Staff
Jo has been Chief Executive of the Wilderness Foundation since 2004, and was previously involved as Projects Director and Project Coordinator since 1998.
South African by birth, Jo has enjoyed a rich life of wild places in many parts of Africa as she grew up. She trained and worked as a Social Anthropologist during the time of Apartheid, working mainly with rural communities. Understanding and measuring the effects of value on wellbeing and encouraging people to respect and understand the value of wilderness and nature lies at the heart of her passion in her work. She moved away to the UK in 1984 and apart from seven years living in Luxembourg has remained here.
Using the extensive wilderness network and her close link to South Africa and Europe, she merges best practice from around the world into creative programmes for nature and people that suit varying climates and cultures.
Jo focuses on the effects of wilderness on positive change for people and nature to empower environmental awareness and ethics. She specialises in wellbeing, behavioural issues, and mental health improvements through nature immersion. She leads wilderness therapy programmes and accredited training in the field and has a keen interest in research. By taking over learned knowledge into the field of her delivery and the Foundation, and understanding the outcomes and research for a range of programmes she has developed and delivered here in the UK and various parts of the world for over 15 years.
Over the past 20 years, Jo has established a wide range of programmes within the Foundation to meet the needs of environment, climate action, building nature connections; involving eco and wilderness therapy interventions for individuals and communities. These programmes include Chatham Green Project, Wild Schools, Wild Swans women’s leadership, Sirius Environmental Leadership Programme, TurnAround vulnerable youth programme, Out There Academy, Blossom for Domestic Abuse survivors, Brave Futures mental health group programmes, Treun Scotland and wilderness trails for other groups.
Jo is a Master NLP Practitioner, Advanced Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and Qualified Clinical Supervisor. She uses her skills in behaviour change facilitation and motivation across the board, with a particular focus on the outdoors.
Recently she has taken on a role as a commissioner for the Essex Climate Action Commission and is working with the team to ensure that the protection of nature and biodiversity shares the same energy and passion as human wellbeing and this is woven through all the work of the Foundation. She believes in a philosophy of ‘we help nature and nature helps us’.
Angely has a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from the University of Western Sydney. Before moving from Hong Kong to UK with the family in July 2014, Angely has been Human Resources and Administration Manager for over 15 years and has worked in different multinational companies such as DHL, Nestle, OOCL and Merrill Lynch.
Angely joined the Wilderness Foundation in 2017 and manages the Foundation’s administration and therapy services. Angely is grateful to be part of the Foundation family which helps young people to overcome their difficulties in lives.
Shelley’s spare time is spent with her son, and spending time on their farm with the horses and dogs, enjoying the outdoors and environment around them.
With over 20 years design and marketing experience in the creative sector, Clare has worked on a broad range of creative projects, managing teams for large publishing, print and design agencies. Before joining the foundation team as a full time employee, she had previously volunteered for the charity as a TurnAround youth mentor as well as helping out on various Wilderness marketing projects and campaigns.
Clare gained her degree in Professional Media from the University of Gloucestershire and went on to work in the creative sector, successfully managing projects for global brands including corporate real estate, law and retail companies. Her commitment to the Foundation and her belief in what it represents made her change direction and leave the creative world to work for the charity full time.
Her spare time is taken up with her passion for gardening, painting and photography as well as spending time with her family and unruly German Shepherd dog Rudy.
Terri completed her BSC Conservation and Environment Degree at Writtle University College, Chelmsford. After completing 2 years at college studying BTEC level 3 extended diploma in equine management, Terri during her time at university worked for Riverside Vets in Benfleet. She is also involved in surveying work with the Southend Dormouse group since 2014, and holds a Class 1 Dormouse handling licence. Terri has also been involved with bat and reptile surveys in Essex, and has a semi wild Lundy pony from Lundy Island in Devon.
Terri started with the Wilderness Foundation in 2017 as a volunteer on the Chatham Green Project, in 2018 she took on the role of Assistant Education Officer. In 2019 she started working as Education Officer and a Green Mentor for the Green Influencers Scheme and is now Environmental Education Manager at the Foundation. Her passion is nature and the environment and her aim is to inspire the next generation to love, appreciate and care for the natural environment. Read more here
With a particular interest in woods and trees, Catherine’s work and volunteering has taken her from managing woodland in Hertfordshire, to working on research studies of botanical biodiversity in Lancashire and planting trees in London’s parks.
Catherine enjoys sharing her passion for the natural world and is experienced in leading volunteers and school groups in conservation activities.
