Colin Russell, Centre Manager
Colin joined WWBIC in 2008 and his responsibilities, as well as managing all aspects of the centre, include liason with WWBIC’s funding partners and the other three Local Environmental Record Centre’s across Wales. WWBIC’s position in this close network of LERC’s means that as manager, he can access the experience available within the other centres, and contribute at a strategic level to delivering the highest quality biodiversity information for the public benefit.
Colin has a degree in zoology and a great love of the countryside. His hobbies over the years have taken him outdoors climbing, surfing and lately, sailing around the Pembrokeshire coast and Haven Waterway.
Kate Smith, Senior Data Manager
Kate joined WWBIC in 2006 and is responsible for managing our database of biological records. Kate has a key role in maintaining the high quality of biodiversity information which we can provide. As part of this role she works closely with voluntary and professional biological recorders around our region to collate, manage and validate information on species.
Kate’s hobbies include travelling, walking and photography. Many of the images you see on the website are Kate’s work from West Wales. She has a deep love of natural history, wildlife and nature conservation, and a great admiration for people who have the time and knowledge to make biological records with such accuracy and care.
Yusef Samari, GIS Officer
Yusef joined WWBIC in October 2019 and handles data enquiries, GIS and mapping services, data analyses and project work. He has a BSc in Ecology from the University of York and has previously worked for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, on long-term biodiversity monitoring projects in Scotland.
Yusef’s interests include trying to learn too many new things at once. He is broadly interested in all aspects of biology and natural history. In his spare time he likes to play guitar, slowly learn programming and is self-studying a maths A-level for fun.
Carys May, Biodiversity Information and Communications Officer
We are pleased to welcome Carys May to the post of Biodiversity Information and Communications Officer. Carys comes to us with a background in ecology, assisting with bird ringing, bird and bat surveys, and plant monitoring. A biological recorder, she has been involved with groups near her home in Ceredigion, and has run recording activities with volunteers.
Laura Moss, Biodiversity Information Assistant
Laura joined WWBIC in 2021 as a Biodiversity Information Assistant. She is a keen recorder with a broad interest in natural history. She lives on a small holding where she is trying to enhance the habitat and increase biodiversity. She is an active member of the Carmarthenshire Meadows Group steering group and runs the Big Meadow Search project.
WWBIC Directors
- Jane Hodges (Chair)
- Nigel Ajax-Lewis (Secretary)
- Annie Haycock
- Bob Haycock
- Trevor Theobald
- Lizzie Wilberforce
- Huw Jones
- Chloe Griffiths
- Diana Clark
- Tara-Jane Sutcliffe
Membership of the WWBIC team is currently full, however we are always interested to hear from individuals from people with a business or IT background. If you think you have the right experience and skills to be an asset to the company and you would like to contribute to the work we do as a voluntary director, please contact the manager, Colin Russell colin@westwalesbiodiversity.org.uk