Team SERT
Our people are at the heart of the work we do for rivers and communities.
Meet our leadership team below. To explore the wider South East Rivers Trust team, visit our careers platform. It opens in a new window so you can easily return to this page at any time.
Dr Bella Davies
Dr Bella Davies, CEO
Bella joined the Trust in 2009, initially as Development Officer for the Wandle Trust. She became Trust Director in 2011 and as the Trust expanded became CEO. She is passionate about restoring aquatic environments so that they thrive with wildlife. She loves working with Trust staff, partners, local communities and volunteers to bring rivers and other aquatic habitats back to life.
Bella has a long-standing interest in the environment and aquatic ecology. Having grown up playing on the foreshore of the Thames, she went on to do a BSc in physical geography, an MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management and a PhD in the protection of aquatic habitats in agricultural landscapes.
She has worked in environmental consultancy, academic and research institutions as well as several NGOs. She is currently also a Trustee of the Rivers Trust.
Bella has a long-standing interest in the environment and aquatic ecology. Having grown up playing on the foreshore of the Thames, she went on to do a BSc in physical geography, an MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management and a PhD in the protection of aquatic habitats in agricultural landscapes.
She has worked in environmental consultancy, academic and research institutions as well as several NGOs. She is currently also a Trustee of the Rivers Trust.
Marc Fletcher
Marc Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer
Marc is the Chief Operating Officer leading the core operational teams and functions of the Trust.
He has spent over 24 years in a range of commercial and operational roles, working in the conservation charity sector since 2008, for RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts.
Outside of work, Marc is a lapsed runner trying to make a comeback. When time allows, he enjoys walking the dog in his local community forest, tinkering with his motorcycle, and supporting his football team.
He has spent over 24 years in a range of commercial and operational roles, working in the conservation charity sector since 2008, for RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts.
Outside of work, Marc is a lapsed runner trying to make a comeback. When time allows, he enjoys walking the dog in his local community forest, tinkering with his motorcycle, and supporting his football team.
Dr Neil Bailey
Dr Neil Bailey, Director of Water, Land and Catchments
Neil has an academic background in Landscape Ecology, GIS and the targeting of habitat restoration. Throughout his career he has been involved in encouraging people to connect with nature and take action. He is now keen to do more on helping deliver river restoration work.
Outside of work, he enjoys getting out and going on long walks, wild swims and camping. He loves rivers (and other water bodies!) and has recently walked the River Thames from source to sea.
Outside of work, he enjoys getting out and going on long walks, wild swims and camping. He loves rivers (and other water bodies!) and has recently walked the River Thames from source to sea.
Lucy Edington
Lucy Edington, Finance and Operations Director
Lucy is the lead for finance, people and operations at the South East Rivers Trust.
Lucy provides strategic leadership of finance and supports trustees with financial governance. Lucy oversees HR management and operations, and works to ensure SERT is a sustainable, dynamic, well-run organisation.
Lucy has more than 20 years’ experience in executive leadership and operational, HR and financial management in the voluntary sector; and enjoyed more than a decade afloat, raising her young family on a houseboat on the Thames.
Lucy provides strategic leadership of finance and supports trustees with financial governance. Lucy oversees HR management and operations, and works to ensure SERT is a sustainable, dynamic, well-run organisation.
Lucy has more than 20 years’ experience in executive leadership and operational, HR and financial management in the voluntary sector; and enjoyed more than a decade afloat, raising her young family on a houseboat on the Thames.
Toby Hull
Toby Hull, Head of Restoring Rivers and Catchments
Toby is Head of the Restoring Rivers and Catchments Team.
Since joining SERT in 2012, Toby has led and overseen a wide variety of physical river and catchment improvement projects, many of which have been designed and delivered in-house by the Restoring Rivers and Catchments Team.
Toby has an in-depth understanding and awareness of the complexities involved with implementing projects on the ground and in the river. He does so with a problem-solving, can-do attitude.
Since joining SERT in 2012, Toby has led and overseen a wide variety of physical river and catchment improvement projects, many of which have been designed and delivered in-house by the Restoring Rivers and Catchments Team.
Toby has an in-depth understanding and awareness of the complexities involved with implementing projects on the ground and in the river. He does so with a problem-solving, can-do attitude.
Chloë Edwards
Chloë Edwards, Head of Development
Chloë has spent over 15 years working within the Wildlife Trust movement, most recently leading nature recovery efforts across Hertfordshire and parts of London as Director of Nature Recovery at Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and prior to that championing nature-based solutions as Head of Wilder Landscapes at Kent Wildlife Trust.
Rivers have always been at the heart of her career and having spent a considerable amount of her professional life dedicating her energy to supporting and enabling their restoration she is genuinely excited to now have the opportunity to refocus more exclusively on their protection and restoration, especially in the area she calls home.
Outside of work, Chloë is a Trustee of the Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre and she enjoys gardening, tsundoku, paddleboarding, and lino printing.
Rivers have always been at the heart of her career and having spent a considerable amount of her professional life dedicating her energy to supporting and enabling their restoration she is genuinely excited to now have the opportunity to refocus more exclusively on their protection and restoration, especially in the area she calls home.
Outside of work, Chloë is a Trustee of the Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre and she enjoys gardening, tsundoku, paddleboarding, and lino printing.
