Meet Our Team

FOUNDER

Naomi is the Founder of Women's Fund for Nature. Naomi is lucky enough to have had a career which has taken her all over the world working on women's rights and international development. Nowadays though, you can find her outside in Dorset, usually planting something. She was digging a pond when she came up with the notion that there must be a lot of women out there who are as fed up as she is with the loss and destruction of the natural world and even more tired of being told that individuals can't make a difference. Naomi is a huge fan of all wildlife in the UK, except slugs. 

COMMUNITY GROWTH & ENGAGEMENT LEAD

Mariaa is currently studying at the University of Bath and has always enjoyed being involved in communities and creative projects alongside her studies. She helped lead branding for AMPLIFY, a student-led International Women's Day summit, is Social and Welfare Officer for the Fine Art Committee, and a student graphic editor for Paperspace, a student magazine. She really enjoys projects that bring people together, create conversation, and give people a platform to share ideas. Outside of that, she loves scuba diving and being in the ocean, plays the flute, enjoys film photography and spending time outdoors. A lot of her interests naturally come back to people, creativity, community, and nature, which is one of the reasons the Fund appealed to her so much.

MEMBERSHIP MANAGER

Personally, Sheetal is a mother to two young girls who love nature and are often found moving small creatures out of harm’s way. They, and other young people, give her hope. Professionally, she comes from the humanitarian sector and believes true impact only happens when the people most affected are placed at the heart of decision-making.

CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Nicolle is a recent graduate in interdisciplinary studies who has spent years exploring how storytelling can help people reconnect with the natural world. Most recently, that has taken her into documentary making — she is in the early stages of developing nature stories through film, with the aim of bringing them to life in ways that are honest, beautiful and hard to ignore. Nicolle believes that before we protect something, we have to feel connected to it, and that stories, across art, science and culture, are one of the most powerful tools we have for building that connection.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEAD

Ellie (she/her) is a 21-year-old based in Shropshire, fuelled by collective energy, nature and that persistent “what if we actually built this together?” kind of thinking. 

Over the past six years at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, she’s bounced across communications, nature restoration, youth engagement, outdoor education and green careers. Currently a Communications Officer, she tells stories, amplifies young activists voices and supports young people to reconnect with nature and realise they don’t have to wait for someone else to build the future they want.

Beyond the day job, Ellie is part of a growing network of organisations working towards a more regenerative future; Transition Together, Renew, Another Way, Surfers Against Sewage, Re-Action Collective and See What Grows. Through her involvement with Women’s Fund for Nature, she’s energised by the possibility of cultivating a future where young people are recognised, supported and empowered as essential agents of change, shaping decisions today and helping nature flourish for generations to come. Because the future isn’t something we sit around waiting for. It’s something we grow together.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Tessa leads communications at Women’s Fund for Nature, shaping how we tell our story and working to help people feel part of our community. Her career has taken her from journalism and publishing to international development, always with a particular interest in environmental and social change. She’s happy to be bringing that experience to work that feels truly meaningful.

Tessa lives by a river in the English countryside. She loves long walks in all weathers and shares her home and garden with a variety of animals, both by choice and, occasionally, by accident. Having lived and worked across three continents, she’s seen the same story playing out everywhere: landscapes changing for the worse, habitats paved over, wildlife disappearing. She’s frustrated by how little is being done to protect the environment for future generations.

With limited time and resources to make a difference, Tessa believes one of the most important things we can do is back young people who are already working to protect the natural world. A fund designed, run by and aimed at women appeals strongly to the feminist in her, and she’s keen to see collective giving in action.

FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE MANAGER

Sarika Dhaniya is the Finance and Compliance Manager for the Women’s Fund for Nature. Beyond her commitment to supporting social impact for vulnerable people, she finds calm and clarity in nature. Her peaceful morning walks surrounded by greenery allow her to notice subtle daily changes - like shifting light, new blooms, or the sounds of birds which refresh her mind. Nature fuels her well-being, enabling her to approach her work with renewed energy and clear thinking.

TRUSTEE

Flora is a founding Trustee of Women’s Fund for Nature. Flora grew up between the UK and Vietnam, currently works in Sport but has a background in Law. Her favourite native species is a Peacock Butterfly, with many fond memories butterfly-spotting as a child in the Sussex countryside.

TRUSTEE

Annabel is an experienced journalist, magazine editor and podcaster with a global perspective on conservation, environmental, and social issues. She holds a bachelor’s in economic history and a master’s in wildlife management and conservation. As host of the Resurgence podcast, Hope Springs, she explores through interviews with leaders in the conservation movement how personal pain drives activism for nature. Annabel’s work has appeared in US and UK newspapers and magazines covering topics such as a vanishing lake in Sudan, the Rwandan genocide, Yellowstone’s wolf reintroduction, and numerous landscape-changing conservation projects. Annabel reviews spiritual retreats for The Global Retreat Company, is a judge for the Country & Town House's Future Icons Awards and is on the advisory board of the Scientific Exploration Society.

TRUSTEE

Louise is a Trustee of Women’s Fund for Nature. She has spent over 25 years in education, and is currently the Executive Principal of two special schools. Her passion lies in nurturing young minds and helping them grow into courageous, optimistic individuals who understand their power to shape a better future. She has always loved the outdoors and deeply values the role nature plays in every aspect of our lives. For Louise, contributing to nature conservation comes naturally through her work with young people—by creating opportunities for them to connect with and care for the world around them.

VOLUNTEER

This chair is still empty, and we would love for you to fill it. Whether you want to join the team or collaborate with us, we would like to hear from you. If you care about nature, believe in putting young people at the heart of the solution, and think you would fit in with us, take a look at our latest volunteer vacancies and apply here.