Our Staff and Trustees

Managing Director: Peter Nailon

Peter Nailon has worked with the Trust since its creation, becoming full-time director in August 2012. He attended the London School of Economics 1977-1981, then spent 2 years working on farms in Australia. On returning to the UK he worked in Logistics until 2006 when he moved into the environmental sector. He managed a dry stone walling apprenticeship scheme before moving on to Lantra where he was project manager for the LandSkills North East agriculture and forestry training, reporting to ONE North East under the Rural Development Programme for England 2008-2012.

Senior Project Officer: Steve Hudson

Steve joined the Trust as the first full time project officer in 2010 to assist with project development, fund raising and practical delivery. He has since developed an in depth understanding of the catchment and experience delivering practical projects including nature-like fish passage improvements, farm advice, river habitat restoration, natural flood management, community engagement and electro-fishing data collection and analysis. His passion for environmental conservation began in Cornwall when most of his free time as a child was spent fishing on the Bude canal. Steve has degrees in sustainable river basin management and environmental resource management.

Education and Community Engagement Officer: Lucy Lovett

Lucy joined the Trust in April 2015 on a part-time basis to work with on our educational projects including Mayfly in the Classroom and river-based field trips. She also co-ordinates our Riverfly monitoring network. Lucy has degrees in zoology and ecology and has conducted research into duck population with Newcastle University and The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. She also studied otter habitat use with Aberdeen University. She has a broad conservation background having worked for a variety of wildlife and conservation organisations including Natural England, the RSPB and most recently the Durham Biodiversity Partnership.

Project Officer: Paul Atkinson

Paul joined the Trust in Setpember 2016, working primarily on river restoration projects throughout the catchment. Paul has degrees in Environmental Biology and Environmental Management and has a particular interest in freshwater ecology. Paul has previously worked for the Environment Agency and Tyne Rivers Trust and has a passion for improving rivers for people and wildlife.

Office and Finance Manager: Kirstie Hutchinson

Kirstie has worked for the Trust since June 2017 in the capacity of Office/ Finance Manager. She has a strong financial background working as a Financial Controller for a PLC in the Nuclear sector for 10 years then more recently running her own business. She is a qualified Accounting Technician as well as having management qualifications. Outside of work Kirstie enjoys the outdoors and tending to her horses and other animals on the farm where she lives .

Topsoil Project Officer: Martin Colling

Martin joined the Trust in September 2017 to work primarily on the EU Intereg Topsoil Project. Having spent his working life in I.T. Martin decided in 2012 to change career and pursue a degree in Geology (UCC), followed by a MSc in Hydrogeology and Water Management (Newcastle University). Martin's primary interests are Hydrogeological Modelling, Mine Water Remediation & Fracture Flow Mechanics.