Our Team
Meet the people behind the scenes
Simon Slater
Director
Simon’s interest in the environment, community, and fairness, came from long summers helping out on his Cornish Grandfathers hill farm, and long winters on the Isle of Sheppey, watching it flood.
He trained as a town planner, then did a PhD on why you shouldn’t build on a flood plain, and has a variety of awards, including a Blue Peter badge for energy saving, and Harlech beach sandcastle prize.
Early on in his career he worked with the late Rhodri Morgan and Welsh Government as they explored what it meant to have the duty to promote sustainable development in your constitution. His Wales experience renewed his interest to work for the benefit of communities and the environment.
He has subsequently worked across the world as an environmental advisor with royalty, charities, government, councils, and business. This has included borrowing ideas from Wales, such as creating a Board member for Future Generations for a Regional Development Agency 10 years before the Welsh Act.
More recently he has been running sustainability or community regeneration charities such as Sustainability West Midlands, the Springfield Project, and ecobirmingham.
He is looking forward to coming back to Wales to continue to be part of the country’s sustainability story. “Wales changed me, now I want to be part of a charity that is helping Wales to change”
Simon also enjoys board games, exploring somewhere new, good coffee, cheese, and speculative fiction.
Clare Sain-Ley-Berry
Clare has a background in delivering partnership projects for the natural environment and sustainable resource use and uses this to help shape our policy and development work. She enjoys facilitating collaboration across sectors and devising practical programmes to deliver strategic aims.
Clare leads on Cynnal Cymru’s work for a thriving natural environment, which includes our Nature Wise eco literacy training, as well as contributing to work around the foundational economy and decarbonisation.
Clare enjoys being energised by good conversation, yoga and being out and about in nature. She lives with her family in Penarth.
Lynsey Jackson
Programme Manager
With a background in furniture design and an interest in systems thinking, Lynsey enjoys developing creative and practical solutions that support our whole work programme.
Lynsey originally joined the team in 2010 as a volunteer, and has since developed a breadth of experience across the organisation from developing the branding and digital communications for the ‘Wales We Want’ National Conversation to coordinating our programme of events, including the Sustainable Academy Awards.
Today she leads on the development of our website and online training platform, as well as providing strategic support across the team.
From historic towns to hidden forests, Lynsey enjoys exploring new places. She loves listening to podcasts and has developed a particular fondness for Critical Role after becoming a D&D convert! She also enjoys cooking and gaming with friends.
Fiona Humphreys
Finance Officer
Fiona joined Cynnal Cymru in 2021, bringing with her a wide range of experience in both the third and private sectors, and a lifelong passion for the environment and animal welfare.
She manages Cynnal Cymru’s in-house finances and bookkeeping, maintaining the sales and purchase ledgers and acting as the primary liaison with our financial controllers. Fiona is also the first point of contact for the Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru (CLCC) consortium, and provides secretariat support for the board of trustees.
Out of hours, Fiona can usually be found writing, gaming, or enjoying her garden with her two cats.
Beli Evans
Marketing and Communications Officer
Beli joins Cynnal Cymru as the Marketing and Communications Officer. They have spent the past decade in similar communications roles across the nonprofit sector, including most recently as the Marketing and Communications Director for SpokesPerson CIC, improving cycling accessibility across Cardiff and South Wales.
Beli is excited about the opportunity to delve more into climate and sustainability communications and engage more closely with Cynnal Cymru’s wide array of communities and stakeholders. They are an expert in trans and disability accessibility and look forward to bringing that to the role.
Outside of work, you’ll find them singing in Songbirds Choir, organising with Disability Collective Cymru and South Wales Drag King Collective, or hunkered down finishing their novel.
Abi Hoare
Membership Officer
Abi joined the team in 2021, as a Charityworks trainee with a focus on the research and development of our Membership offer. Her role is now focused on membership support and she is the first point of contact for our growing network of businesses and organisations committed to a sustainable future.
Abi holds a degree in History from the University of Bristol and has previous experience in charity consultancy, digital marketing, and project management.