Kate grew up in Leicestershire where she spent a large amount of time either reading or exploring the local woodland. After school (and a few international adventures) Kate began training as a Speech and Language Therapist. She quickly realised that she actually wanted to work more closely supporting young people, and so became a teaching assistant, helping children with additional needs in their lessons for many years.
In 2019, Kate’s career changed direction when she came across an underused Sensory Garden and felt that it could be better, so she started training in horticulture. After 2 years at RHS Hyde Hall, then a year at Writtle University College, Kate finished her RHS Level 2 certificate in horticulture in 2023.
Kate is really excited to be in the post of Horticultural Facilitator for Wilderness Foundation, describing it as her dream job. Kate loves the magic of growing things, and wants to share this joy with as many people as possible, especially those who might not have access to a garden otherwise.
Jane was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. After graduating from university she moved down to London and worked in HR in the Financial Sector in the City of London.
Following a career break after the birth of her children, she retrained as a gardener, gaining her horticulture qualifications from Writtle University College.
She has a strong belief in the importance of horticulture and nature in general in improving mental and physical wellbeing and is delighted to be part of the Down To Earth team at the Wilderness Foundation, working at the allotment site in Chelmsford and the Braintree Community Garden. She especially enjoys the community integration aspect of this role.
Jane is a (mostly) keen runner and enjoys spending time with family and friends and going on trips to gardens – especially if there is a café.
Liam moved over to the UK from South Africa in 2019. Whilst in South Africa he spent time volunteering for an Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation centre and trained as a Nature guide. Liam has a passion for the natural world especially for bird life, he started with Wilderness Foundation UK in September 2019 on an Internship.
After completing the Kickstart programme at the Foundation and becoming an integral part of the team, Liam has now started a part time horticultural course at Writtle College alongside his role of site maintenance and assistant facilitator in the Wilderness Education team.
Prior to working as Project Administrator for the Wilderness Foundation, Jodie worked for the Crown Prosecution Service for 11 years as a Casework Assistant within the Complex Casework Unit, dealing with all media and high-profile criminal cases in the East of England and occasionally attend Court.
Jodie Is grateful to be part of the Wilderness Foundation which helps young people overcome difficulties in their lives and shows them ways which can improve not only their lives but ways to improve the environment for future generations.
In her spare time Jodie enjoys spending time with her 2 boys, going out into forests and enjoys anything related to Disney.
Elaine has spent the past 17 years working with children, and prior to starting a family she worked within the finance industry. Elaine believes strongly in giving back & helping those in need & has volunteered with various organisations including Chelmsford Food Bank. She currently mentors with a local Christian charity in a High School supporting Key Stage 3.
Elaine feels very grateful to have come full circle & give back to the Foundation, as her journey with them started when they supported her daughter’s mental health some years ago, so has seen firsthand the amazing work they do and the positive impact this has on young people.
In her spare time, she loves Musical Theatre, Disney & Christmas in that order. Now a mum to grown up children, she really value’s the time when the family are all together, as well as spending time with friends and being out in nature walking two crazy Cockapoo’s with her hubby.
Sarah has been an executive and personal assistant in both creative and corporate environments for the last 15 years. After completing a creative degree at London Metropolitan University, Sarah went on to be a PA for her university tutor, which in turn lead onto many interesting and demanding executive assistant roles, in both London and Amsterdam.
In her spare time Sarah likes to spend time with her son, enjoying nature and being creative. Sarah is also particularly interested in modern art, loves to visit antique & vintage markets, and enjoys going to festivals with her friends in the summer months.
Hannah started working with the Wilderness Foundation as an instructor on the Treun project in 2022, before taking on the role of Scotland Project Officer in 2024.
This role adds to a number of years experience working in the outdoor sector as a manager, Mountain Leader, and with more than 10 years in Mountain Rescue. Hannah also has a PhD in Psychology. The Wilderness Foundation approach of using the outdoors as a therapeutic tool ties closely with the experiences gained through Hannah’s academic and outdoor careers.
Away from the Wilderness Foundation Hannah is involved in a range of outdoor work including guided walks and DofE expedition supervision and assessment. As well as a bit of bungee jumping and zip-lining – because work is there to be enjoyed, right? You are also likely to find her in the workshop of the family business, Highwood Furniture. And as mum to two teenage boys she enjoys supporting them with the adventures that are their lives.
David has always been passionate about nature and worked as a Membership Fundraiser and later Fundraising Area Manager for the RSPB for six years.
David’s other significant interest is politics, and he most recently spent two years working in Parliament as Administrative Manager to The Rt Hon Vicky Ford MP.