week Coordinator

Tom is responsible for running our volunteer Conservation Week programme. He manages the Conservation Week Guides and ensure the vehicles, accommodation and food is organised for the weeks. He plans the work to be done too.

Abbey Goff 

Dundreggan Nursery Supervisor

Emma Beckinsale 

Seasonal Nursery Assistant

Janet Barcis

Accounts Administrator

Janet takes care of all our day-to-day monetary transactions. She also organises our insurance requirements.

Kasia Czuj

Finance and Data Officer

Kasia supports the effective stewardship of our financial resources by participating in the management of the financial administration, governance and IT systems.

Carol MacDonald

Supporter Coordinator

Carol is the first voice many people hear when they call Trees for Life. She takes calls and greets visitors, while also processing orders, corresponding with donors and maintaining our database.