Meet The Staff at The Dee Trust
Gareth Jones
Gareth Jones is a project officer for our Restoring River Habitat programme. Following years of working as a Biology teacher, he changed career and followed his passion for nature and wildlife conservation. Starting with volunteering with various wildlife organisations he moved on to working as a countryside contractor involved in habitat management projects, drystone walling and footpath maintenance.
His interest in rivers and its wildlife started at a young age, growing up fishing along the River Alun in Mold. He enjoys various aspects of wildlife including birdwatching, fishing, studying moths and plants. Gareth lives right beside the river Llynor in Llandrillo with his wife and two daughters.
Gareth has a wealth of experience in hands on experience and will be working to identify and restore areas of river habitat across the Dee to help wildlife and local people.
Erinna Miles
Erinna grew up in mid Wales, where she developed a passion for conservation from a young age, exploring her local wild spaces and River Severn. She went on to complete a degree in wildlife conservation and a research master’s in bioscience. For her undergraduate degree, she studied the hybridization of the European polecat and domestic ferret, while her master’s work focused on the genetic health of the Scottish pine marten population.
Erinna started work as a wildlife officer in mid Wales. From there, she then worked as a UK Biodiversity Conservation Coordinator, where she coordinated species reintroductions, working with a range of conservation organisations across the UK.
She is passionate about connecting people to the natural world and aims to inspire other to make a difference. Outside of her main jobs, she has worked with many different organizations. She has featured on the BBC, Channel 4, as a speaker at events and is also an ambassador for binocular company Opticron. She also currently training as a dormouse surveyor.
She joins Dee Trust with a passion for wildlife conservation and a drive to inspire others to care for the rivers and wildlife she loves.
Adam Davidson
Adam grew up in the Northeast of England, spending his childhood exploring the River Tyne and the landscapes that shaped it. A lifelong outdoors enthusiast, he’s most at home hiking, running, climbing, and discovering wild places.
He went on to study Environmental Geography at the University of Stirling, specialising in fluvial and glacial landscapes, before spending two and a half years working as a geomorphologist on river restoration projects across Northumberland, the Tyne Valley, Weardale, and beyond.
After taking time to travel through New Zealand and Latin America, Adam is excited to return to the environmental sector. He joins Welsh Dee Trust with a passion for river habitat restoration and a drive to inspire others to care for the rivers he loves.
Peter Powell
Peter grew up on a dairy farm on the outskirts of Welshpool on the banks of the River Severn and this is where he developed a passion for the natural world.
Peter completed a bachelor’s degree in Ecology at Cardiff University and a master’s degree in Advanced Wildlife Conservation at the University of the West of England. Peter joined the Welsh Dee Trust in August 2019 having previously worked at the Severn Rivers Trust and Wye and Usk Foundation.
Dylan Roberts
Dylan was born and bred in the Corwen area as a first language Welsh speaker. After over three decades of working in the meat trade, Dylan had a change of career and joined Welsh Dee Trust as a project officer on the Restoring River Habitat programme in January 2023.
As a keen fly fisherman from a young age, Vice Chairman of Corwen and District Angling Club, and one of the organisers of the Hanak International Grayling Festival, the River Dee and its fish are very close to his heart.
Kate Jones
Kate grew up on a sheep and beef cattle farm on the Shropshire/North Wales border, where her love for the countryside began. After a few years living the city life in Birmingham and working in administrative roles, she decided to follow her passion. In 2014, she returned to university to study an MSc in Wildlife Conservation and Management at the University of Reading, and hasn’t looked back since.
Her career began as a Countryside Ranger with the National Trust, caring for some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes, from Devon’s rolling hills to the wild Northumberland coast. Drawn back closer to home, she went on to work on projects focused on Natural Flood Management and restoring species-rich grasslands, most recently with Buglife.
Kate joined the Dee Trust in February 2025 as a Project Manager and has since progressed to become our Head of Project Delivery, overseeing the project delivery team. In this role, she leads the planning and implementation of our on-the-ground work, ensuring projects are delivered effectively and create lasting benefits for the River Dee and its wildlife.
Emma Wright
Emma works as a Project Manager at Dee Trust, leading on the delivery of our WaterWise Farming programme across the catchment.
She holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and a postgraduate Masters in Sustainable Water Management. Emma began her career in ecological consultancy, specialising in fish passes and geomorphology, before moving into the charity sector in the Lake District. Over the past five years she has delivered a wide range of river restoration projects, supporting species such as salmon, trout, bullhead, white-clawed crayfish and freshwater pearl mussels.
Emma brings a strong understanding of catchment processes and practical river restoration, alongside a passion for working with landowners to improve water quality and habitat.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys exploring the countryside, hiking and landscape photography. She is also a keen crafter and sewer, making her own clothes as part of a more sustainable lifestyle.
Rob Hirst
Rob has spent the last decade working in the outdoor pursuits industry, with much of that time spent in and around the river. Wanting to give back to the environment that shaped his career, he began studying and has recently completed a BSc in Environmental Science with the Open University.
Joining Welsh Dee Trust as Communications and Events Manager, Rob now oversees the trusts social media, outreach, and event management, helping to engage communities and promote river conservation efforts. His passion for the outdoors and dedication to protecting the natural environment will be invaluable in the task of creating a river Dee free of pollution and full of wildlife.