As Membership Officer, Abi will be providing support to our membership network, as well as providing varied support to the team across the board.
Outside of work, Abi’s interests lie in reading, gaming, and exploring her local area, The Forest of Dean.
Meet the advice team
Dr Karolina Rucinska
Sustainability Strategist
Karolina joined Cynnal Cymru in 2021 to provide consultancy support to the public and private sectors on how to become more sustainable in their operations.
Originally from Poland, Karolina developed her interest in sustainable development having witnessed the unintended consequences of the huge transformations that took place in her home country and the Republic of Ireland which she later moved to.
This lived experience prompted her to pursue higher degrees focused on sustainability, tourism, food systems and public understanding of science at Cardiff University. While a student, Karolina was involved in research investigating farm animal welfare, but later she moved to manage research projects at the Cardiff School of Engineering. There, she gained an appreciation of energy systems and the challenges that come with decarbonising them.
In her spare time, Karolina volunteers at Oasis Cardiff as a lead gardener and the Good Gym as a task member. She refuses to learn to drive and is a firm believer and practitioner of low carbon lifestyle. Karolina is described as one that brings people together and strives to make things better.
Camille Løvgreen
Sustainability Adviser
Meet the training team
Louise Cartwright
Training Manager
Louise is our Training Manager, working to develop Cynnal Cymru’s training offer. Louise manages our dynamic training team to achieve the highest possible standards and leads on our continuous improvement culture.
Having worked within the charitable, environmental, and horticultural sectors for over fifteen years, Louise has developed specialisms in both land-based training and local food production. Louise holds a master’s degree in Product Design, with additional qualifications in permaculture and biodynamic land management. With previous experience of setting up and managing a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable box scheme business, Louise now lives with her partner on a smallholding in Carmarthenshire, aspiring to self-reliance.
In her spare time, Louise works with various community groups and organisations, to deliver training in organic horticulture and biodynamic gardening. She also enjoys playing the violin and growing delicious vegetables.
Tom Kirton
Training and Communications Officer
Tom provides administrative support for our training programme, including our Carbon Literacy and Nature Wise courses.
Outside of work Tom has been a Town Councillor in Monmouthshire for 15 years and during this time he has been Mayor of Chepstow for three consecutive years where he has championed sustainable and environmental projects for Chepstow Town Council.
Outside of work Tom plays many musical instruments and loves to work in his recording studio at home with his cat Zelda
Sara Wynne-Pari
Training and Development Officer
Sara supports our training and networking services, facilitating individuals and organisations in Wales to improve their understanding of the nature crisis and take action to reverse it. She is the lead trainer and project manager for Nature Wise, our eco-literacy training programme, helping to develop and tailor content, as well as providing programme support to the rest of the Cynnal Cymru team.
Dedicated to empowering and helping others on their sustainability journey she believes in building inclusive and collaborative, cross-sector partnerships, ensuring best practice, innovation and creativity are at the heart of solutions. Her background includes grants management, protected landscapes, pro-environmental behavior change and supporting and mentoring environmental volunteer organisations.
In her spare time, she enjoys nothing more than making the most of her backyard in Snowdonia whether that’s exploring, swimming or riding her electric bike.
Sylvia Davies
Sustainability Trainer
Sylvia is our lead trainer on Carbon Literacy in English and Welsh. She also delivers Nabod Natur – Nature Wise.
Sylvia loves being a Sustainability Trainer because she gets the privilege of seeing organisations find their niche on the path to sustainable development and recognising where they can make impactful change. She is also a perpetual learner and always seeks to gain knowledge, insight and feedback from those she trains in order to inform and improve her pedagogy and future courses. “Every day is a learning day” is very much her motto.
Alongside her role at Cynnal Cymru, she runs her own business: etoeto, where she designs and makes upcycled urban accessories, and she also pops up with top tips on living a greener life on S4C’s Prynhawn Da programme.
