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
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
Communications Assistant
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
Research and Analysis Assistant
Sabrina is part of the business development and support team. Sabrina has experience as a geoenvironmental engineer and works as a consultant for a waste management company in the waste and recycling sector.
Sabrina James
Business Development Assistant
Dan supports GfGD’s outputs through research and analysis. His professional background is in Engineering Geology, with experience of land appraisal, geotechnical engineering, and environmental risk assessment and remediation.
Dan Vowles
Research and Analysis Assistant
Siân supports GfGD's research and analysis by reviewing outputs from a team of international researchers. She is a chartered environmentalist working in New Zealand. She works as a consultant/project manager in contaminated land.
Siân Hodgkins
Research Output Coordinator
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.
Elena Egidio
Research and Analysis Assistant
Samwel supports the Global Student Network team. He is a Geology graduate from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Samwel has a keen interest in Science Diplomacy (water and natural resources diplomacy).
Samwel Oyunge
Global Student Network Assistant
Anna supports GfGD’s outputs through research and analysis. She is a volcanology PhD student and has experience in the hydrocarbon industry. She is interested in the links between natural hazards.
Anna Brookfield
Research and Analysis Assistant
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.