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. 

TRUSTEE

Ella is a Trustee for Women's Fund for Nature. She has spent the last decade developing community led-initiatives and learning programmes to connect people with nature. Currently, she is Director of The Bio-Leadership Project Fellowship, an international community of people working towards systems change. She is a generalist who has had the opportunity to work in a range of sectors, governance models here and abroad, as such she is usually the engine in young projects and organisations to get them off the ground. Experienced in youth education, human rights and activism, Ella believes in the power of communities that can pass mentorship and resources to the next generation. 

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.