Our people

Leah McNally, Chief Executive Officer

Leah joined AWT in 2025 from London Wildlife Trust, where she held a wide range of senior roles, including Director of Learning, Youth and Communities. 

Leah brings extensive strategic leadership experience from a number of pioneering projects, including the redevelopment of an iconic visitor and learning centre at Camley Street Natural Park in Kings Cross. In addition, she led ‘Keeping it Wild’ - an award-winning youth programme which includes paid traineeships, a Youth Board and an annual Green Careers Showcase.

Leah has worked in partnership with a variety of landowners and stakeholders for the Great North Wood living landscapes project across five boroughs in South London. She has also led on a number of significant Heritage Fund applications and developed the commercial and operational side of visitor destination nature reserves. 

Leah holds a non-executive director role with Black Girls Hike and is a trustee of Manchester Jewish Museum and the Natural History Consortium. 

In her role as CEO, Leah provides strategic direction for our charity and guidance for the senior leadership team.

Rob Hill, Director of Finance and Resources

Rob is an experienced finance and business services leader and has spent most of his career in the charity and non-profit sector. 

He is an FCA chartered accountant, qualifying at Sayer Vincent, a non-profit specialist audit firm. He then spent over 15 years in senior finance roles in a range of international development and environmental campaigning charities, most notably at MSI Reproductive Choices (formally Marie Stopes International), BBC Media Action and Global Witness.  

Rob joins us from running his own business supporting risk and change management in large international charities. He's a passionate environmentalist and is a trustee of a number of small community environmental organisations where he lives.

Rob leads the team that manages our finance, resources, and governance. 

Bernie D’Arcy, Head of Nature Reserves and Land Management 

Bernie is an experienced land manager and has worked at Avon Wildlife Trust since 2010.  She has experience of designing and leading projects including the setup and development of new landholdings, large-scale habitat restoration and conservation grazing. 

Bernie’s team looks after almost 1000 hectares of nature reserves, undertakes ecological monitoring and works collaboratively with neighbours, ensuring the Trust’s own estate contributes towards nature's recovery.  Bernie has extensive knowledge of the ecology and local communities within Avon and has expertise in wetland, woodland, and grassland management.

Shelly Easton, Head of Nature’s Recovery 

With more than 10 years of experience in the environmental sector, Shelly has been involved in a range of projects at a senior level including habitat restoration and species recovery projects. She brings a combination of technical skills and strategic expertise, including nature-based solutions, and held a key role at Somerset Wildlife Trust's Honeygar Farm – a lowland peatland restoration site. 

Shelly leads the team that looks after a diverse range of nature recovery projects, including our work on peatlands, pollinators, beavers, and Ebdon Farm.

Julie Doherty, Head of Communities and Engagement  

With a wealth of experience in the environmental sector, Julie recently led a step-change from traditional community engagement to sustainable community empowerment. Julie has brought in additional capabilities in community organising and peer network building, supporting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion strategies and building trust within new communities. Julie has integrated this new way of working across AWT, through a programme called Team Wilder.

Julie leads the team that inspires individuals, communities, young people, schools, and our supporters to take action for nature.

Katie Burfitt, Head of Development (on maternity leave)

Katie has spent more than 15 years in fundraising and has specialist experience in developing major giving programmes. She has secured and managed income for large capital projects, with expertise in introducing new networks, building relationship fundraising initiatives across teams and organisations, and delivering cultivation and stewardship events.  

Katie leads the team that looks after fundraising development, our members, and the relationships with the funding bodies and grant making organisations that support our work.

Steve Williamson, Head of People and Resources

Steve is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD), with more than 10 years of heading up HR and Facilities management in Bristol based charities. 

One of Steve's main focuses is to provide the platform for staff to carry out their work with clear processes, along with giving access to resources to help enable development. 

He has become central to people processes, helping the Trust create consistency across teams and departments. 

Steve has always championed diversity, working with local organisations to help create opportunities and change company culture. Steve is part of the process to implement an EDI strategic framework across all areas of the Trust.

Sam Warren, Head of Commercial Development  

Sam has more than 30 years' experience within the retail sector, including national operations, project management, logistics, health and safety, and people development. Sam brings strong strategic skills and experience of applying these in the field, driving commercial performance through skilled and engaged teams whilst positively raising the profile of the organisation. 

Sam leads the team that looks after our commercial interests, including our urban nature hub and wildflower nursery at Grow Wilder, our wedding, education, and conference venue at Folly Farm, and our emerging nature markets portfolio.