Meet the Team

The Mammal Society is run by a board of Council members, a small team based in Southampton and a project officer in Wales. We also have a small team of interns who help with our atlas and survey projects. Many consultants and scientists also generously contribute their time to provide specific expertise in our survey work and conservation projects as part of committees, authors of our expert publications, and so on.

 

Please do contact us at info@themammalsociety.org to get in touch with them for advice or to give talks, etc.

 

 

Derek Yalden, President (1940 - February 2013)

Born in Surrey in 1940, Derek became lecturer in Zoology at Manchester University in 1965. He joined The Mammal Society in 1961, was actively involved in producing the first mammal atlas, and was president from 1997 until his death early in 2013.

 

 

Johnny Birks, Chairman

Johnny, an ecological consultant, became fascinated by mammals at an early age, developing a life-long passion for mustelids. Johnny joined The Society in 1977, and cherishes its strong scientific roots and healthy mix of members. He is keen to engage more people in worthwhile studies of British mammals.

 

 

Adam Grogan, Vice Chair

Adam works for the RSPCA advising on policy for wildlife casualties and rehabilitation. Adam was an assistant researcher at WIldCRU, reviewing methods for monitoring rabbit populations, and surveying and radio-tracking badgers, polecats, mink and water voles. Adam became Vice-Chair in 2011.

 

 

Kate Williamson, Secretary

Kate is an ecological consultant based in Snowdonia and is a founder member of the Snowdonia Mammal Group s. Kate's main area of interest lies with mustelids, especially polecats and pine martens, and has and has spent several years looking at polecat population dynamics in North Wales.

 

 

Gary Roberts, Honorary Treasurer

 

 

 

 

Phoebe Carter, Surveys Committee Chair

Having studied Marine Biology at Liverpool University, Phoebe undertook a PhD in Aquatic Veterinary Studies at the University of Stirling, before joining The Society as Surveys Officer running national surveys such as The Water Shrew Survey. She is now Chair of the Surveys Committee.

 

 

Marina Pacheco, CEO

Having gained her degree in Zoology in South Africa, Marina worked on a red squirrel reintroduction in Portugal, before grappling with landscape issues for the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Marina became Chief Executive in June 2009, and is very pleased to be doing something worthwhile for Britain’s mammals.

 

 

Laura Drake, Membership and Marketing Co-ordinator

Laura has always had a passion for biodiversity conservation, completing her Environmental Science degree at the University of East Anglia in 2006. She now enjoys encouraging involvement in mammal conservation among members and supporters, and marketing the charity.

 

 

Sally Williams, Finance Officer

Have worked for some years in sales and managed the accounts for her parents' business until their retirement, Sally came to The Mammal Society, and manages budgets and payments, does the end of year finances and annual financial report. Sally also manages sales of books and equipment.

 

 

Rebecca Clews-Roberts, MaMoNet Wales Project Officer

Starting in business, conservation volunteering remained Becky's hobby until she completed an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation at Napier University. After working for the RSPB, Becky jumped at the chance to encourage mammal monitoring in Wales. In her spare time she is a beekeeper, keen gardener and bird watcher.