Trustees

For 32 years he was managing director of science based aquatic consultancy, APEM, the firm he began in 1987. APEM is now an internationally renowned global consultancy employing over 600 people.

For over 35 years Keith has been heavily involved in the successful clean-up of the Manchester Ship Canal and Salford Quays, with various innovative projects to improve water quality and aquatic ecology, which continue to this day. His involvement continues as Chair of the Mersey Rivers Trust, having had a longstanding involvement with the Charity and its predecessor since 1987. In addition he is also Chair of the multi-agency Manchester Ship Canal Forum.

Throughout his career Keith has been heavily involved with several water related organisations being a long term supporter and Chair of the North West branch of the Institute of Fisheries Management and a member of the organisation’s national executive and council. Formally he held the position of honorary biologist and scientific advisor to the National Federation of Anglers, advising on issues ranging from national policy to pollution. Keith was also a scientific advisor to the Mersey Basin Campaign and subsequently the successor organisation, the Mersey Rivers Trust.

In addition Keith was a member of the government’s Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries legislative review committee, which contributed to the landmark 2009 Marine Act, 2014 Water Act and the 2021 Environment Act. Keith has also sat on various Environment Agency advisory committees.

Rowena advocates the importance of sport and activity for social and personal wellbeing and its ability to bring together people from different backgrounds as a community. 

Rowena has been a Board Director for a variety of organisations and has a Masters in Business Administration, both of which are useful in her contribution to the Trust.

In her free time, she now enjoys open water swimming and has recently taken up rowing.

Janet also has research interests in the impact of environmental and hydrological changes. She has undertaken applied projects in river restoration, channel management, and land degradation control. Janet has published over 140 academic papers and has been the Chair and Honorary Secretary of the British Society for Geomorphology. In 2009 she was awarded the Busk Medal of the Royal Geographical Society for ‘Field research in river systems and their conservation’. Much of her work has been undertaken on the Rivers Bollin and Dane in the Mersey catchment.

Nick is consultant ecologist who specialises in both aquatic and terrestrial ecology, equally as happy up a tree looking for bats as he is in waders surveying fish. 

A keen fisherman, Nick caught his first wild brown trout from the Irwell over 35 years ago and has been passionate ever since about the conservation of the rivers in the Mersey catchment. 

David works for Peel Land. In his spare time, David enjoys being outdoors and has a personal interest in conservation and the environment.

Sarah is an Environmental Scientist with extensive experience of the water industry.  She is currently Head of Integrated Water Management at United Utilities where she is focused on enabling Integrated Water Management recognising that to deliver resilient water services and a healthy environment there needs to be much more alignment of water planning with nature, people and places.  As part of this unlocking a scale up in the use of nature-based solutions is also a key focus.   In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors which often involves trail running and hiking in the Mersey catchment. 

Alex first joined Mersey Rivers as a young trustee in May 2022.

Despite an academic background rooted in International Relations and Security Studies, Alex’s lifelong passion for fishing and the water environment led him to pursue a professional career within the Angling Trust, England’s governing and representative body for anglers.

After a number of years specialising in stakeholder engagement and communications, Alex now occupies the role of Competitions Development Manager, where he works to oversee the Trust’s portfolio of national competitions and international teams. A successful competitive angler in his own right, Alex became Individual National Champion in 2023, and continues to enjoy all forms of fishing on rivers across the Mersey catchment.

Whilst away from the water, Alex can usually be found attending concerts, playing the guitar, or watching football. In his spare time, he also enjoys cooking and film.

Fran studied Geography at the University of Manchester.  She has been working at Groundwork for over 4 years, mainly working on river improvement and community engagement projects along the River Irk and River Medlock.