The Team
ALISON LOMAX
Director
DR LAUREN HARTNY-MILLS
Science & Conservation Manager
PAULINE MASSEY
Centre & Communities Manager (Maternity cover)
MORVEN SUMMERS
Communications Manager
CHARLIE TRIGGS
Boat Manager
SADIE GORVETT
Education & Sightings Officer
SIOBHAN MORAN
Hebridean Whale Centre Officer
Volunteers
The Trust offer a number of seasonal Education, Outreach and Research Volunteer placements each year. Our volunteers are vital to ensuring the smooth delivery of our boat-based data collection programme, community outreach activities, busy schools programme and our Discovery Centre. Find out more: Volunteering with HWDT.
May, Jessie and Rhiannon - our fantastic 2023 volunteer team
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE TEAM? All jobs will be posted on our our vacancies page and shared via social media. More information on our and volunteering opportunities can be found on our volunteering page, including details on student projects and work experience.
Trustees
Board of Trustees
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is a registered charity in Scotland. Its Board of Trustees are made up of experts from the scientific community, third sector, media, and business sectors. Together they bring a wealth of expert knowledge and experience to the organisation. HWDT trustees are volunteers and meet regularly to set the direction of the Trust’s operations.
Chairperson: Helen Stace
ALEXA KERSHAW
An experienced researcher, campaigner, and wildlife guide, Alexa has worked on a wide variety of marine mammal research projects worldwide and has led whale-watching tours in Scotland, Iceland, Norway, South Africa and Greenland.
ANDREW MELVILLE
A chartered accountant for over 30 years at Ernst & Young, specialising in audit and accountancy. Andrew is HWDT’s Treasurer, since 2018. Andrew is treasurer for two other charities and independent examiner to two small charities.
EDD HEWETT
A professional Skipper since 2009 with many tens of thousands of miles on the water conducting cetacean research around the world. Edd is chair of the Boat Committee and always happy to help ensure HWDT’s boat-based surveys continue to run smoothly.
HELEN STACE
Helen is a lifelong conservationist having worked for 40 years for Scottish and English statutory conservation agencies and charities. As a former CEO of a Wildlife Trust and with over 30 years as a charity Trustee, Helen brings a clear understanding of charity management, funding and governance.
INDY KIEMEL GREENE
Indy is a 19 year old naturalist from Nottinghamshire who ever since he was 11 has spent time volunteering on Sea Life Surveys (now Sea Life Mull) and with Nature Scotland on the Isle of Mull. In the summer of 2024, he and his partner Katie walked from Lands End to John O' Groats via the Hebrides raising funds for the Trust.
LEANNE BLAIR
A chemistry teacher at Tobermory High School, a volunteer for HWDT for many years, and a member of the local lifeboat crew, Leanne supports our education projects on land and sea.
DR PETER EVANS
Peter has worked on cetacean research for 40 years and oversees the UK national cetacean monitoring scheme. Peter established the Sea Watch Foundation in 1991 and is the Charity’s Director and Honorary Professor at the School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor.
PHILIP CHEEK
Phil has probably spent more time observing cetaceans from the deck of Silurian than any other volunteer. In addition to his passion for the Hebrides and its wildlife, as Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee, Philip brings expertise in marketing and in HR.
SHARON GILBURD
Sharon has extensive knowledge of charity governance, strategy and fundraising and is currently Co-Chair of the National Theatre of Wales and Trustee of Shetland Women’s Aid. Raised in Shetland, she has a great affinity with island communities and the valuable role they play in marine conservation.
KATIE MONK
Katie is a young naturalist and student at St Andrews currently studying Ecology and Conservation. She is an RSPB Youth Council Member, a member of Cairngorms Connect and is on the BTO Youth Advisory Panel. Last year, Katie created a film about eco-anxiety for 8 Out Of 10 Bats, as well as giving multiple keynote speeches at conferences across the UK. She also raised over £21,000 for HWDT walking from Land’s End to John O’ Groats!
Committees
Science Committee
HWDT is privileged to have an advisory board of professional scientists that are able to provide guidance on all of the Trust’s science and policy work. The Science Committee is composed of researchers that have been involved in the Trust since the start, as well as past members of the science team. Between them they represent all major research institutions working on cetaceans in Scotland. The Science Committee provides HWDT with continuity in its research, as well as expert scientific advice, which is critical to the maintenance of the long-term Silurian monitoring programme and the credibility of HWDT’s research.
Chairperson: Dr Jonathan Gordon
BOAT Committee
HWDT trustees work with a group of experienced skippers that are able to provide guidance on all aspects of owning, operating and maintaining the Trust’s research vessel, Silurian. The Boat Committee is composed of trustees that have been involved in the Trust since the vessel was purchased, as well as past skippers, boat managers and members of the science staff team. The Boat Committee provides HWDT with continuity and expert advice, which is critical to the strategy and long-term planning relating to the ownership of an iconic Scottish whale research yacht and the charity’s core capital asset.
Chairperson: Edd Hewett
Finance & Personnel Committee
A delegated committee of HWDT trustees provide advice to the board on all finance and personnel matters.
Chairperson: Philip Cheek
Governance Committee
A delegated committee of HWDT trustees provide advice to the board on all charity governance matters.
Chairperson: Helen Stace