Contact Us

Chris Coode
Chief Executive
Tel: 07813 799757
Chris is head of education and training at Thames21. Before joining Thames21, Chris worked as the Education Coordinator at the London Aquarium, and he has worked as a warden on marine wildlife reserves along the coast of Dorset and Cornwall. He is one of the world’s greatest rockpoolers.

John Bryden
Head of Improving Rivers
Tel: 07968 012 828
John is head of river improvements at Thames21. He came to Thames21 from the Environment Agency, where he worked for seven years leading river restoration, wetland, and SuDS projects. He may be appeased with offerings of cricket bats and tea.

Simon Phillips
Head of Engagement and Learning
Tel: 07976 559 778 
Simon has over thirty years’ experience working in the Third Sector. He has worked for a broad range of charities managing and delivering services in homelessness, mental health, community development and community education. He recently completed a BSc in Environmental Studies with the Open University. Outside of work, he enjoys walking and cycling, a favourite trip being a stroll along the Lea from Walthamstow Marches to Limehouse and the Thames.

Adam Gardner
Head of HR
Tel: 07597 580017
A born and bred Londoner, Adam has lived by the Thames for over 20 years and sees the river as a place of interest, education and sanctuary. Adam has an MSc in HR Development from London South Bank University and is an Associate member of the CIPD and comes to Thames 21 with almost 20 years HR experience, working mainly in SMEs within different sectors and industries. Outside of Thames21, Adam volunteers his HR services to a small education charity and loves going to the gym, cooking and catching up on another drama on Netflix!

Alison Archer
Head of Fundraising
Tel: 07554 402772
Alison has worked across a variety of roles in marketing and fundraising across all sectors. She is a founder member of the Pymmes BrookERS, a community group that works to restore the Pymmes and Salmons Brooks. She loves walking London’s rivers and wild swimming and is usually happiest in a kayak.

Emma Smith
Trusts and Foundations Fundraising Manager
Tel: 07826 913307
Emma has a varied background across the public and not-for-profit sectors to draw on for writing fundraising bids, including 3 years in higher education, over a decade in a local authority and time volunteering for several small charities. She is a (very) amateur trumpet player, an excellent cake-maker and enjoys making the most of living in the beautiful South Downs.

Tom Whitehead
Corporate Partnerships Manager
Tel: 07729 046 603
Tom brings a wealth of commercial and practical experience to Thames21. Previously Head of Business Development at an international publishing house, co-founder of Lea Boaters Collective, and a successful marine carpenter, he is at home in boardrooms and boats alike. He lives on a historic narrowboat with his yoghurt-pot enthusiast, Grey.

David Courtneidge
Corporate Volunteering Officer
Tel: 07584 172209
David joined Thames21 in early 2022 after stints at London Wildlife Trust and South East Rivers Trust. David studies dragonflies and damselflies, plus having worked across London on a variety of river and wetland projects. He is very keen to apply this knowledge to his new role. When not working David can be found hiking or walking by his local river or basket weaving with some locally sourced willow. To find out more about Thames21’s corporate volunteering see here: https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays

Matt Barnes
Corporate Volunteering Event Leader
Tel: 07849 087 833
Matt found his way to Thames21 after spending 18 months conserving marine turtles, restoring coral reefs, and rehabilitating orangutans in Asia. Matt has a passion and knowledge for combating aquatic pollution which he hopes to bring to this role after spending 9 years managing volunteers, citizen science and engagement activities with the Marine Conservation Society. When not working Matt’s life is dominated by seals, he has spent time as a seal steward, educator, rescuer, rehabilitator and founding and managing the Yorkshire Seal Group in addition to being an active SCUBA diving Instructor.

Vahide Berisha Bazargan
Officer Manager
Tel: 07827 240457
Vahide came to Thames21 after volunteering for foreshore clean ups. She has worked for the Carbon Trust and before that at Bateaux London luxury boat cruises on the Thames; so she is happy to be back by the river again. Vahide loves being outdoors, gardening, cooking, crafting and trying to lead a life kind to nature and wildlife while encouraging others to do the same.

Liz Gyekye
Communications Manager
Tel: 07597 584349
Liz has more than 13 years’ experience working as a journalist on environmental trade titles including Packaging News, ENDS Europe and Materials Recycling World. She has written extensively about resource management issues and the circular economy. She is looking forward to sharing the exciting stories that form part and parcel of Thames21’s work. When her out of office is on, Liz can be found running, enjoying time with her family and friends, or attending music gigs.

Manuela Rio Tinto
Communications Officer
Tel: 07743929671
Brazilian turned Londoner, Manuela has over five years of experience working as a writer and copywriter across a variety of organisational sizes within digital media, including international outlets and startups. Her passion for scuba diving, marine animals, and everything water-related has led her on the conservation path. Manuela will work closely with the team to promote their projects. She’s happiest underwater, by the sea, or travelling (or even better, combining everything in a diving trip).

Head of Finance
Tel: 07597 578516
Piyal is Head of Finance and Operations at Thames21. He has wide experience in manufacturing and retail sectors. He has set up new, large profitable operations overseas. In addition to this, he has had more than ten years’ experience working in statutory healthcare and charity sectors, with a specific focus on supporting disabled people and misrepresented communities. Piyal strongly believes in empowering people to thrive and connect communities to take responsibility for the wellbeing of themselves and others. He loves travelling in search of green and blue spaces and visiting museums.

