AGM

You are invited to join Trustees and staff at the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales’ 23^rd  Annual General Meeting on Thursday 20 November 2025!

Agenda 

18:30 Welcome and introduction by Paul Culyer, WTSWW Chair.

18:35 Sarah Kessell, Chief Executive will give a report of the work achieved during the year 2024/25 and some thoughts on work for 2026 and beyond.

19.00 Lisa Morgan, Head of Islands and Marine Conservation and Dr Sarah Perry, Marine Conservation and Research Manager based at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, will both give talks on the marine work of the Trust including the Dolphin Diet research project.

19:30 A short break followed by the formal part of the AGM.

1) To receive apologies for absence

2) To approve minutes of AGM held on 21-11-24 (available to download below or hard copy on request*)

3) Chairperson’s report - Proposal to amend the Trust’s Objects within the Governing Document, pending Charity Commission approval (details when confirmed)

4) Finance Report and presentation

4 a) To receive the annual audited accounts and reports for the financial year ended 31 March 2025 (available to download or hard copy on request)

5) To confirm the re-appointment of the following to the Board of Trustees: Paul Culyer, Jenny Hughes, Leonora Thomson, Lucy Griffiths (profiles below)

7) To confirm the appointment of the auditors Bevan Buckland

8) Questions from Members (previously notified to Chair**)

Keynote speaker: 'From Cardigan Bay to Antarctica: a journey of awe through the eyes of an early-career marine conservationist

Maddy De Marchis, WTSWW Trustee and former Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre intern, will share her experiences venturing to Antarctica on a science research expedition with the British Antarctic Survey. From giant icebergs to blue whales, she will reflect on the oceanic experiences that impacted her the most, whilst working aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough.

*Further details including the Trustees Annual Report and Accounts, and minutes of the last AGM are available on the Trust website or available as hard copy by contacting Diana Clark on d.clark@welshwildlife.org.

**Please submit your AGM questions to the Chair by emailing d.clark@welshwildlife.org no later than Monday 17^th November 2025.

Personal profiles 

For re-appointment:

Paul Culyer - Trustee since 2019, appointed Chair in June 2024. Standing for re-appointment for third term

I have worked in Nature conservation since 1991. And have worked for CCW/NRW since 1996. Predominantly my work has been as part of the National Nature Reserve (NNR) management team. Since the formation of NRW I have been involved with the Welsh Government Woodland Estate.

I have been lucky enough to manage a wide range of NNR’s from coastal sites, wetlands, uplands to woodlands. No true islands but these sites all islands of biodiversity in farmed and afforested landscapes. Part of my role is to advise the National Trust and the Ministry of Defence on the management of their estate for nature conservation. I coordinate the monitoring of the special features and this includes the seabird colonies and breeding chough in the SSSI/SPA. 

I am a full member of the Charted Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.  It has been a real privilege to be a Trustee of WTSWW and contribute in a small way to the work of the trust. 

Jenny Hughes – Trustee since 2022. Standing for a second term 

Contributing to WTSWW is a privilege and I am honoured to support the vital work the Trust does for nature and conservation in South and West Wales.

Since growing up in the country, I have a long-standing interest and love of birds, wildlife and preserving biodiversity. I bring governance, audit and strategic project management skills from my background in medicine. As a doctor I see first hand the importance of a connection with nature for our health and well-being.

Leonora Thomson – Trustee since 2021. Standing for a second term

I would be very grateful to be appointed for a second term as a trustee to this wonderful organisation - I hope that I have played a useful role on the board, and I am very much enjoying chairing the Local Groups Forum. Growing up in the country, I have cared about wildlife all my life.  My skills and experience from my career in communications, local politics and arts leadership enable me to make a significant contribution as a trustee.  I have experience in a variety of Trustee roles and know the difference in governance and management. I have a good understanding of charitable finances and strategic risk management and experience of marketing, communications and organisational management. I have a great interest in EDI issues and strongly feel the need for organisations to change to engage people from right across society - WTSWW is doing brilliant work on this.   I was a local councillor for eight years (in Ealing, London) culminating in being Leader, and I am now a councillor in Cardiff where I am lead on Adults Services and Older Persons' Champion.  I am also on the management group of Cardiff National Park City, which is a small, volunteer organisation trying to gain Cardiff accreditation as a National Park City.  

Lucy Griffiths – Trustee since 2022. Standing for a second term

Raised in Marloes, I have had a long relationship with the Trust - supporting the trust with marketing input on major fundraisers and projects, and raising funds personally. I now live in Ystradgynlais, and so have an understanding of the wide range of reserves the trust manages. As a Chartered Marketer and Lecturer at Swansea University, I bring marketing, fundraising, and tech skills along with broader business knowledge in areas such as data protection, privacy, and security. I am also an experienced Trustee - previously serving as a Trustee for the Royal Society of Arts.