Team
The Executive Team is responsible for the day-to-day running of the charity, co-ordinating our activities and implementing the GfGD strategy. Our team is currently entirely made up of volunteers, working within diverse roles in the geoscience community.
Joel has overall responsibility for implementing our strategy, managing finances, building new partnerships, and shaping our programmes. He has a doctorate in geography (natural hazards) and has written extensively on the role of geoscientists in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Joel Gill
Co Chief Executive Officer (Research and Impact)
Viki is responsible for developing and diversifying GfGD’s income streams, to ensure we have a viable financial base for our operations. She has worked for academic spin-out companies and then the oil industry, before setting up her own geoscience software company, which now has multiple products in the market.
Viki O’Connor
Co Chief Executive Officer (Finance and Operations)
Paul supports the Business Development Team as the People and Policies Coordinator. Paul operates an environmental consultancy in Ottawa (Canada), with a background in hydrogeology and risk management. He is Co-Coordinator (Canada) for the International Association of Promoting Geoethics and Past President of Professional Geoscientists Ontario.
Paul Hubley
People and Policies Coordinator
Jesse leads GfGD’s communications, supporting messaging through the website, online platforms, outreach, and the newsletter. He has a doctorate in Earth sciences (surface processes) and works on reversing land degradation.
Dr Jesse Zondervan
Communications Lead
Christine supports GfGD’s research and analysis work. She is a Lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya, committed to the intersection of science and public policy. She is passionate about mentorship, collaboration and empowerment the next generation to grow and succeed.
Dr Christine Omuombo
Research and Analysis Coordinator
Will supports GfGD’s research and analysis work. He has experience in hydrological and geological data scarcity in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. He previously collaborated with the Red Cross, Groundwater Relief, and the United Nations FAO.
Dr Will Veness
Research and Analysis Coordinator
Mia supports GfGD’s Networks and Institutional work. She is a Geography PhD student interested in holistic understandings of natural hazards across disciplines, particularly in volcanic contexts
Mia Wroe
Networks and Institutional Support Coordinator
Florence Anengbah
Networks and Institutional Support Coordinator
Clare makes sure GfGD is focused on impact and that we engage with the right stakeholders. She specialises in comms and engagement in incident management and resilience. Clare has a background in volcanology, earthquake monitoring, and has also worked in charity fundraising.
Clare Allin
Impact and Engagement Coordinator
Amrine is part of GfGD's communications team. She has a geology degree and has worked in geology outreach, education and communications and in geotourism and sustainable and regenerative tourism projects in Ireland and in Canada, where she is now based.
Amrine Dubois Gafar
Deputy Communications Lead
Lara assists the communications team and contributes to GfGD’s student-led research projects. She is based at the University of Hull.
Dr Lara BlYTHE
Project Support
Elena supports GfGD’s outputs through research and analysis. She is a PhD student in Hydrogeology working on the impact of climate change on groundwater resources. She is interested in the use of SDGs in the teaching of future geoscientists.
Dr Elena Egidio
Project Support
Ahmed supports GfGD’s outputs through research and analysis. He is a lecturer in the Department of Geology and Mining at IBB University in Nigeria, and a PhD candidate at Al-Hikmah University in Nigeria. His research focuses on water pollution and sediment contamination from agricultural sources, and he has worked with multiple mineral exploration companies.
Ahmed Sidi Aliyu
Project Support
Trustees
The trustees oversee the work of the Executive Team, and are accountable to the Charity Commission for the governance of our work.
Nic is the European Continental Coordinator for the International Association for Promoting Geoethics. He was previously at the Geological Society of London, leading delivery of its policy, education, media, public engagement and other communications work, and coordinating its strategic planning.
Nic Bilham
Chair of Trustees
Marie is an Engineering Geologist at Arup, leading their Applied Geology team in Europe. She is passionate about promoting geoscience, and volunteers for a number of professional associations; she is a past President of the Institute of Geologists of Ireland and Chair of the Registration Authority of the European Federation of Geologists.
Marie Fleming
Natasha is a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, teaching students about sustainable geoscience, environmental hazards and disaster risk reduction. She is the founder and editor of Geoscience for the Future, a not-for-profit that communicates the links between Geoscience and a more sustainable future.
Dr Natasha Dowey
Flo previously worked at the Geological Society of London, leading their policy and government engagement work as part of their External Relations team. In 2019 she wrote a children’s book about rocks and minerals called ‘The Rocking Book of Rocks’ with her colleague, Amy Ball.
Florence Bullough
Sarah is co-founder of Satarla, a risk management company. She is passionate about the responsible management of raw materials and has been a trustee of the Geological Society of London (2016-2020), serving as Foreign Secretary.
Dr Sarah Gordon
Kirsty is a chartered Geologist, working in global oil and gas exploration and new ventures.