Our Team

Laura Owen Sanderson // Chief Executive Officer

Laura has spent many years in the non-profit sector, working with other NGOs and charities to clean our waterways. In her previous post, she was responsible for the overall leadership and strategic development of national water quality campaigns, leading the most extensive microplastic citizen science study in the U.K. She has also worked as a sustainability consultant across the events and business industry.

An accomplished educator and trainer, Laura leads the team to provide innovative ways of using data and evidence to help understand river environments and deliver river habitat improvements. In particular, she is leading campaigns and overseeing the Trust's overall strategic vision, education programs, diversifying funding in order to protect freshwater species, and engage new audiences in the conservation of freshwater environments.

Poppy Backshall// Communications Manager

Poppy, our Communications Manager, plays a key role in leading the Trust’s digital communications and outreach initiatives. She is passionate about sharing our work in an engaging and accessible way, helping to grow our volunteer network and develop inspiring school programmes that encourage the next generation to care for our rivers.

Alongside her outreach work, Poppy manages the Trust’s digital presence, ensuring our messages reach wide audiences and that campaigns gain the visibility they deserve.

With a background in journalism and a lifelong love of nature, Poppy combines strong storytelling skills with environmental commitment to build meaningful connections with communities across North Wales.

Elis Lloyd Williams // Project Officer

Elis, one of our River Project Officers, is responsible for delivering our SAF programme of river restoration projects. He’s a proud Gog with a passion for looking after his home. After his degree, he spent his time volunteering in and around Eryri, as well as working with local community projects. This all in return made up for the hiraeth he felt during his degree and amplified his passion for conservation.

Having a background in Mathematics and Data, as well as a passion for the great outdoors. He appreciates being out on the field, scoping for new projects, communicating with landowners and the local community while also getting stuck in with any new IT software.

You might see him out and about swimming in the rivers, searching for cased caddisflies, or exploring the North Wales coffee scene.

Angharad Powell // project officer

Angharad is one of our River Restoration Project Officers. She has an academic background in Marine Biology and Environmental Management, and has worked in fisheries research and management previously in various corners of the UK. She uses this experience to design, plan and implement various river restoration schemes throughout North Wales. Angharad’s work focuses on a wide range of projects, from working on INNS removal such as himalayan balsam bashes, to reducing nutrient and sediment run-off through fencing schemes and retention ponds, to river and water quality surveys.

Angharad is passionate about aquatic environments, conservation and improving biodiversity within our river systems, and believes education on these topics are important.

Josh Berry // Fisheries Engagement Officer

Josh is our Fisheries Engagement Officer, and his work is focused around strengthening relationships with Angling communities across our catchment.

As a passionate Angler and fisheries science enthusiast, Josh brings a fantastic mix of firsthand experience and academic knowledge.

When not working or studying you will usually find Josh fishing, photographing wildlife or getting to know the river and it’s inhabitants up close through snorkelling!