Executive Leadership Team

WWT's Executive Leadership Team lead on setting and delivering WWT's strategy for protecting wetlands. They are all passionate about the natural world and bring a wealth of experience and skills to the organisation.

Sarah Fowler

Chief Executive

Sarah works to inspire everybody to connect with and care for our natural world and realise the benefits this brings for people and nature. She started her career working on The Wildlife Trust's Water for Wildlife campaign across Wessex. Most recently she was Chief Executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, where she led the English National Parks work on nature recovery and developed the acclaimed National Parks Experience Collection, showcasing sustainable tourism offers from businesses across National Parks. Sarah has held various executive roles in the Environment Agency on flood, water and environmental regulation and delivery, she was CEO at Peterborough Environment City Trust, worked at English Nature and led the RSPB's water policy and parliamentary teams. Sarah is an advisory board member for VisitEngland and, at home, she is a Trustee of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Active Partners Trust. Sarah joins WWT as we focus on the role that wetlands play in helping meet the most pressing challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and our own plummeting well-being. She will focus on the system-wide changes needed that will help WWT, and wetlands, be at the heart of positive solutions for climate, nature and people.

Tomos Avent

Interim Director of Wetland Conservation

Tomos leads WWT's Wetland Conservation Directorate, overseeing our work to protect, restore and create wetlands in the UK and internationally. He works with teams and partners to turn WWT's wetland expertise into practical conservation action, helping to tackle the linked challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change and the need to improve people's lives through healthy wetlands.

Tomos has extensive experience in international wetland conservation, developing and leading programmes that bring together communities, governments and conservation partners to find solutions that work for both people and nature. His work has included a particular focus on Asia and Africa, where he has helped develop long-term partnerships and conservation programmes to safeguard some of the region's most important wetlands and the species and communities that depend on them.

As Interim Director of Wetland Conservation, Tomos is focused on increasing the scale and impact of WWT's conservation work, strengthening the evidence and expertise that underpin it, and building the partnerships needed to deliver lasting change for wetlands. He is passionate about ensuring WWT combines its practical experience on the ground with its science, policy and advocacy to demonstrate what is possible and inspire wider action for wetlands.

Alex Lane

Director of Operations

Alex joined WWT in early 2023 to oversee the Operations at WWT's 10 sites. Alex comes with extensive experience in general management and commercial roles. Most recently she was Sales & Marketing Director at The Wave in Bristol, an innovative start-up focused on blue health and wellbeing. Before then, Alex spent five years at Longleat Enterprises as their General Manager responsible for operational and financial performance of a both Longleat Safari Park and Cheddar Gorge & Caves.

Alex is passionate about the natural world and ensuring the protection of wildlife and nature for future generations. Alex's focus is on master-planning and developing our ten visitor sites, ensuring the continuation of their crucial role in supporting our future strategy, providing opportunities for visitors from all backgrounds to connect and engage with nature.

Anita Eade

Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications

On a mission to raise the voice of wetlands and introduce more people to their superpowers, Anita joined WWT in summer 2024 to lead the Fundraising, Marketing and Communications Directorate and build a movement of people taking action for these undervalued habitats.

As Executive Director at YHA, Anita led the development of the organisation's 10-year strategy, putting inclusion and access at its core. She managed their £40 million income generation approaches and founded the YHA-hosted Generation Green programme, connecting over 100,000 young people to nature and the National Parks.

Recognised as a national expert in access, Anita initiated Outdoor Citizens, a community of practice turning up the dial on access to the outdoors. She advises government bodies and funders on how to unlock the multiple benefits of the outdoors, nature, culture and heritage, and wellbeing programmes for more and different people. Most recently, she set up the network for Women's Leadership In Protected Landscapes which both supports aspiring women leaders in the outdoor sector and looks to see what wider sector can learn from women's leadership approaches.

A mother of 4, wife of 1 and keeper of chickens and ducks, Anita and her family are regular visitors to our sites and have been long-term supporters of WWT.

Martin Dawson

Director of Finance and Support Services

Martin joined WWT in early 2023 and oversees the Charity's people, finance, IT, legal and compliance functions. Martin qualified as an accountant while working at the Environment Agency going on to hold senior positions in finance and corporate services. A move into the charity sector saw Martin take on the role of Group Resources Director at the Soil Association, a leading environmental charity working to transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world. Now, with many years of experience in improving the financial management, governance and supporting systems of organisations, Martin's role is to help WWT make best use of the valuable funding we receive and to ensure the Charity plans effectively for the resources needed to deliver our strategy.