Chris Woodfield
Sustainability Trainer
Chris joined the team as Sustainability Trainer in March 2024. He’s passionate about systems change and facilitating the transformational shift to a zero carbon and regenerative society. Chris has spent the past couple of years supporting businesses and facilitating a Future Leaders programme as part of the Low Carbon Devon project at the University of Plymouth. More recently, he was the Better Business and Futures Lead at TYF Adventure, delivering sustainability and impact consultancy and training, and is currently one of the B Local Wales Co-Chairs, supporting and growing the B Corp movement in Wales.
Chris believes in the power of play, nature connection and taking a compassionate, collaborative and curious approach to facilitating change. He’s excited about using the potential of futures thinking and visioning, and co-imagining the more beautiful world we know is possible. Chris holds an MSc Sustainability and Adaptation from the Centre for Alternative Technology.
In his spare time, he is the Co-Initiator of Venture Shift, a systems transformation initiative within the outdoor sector, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Aber Food Surplus, a food systems change not-for-profit in West Wales, and the Climate Fresk Volunteer Coordinator for Wales, aiming to grow climate education and empowerment across communities in Wales. He enjoys exploring his local landscape and coastscape in West and Mid Wales through swimming, surfing, walking, cycling and running.
Meet the Fair Work and Living Wage team
Grace Robinson
Living Wage Programme Lead
Grace is the Living Wage Programme Officer, providing advice and support to growing our employer network.
She was born in Cardiff and has lived here most of her life – the only exception being an undergraduate degree in Swansea.
She has a background in human resources and has always been passionate about equality, justice and fair work practices.
Grace previously worked on the Living Wage Programme during her master’s degree in HR, which is what made her enthusiastic about this particular initiative.
Harry Thompson
Head of Fair Economy
Harry is Senior Programme and Policy Lead: Fair Work and Economy and manages the Fair Work and Living Wage team, which work towards Cynnal Cymru’s strategic goal of a fair and just society.
He previously worked as Economic Policy Lead at the Institute of Welsh Affairs, leading projects on topics such as empowering trade unions, the Welsh Government’s fiscal framework, and community empowerment. He previously worked for public affairs firm Deryn Consulting and in political campaigns and research at Senedd, Westminster, and local authority level.
In his spare time Harry is a long-suffering Ospreys fan and season ticket holder.
Alys Reid Bacon
Living Wage and Human Resources Administration Officer
Alys provides support on the Living Wage accreditation process, as well as supporting with Cynnal Cymru’s HR administration.
Alys is passionate about sustainability and is currently working on her PhD in Biological Sciences, titled, “The influence of genotype, environment & management factors on yield development, grain filling & grain quality in oats”
Karen Misbah
Living Work Projects Coordinator
Karen is the Living Work Projects Coordinator, who works on the Living Work initiatives such as Living Wage Places, Living Hours, and Living Pensions.
Karen brings a range of skills and knowledge from working in a Research & Development team at Panasonic and from her time as a Health & Wellbeing officer at Cardiff Council.
She strongly believes in equality for everyone, and through her role at Cynnal Cymru hopes to make a difference.
She has a passion for health and wellbeing, and loves to be outside in nature.
Phoebe Nicklin
Policy and Engagement officer
Phoebe is the Policy and Engagement officer supporting the Foundational Economy network that Cynnal Cymru currently facilitates on behalf of Welsh Government. She also works to build collaboration around sustainability issues including fair work, a just transition, climate and biodiversity.
Phoebe has a diverse set of skills and knowledge from previously working for Cardiff University on research and community engagement projects to connect Welsh communities to nature for health and wellbeing. Phoebe has a strong background in innovation, working with the NHS on healthcare initiatives to encourage engagement with green spaces, increasing biodiversity through rewilding, pollinator and citizen science projects.
Phoebe is excited to be supporting the Foundational economy network as she is passionate about equality and access to essential goods and services.
Outside of work Phoebe enjoys spending time in nature, ice skating, gaming and gardening.
Could this be you?
Job opportunities
Do you have what it takes to help us create a more sustainable Wales? Find out more about our current vacancies.
