Meet Our Team
RACHEL BUTLER: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Rachel joined in late 2021 and is responsible for the day-to-day management and strategic direction of East Mercia Rivers Trust. She is directly responsible for developing funding bids, designing, and delivering a communications strategy and advancing partnership activities. Rachel’s has 25 years’ experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, not-for-profit organisations and donor funded programmes in the UK and internationally. She spent two decades in the forest sector designing and leading projects focused on resource and supply chain management, stakeholder engagement, market research and capacity building.
Rachel has travelled extensively to some of the most vulnerable parts of the world and brings a wealth of experience and contacts to East Mercia Rivers Trust. She is an experienced fundraiser and has successfully secured funds from U.N. bodies, European Commission, governments, foundations, and trusts. Rachel holds an MSc from Wye College, University of London in Rural Resources and Environmental Policy.
For trust matters, press and communications, partnership and fundraising enquires contact: rachel@eastmercia.org
WAYNE BALL: HEAD OF PROGRAMMES
Wayne joined the Trust in October 2025 and provides strategic oversight of programmes that deliver measurable ecological improvements and community benefits. He supports the CEO in achieving the Trust’s strategic objectives, securing and managing significant funding streams to underpin long-term restoration goals, and building strong partnerships to enable collaborative delivery.
With 24 years of experience in the environment sector, Wayne has worked across environmental and operational management, community engagement, recreation management, and volunteer development, developing wide-ranging expertise in contract management, Health & Safety, stakeholder engagement, and project management.
He has extensive experience working around waterways, including a decade with the Canal & River Trust in the East Midlands Region, and has led multidisciplinary teams for over 15 years. Wayne holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from the University of Nottingham and the NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health & Safety.
For trust matters, press and communications, partnership and fundraising enquiries contact: wayne@eastmercia.org
SAM VALMAN: SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER
Sam joined the EMRT in 2025 and as the Senior Programme Manager he is responsible for guiding and advising on river restoration projects. He works across both Witham and Welland catchments with responsibility for managing major projects on the Welland.
Sam has degrees in Geography and a PhD in Geospatial systems from the University of Nottingham. A large part of his previous 10 years having been spent monitoring river restoration projects around the world. A lot of these projects were both large- and small-scale flood plain reconnection “Stage Zero” projects in the UK and the USA.
Between these projects and others, he has monitored river projects in almost every conceivable way, from satellite imagery, vegetation surveys, macroinvertebrate monitoring, and stable isotope sampling to building experimental culverts and drilling locator tags into rocks! Now he is looking to use what he’s learnt to help implement more river restoration projects.
For Welland catchment restoration issues and GIS technical enquiries contact: sam@eastmercia.org
DOMINIKA MURIENOVA: RIVER ECOLOGY MANAGER
Dominika joined in April 2024 and is the leading ecologist on EMRT’s river restoration and natural flood management projects and delivering projects across key habitats such as the Limestone Becks and Chalk Streams.
Dominika joined EMRT in April 2024 and is the organisation’s lead ecologist, providing ecological expertise across our river restoration and natural flood management projects. She leads work across some of our key priority habitats, including the Limestone Becks and Chalk Streams.
Dominika brings extensive experience across river catchment management, ecological consultancy and practical land management.
Prior to joining EMRT, she spent three years hosting the Idle Catchment Partnership and delivering water-related projects at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Before that, she worked for two years on game and dairy farms. She has also worked in ecological consultancy since 2017.
Her experience extends to a wide range of environmental organisations and projects. She has worked with Hampshire Wildlife Trust on invasive species management along rivers in the New Forest and with Plantlife on nature reserve mapping. She was President and Secretary of the Southampton University Conservation Society and volunteered with Hampshire and Nottinghamshire Bat Groups for more than four years, including in bat care.
Dominika holds an MSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Southampton. Outside work, she enjoys hiking, swimming and trail running.
For river ecological matters contact: dominika@eastmercia.org
COLLEEN LAYTON: RIVERS FOR LIFE OFFICER
Colleen joined in March 2024 and is responsible for developing and delivering projects for the Rejuvenating the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Programme and leading EMRT’s non-native species engagement across the Witham and Welland Catchment.
Colleen is trained as an Ecologist with a focus on Aquatic Conservation, specialising in Invasive Non-native species, with an interest in Natural History, Geology, Natural Flood Management (NFM) and Protected Species.
She holds a Degree in Ecology and Conservation from Nottingham Trent University and has over 14 years of experience in working and volunteering in the Environmental sector, with a focus on Freshwater River habitats her work has included the Canal and Rivers Trust Heritage Construction and Restoration team, Site Supervisor for the River Stewardship Company, an Engagement Officer for Trent Rivers Trust and freelance for an Aquatic Biologist and a Local Farm Advisor.
For chalk stream habitat restoration and further information on invasive species contact: colleen@eastmercia.org
SUE TURNER: ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE OFFICER
Sue joined the team in July 2018 and is responsible for the day-to-day office operations directly supporting the technical team. Sue is a chartered librarian by profession and has worked in a wide range of administration and project management roles within the Civil Service, after graduating from Leeds Polytechnic. Prior to moving to the East Mercia Rivers Trust, Sue was a senior administrator at the Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln.
For financial and administrative enquiries contact: sue@eastmercia.org
JAMES THOMPSON: FARM ADVISOR ASSOCIATE
James works as an Associate with EMRT, supporting landowner engagement and providing practical advice to farmers on opportunities to improve soil, water and biodiversity while supporting farm businesses.
An environmental scientist and regenerative agriculture specialist, James has more than 30 years’ experience across environmental consultancy, sustainable farming, natural capital and commercial leadership, including working with major retailers and food businesses.
Since 2020, he has worked with the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group, advising farmers, estates, environmental organisations and food businesses on regenerative agriculture, whole-farm environmental planning and nature recovery.
James brings a strong understanding of both farming and commercial priorities, helping landowners identify practical opportunities, access funding and develop projects that work for their businesses while delivering benefits for rivers and the wider catchment.
For farm advice matters contact: james@eastmercia.org
CIARAN NELSON: NATURAL ASSETS ASSOCIATE
Ciaran works as an Associate with EMRT, supporting the development of investment opportunities, natural capital markets and partnerships that can help turn environmental projects into investable, deliverable programmes.
He has more than 25 years’ experience across infrastructure, regulation, public policy and investment, including a senior Board-level career in regulated infrastructure. More recently, he has focused on natural capital, helping organisations connect environmental ambition with policy, commercial investment and stakeholder engagement.
Through Rebel Nature Works, Ciaran has first-hand experience of developing the Biodiversity Net Gain market, including creating five habitat banks and working with landowners, investors and buyers. He brings a strong understanding of how emerging environmental markets work in practice and what is needed to attract private investment.
For EMRT, Ciaran brings this commercial and investment expertise to help develop new funding opportunities, build partnerships and turn catchment restoration into credible investment propositions.
For natural capital matters contact: ciaran@eastmercia.org
