Meet the team

MARINElife is run by a passionate team of conservationists

Billy Heaney

Ambassador

Billy is an ambassador for the marine research charity MARINELife and is the patron of the Brighton Dolphin Project. He is also an ambassador for Paddlelogger.

He is also an ambassador for the Big Blue Ocean Cleanup and has worked alongside Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) campaigning to Save NZ Dolphins. In 2019, Billy was asked to participate in the RSPB's 'State of Nature' campaign. He is currently working alongside WDC once more to end whale and dolphin captivity.

Emily Stevenson

Ambassador

Emily Stevenson is a marine biologist and the co-founder of the award-winning social enterprise: Beach Guardian. Powered by passion, Emily is also a budding environmental reporter, with her weekly ‘Tune in Tuesday’ video blog reaching over a million people worldwide and regularly features on BBC Spotlight.

In 2019, Emily’s work received recognition as a Point of Light award recipient from the British Prime Minister and a Young Citizen Award from the Rotary Club in Great Britain and Ireland. In 2020, Emily was awarded the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action and humanitarian efforts: the Diana Award.

Tom Brereton

Director of Research

As well as his role as Director of Research for MARINElife (a position he has held since 2008), Tom is also Visiting Professor in Conservation Science at the University of Nottingham and Associated Director, Monitoring Research for Butterfly Conservation.

Archie Robertson OBE

Chairman of the Trustees

Archie is an active & experienced Chair, Non-executive Director and Trustee with demonstrated success working in the transport, energy and environmental sectors.

Also committed to third sector leadership, he possesses a strong skills base as a CEO and business development professional. Archie joined MARINElife as Chairman in 2020.

Rick Morris

Trustee

Rick first discovered MARINElife (known as Biscay Dolphin Research Program) in 1999 on board the P&O ferry ‘The Pride of Bilbao’. On that ship he saw his first cetacean (a Fin Whale) and he has been passionate about marine conservation ever since.

Rick has been a trustee of the charity since 2011 and was chairman from 2015 until 2020. He has been a supporter of BDRP/MARINElife since 1999 and an active volunteer since 2008, conducting surveys onboard large and small boats. His main focus is now on developing MARINElife training and delivering Identification courses to the public and students at Exeter University Penryn Campus both in the classroom and at sea.

Staff

Running the charity day-to-day

Rob Petley-Jones: Routes Manager
Tricia Dendle: Charity Administrator

Trustees

Looking after the charity

Archie Robertson OBE (Chair)

Rick Morris

Duncan Fyfe

Emma Stenhouse

Beccy MacDonald-Lofts
Olivia McLaughlin
Georgina Fuller

Treasurer Helen Agosti

Trustee (Merchandising) (Vacant)

Trustee (Scientific) (Vacant)
Secretary to the Trustees (Vacant)

Survey Route Coordinators

Making sure the science happens

Rachel Keay
Elin Pheasant
Thomas Fisher

Volunteer Officers

Our fantastic team of supporters

Kate Llewellin: Publicity Officer
Megan Strachan: Social Media Officer
Glynis Northwood-Long: Wildlife Officer (WLO) Coordinator
Hazel Munt: Training Course Coordinator
Martin Kitching: North East Regional Officer