Meet The Trustees
Richard Lucas (Chairman)
Richard is a retired General Practitioner living in Hawarden. He is a keen fisherman on the Dee and Tyne.
Mervyn Williams (Vice Chair)
A Welsh speaker who is a retired History teacher, Mervyn has been a keen fisherman for over 50 years catching his first trout on the rivers of his native Llŷn Peninsula.
He takes an active interest in the environment and efforts to improve habitat and is a member of several conservation societies.
Mervyn lives in Denbighshire, is married with one son, a daughter through marriage and two grandsons.
Huw Evans (Treasurer)
A native of Llangollen Huw has lived all his life on the banks of the Dee. A retired solicitor Huw managed the Welsh Dee Trust from 2007 until 2021. He is passionate about the conservation of the Dee catchment and the education of the public in protecting the water environment.
Caroline Dawson
Brought up on the edge of the Clwydian Range AONB, Caroline has over 15 years experience of working with a range of businesses and organisations from across the agri-food sector – from her first job as Local Food Project Officer in Wrexham County Borough to Head of Agri-Food at Promar International. She now runs her own successful freelance agri-food consultancy business – Fodder Lass Consulting.
She holds a BSc Hons in Environmental Science, along with a PGC in Leadership, she is a Professional Member of the Institute of Agricultural Management and recently completed the Worshipful Company of Farmers ‘Challenge of Rural Leadership’ Course.
When not working with agri-food businesses, Caroline runs an adventure paddle boarding company – SUP Lass Paddle Adventures, based on the River Dee.
Gareth Jones
Born and bred in the town of Ruthin. Where he now lives with his family.
Holds a degree in Environmental Studies and an HND in Rural Land Use.
Works for Keep Wales Tidy, where he was originally employed as a River Officer.
Chairman of Corwen and District Angling Club.
Gareth Foulkes
Gareth was born in the Vale of Clywd and initially set out as the third generation on the family farm. Gareth re-trained as a school biology teacher, before joining Environment Agency Wales. Gareth has a passion for sustainable agriculture and became a trustee in 2020.
Michael Stirk
Company Director of an Agricultural merchant in Shropshire, Michael has fished all his life and caught his first Salmon on the Dee at the age of 13. Michael is the Vice Chairman of the Dee Fisheries Association and a member of Midland Fly Fishers.
Involved with the Trust since 1999 he is fully committed to the conservation and improvement of the Dee catchment. Michael is married to Sue with two adult children all of whom fish.
Mark Pierce
Mark grew up in the hills above the Dee Estuary, with moorland literally outside his back door, and has always had a keen interest in the natural world. Having completed a degree in Applied Chemistry, Mark decided to pursue a career in engineering and has spent most of his working life in Project Management, ranging from small projects to large multi-million-pound projects. During this time Mark never lost his passion for the Natural World and completed a range of courses including the Institute Of Fisheries Management Course – Fisheries Management and a Diploma in Conservation. Mark spends most Sundays working with the local angling group to improve the habitat on his local river
Nick Jenkins
Nick has lived on the banks of the River Dee for over 30 years. A keen fisherman and ornithologist, he is passionate about the preservation of native species and the protection of the environments in which they live.
At work, he is a Chartered Accountant in Chester helping individuals and family businesses, particularly in the rural sector.