Finance Officer
Tel: 0771 607 4435
Ola is a finance professional and has extensive experience working at various accounting practices and charity organisations, including stints as an account assistant and treasury officer. In these roles, she acquired a variety of finance skills through study and wok experience in recording, managing and analysing financial information. She enjoys working as part of a team and has a willingness to learn from others. As Thames21’s Finance Officer, she is willing to ensure that transactions are processed in an efficient, accurate and timely manner using approved process and procedures. In her free time, Ola loves to travel and read novels.

CRM Manager
Tel: 07743 927 460
Dominic is a seasoned database manager, having worked for the Alzheimer’s Society, Action for Children and Keech Hospice Care to name but a few of his previous charities. At Thames21, his role is to ensure that the charity makes the best use of its ‘Volunteer and Supporter’ data in a secure and respectful way to attract more people to support the work we do. When not at work he enjoys walking (but not running), cruising (on boats & ships) and football (watching not playing because that involves running).

Training Officer
Tel: 07739 627 665
Edwin and the River Thames have been good friends for as long as he can remember. Growing up between Britain and Australia, Edwin is just as at home walking the streets of London as he is on a hike in the bush. Before working with Thames21, Edwin was a primary school teacher in London and graduated with a BSc in Wildlife Conservation at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent in 2012. He is passionate about education; fostering and encouraging a love of the natural world in those who are less familiar with it. Edwin is a keen photographer and loves reading about liminal spaces, anthropology, ecology, access to nature and adaptation. As training officer, Edwin will be combining his interests and experience to train and inspire as many people as possible to take ownership of our rivers.

Operations Manager
Tel: 07568 225 703
Peter joined us in 2023 as our Operations Manager. He has wide experience of managing compliance within the general engineering sector, with specific experience of quality and health & safety management for the aerospace sector. His love of nature has led him to bring his skills and experience to the conservation sector now, and he will be managing operations from our satellite office at Bow Locks as well as compliance activities across the organisation. Outside of work, Peter is passionate about animal welfare and the environment. He volunteers for several conservation and animal welfare charities and is just as happy running around catching sheep and goats for treatment at his local animal sanctuary as he is sitting behind a desk.

Luca Marazzi
Plastic Free Mersey Project Manager
Tel: 07523 512849
Luca is a Professional Wetland Scientist with a Ph.D. in Freshwater Ecology. He has conducted research on biodiversity, algal ecology, wetland ecology, air pollution, climate change, and sustainability – working and volunteering at foundations, universities, and NGOs in Italy, UK, Botswana, and USA. He coordinates the citizen science and engagement Plastic Free Mersey project and contributes to the Plastics Action project. Luca is passionate about understanding, conserving, and restoring wetlands and enjoys travelling, photography, and playing tennis.

Lucy Jackson
Plastic Free Mersey Project Officer
Tel: 07597 578 116
Lucy worked as a Geography teacher at a free school for two years, after graduating with a Geography degree from the University of Oxford in 2020. She has an interest on public engagement on environmental issues and completed her dissertation on the impact of climate change art in inspiring behavioural changes. She is working as Project Officer on the Plastic Free Mersey project and the BRIC project. Lucy has a passion for sustainability, and spends her free time swimming in the sea, cycling, running and mudlarking.

Will Oliver
Catchment Partnership Development Manager
Tel: 07826 913307
Will graduated from University College London in 2018 with a master’s degree in Aquatic Science. Here he specialised in freshwater ecology and restoration and completed his dissertation on the effect of microhabitat availability on fish distribution within a Norfolk chalk stream. Will has previously worked as a freshwater ecologist for a consultancy firm. He enjoys fishing, running and playing football.

Rebecca Turnpenney
Catchment Partnership Development Support Officer
Tel: 07597578126
Rebecca graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2020 with a degree in Geography. She has an interest in fluvial and marine sciences and completed her dissertation on the effects of climate change on a tributary of the River Lea. Rebecca has previously worked for Thames21 on the Woodland Creation Project in Enfield as part of our Woodland Planting team. She will be supporting the Catchment Partnerships Team, working mainly in the Brent and London Lea catchments. She enjoys travel and exploring new places, a good sunset, and spending time with friends and family.

Sarah Thornley
Catchment Partnership Development Support Officer
Tel: TBC
Sarah graduated from the University of Leeds with a BSc Geography degree, where previous projects have taken her from the Yorkshire Dales to Costa Rican rainforests. During her studies, she specialised in freshwater ecosystems and completed her dissertation on the effects of airport drainage on local water quality and macroinvertebrate assemblages. At Thames21, Sarah will be supporting the Catchment Partnership Team, primarily working within the Maidenhead to Teddington and South Chilterns catchments. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, music gigs, reading and any form of dance.

Catriona Ross
Beckenham Place Park Engagement
Tel: 07743927796
Catriona’s role as Beckenham Place Park Engagement Officer is to connect with the communities local to the eastern side of BPP, and lead on engagement and volunteering activities around the Ravensbourne River. Catriona previously worked in events and communications and, since moving to Lewisham with her family, has been focussing on working within her local community. Happiest spending time outdoors with friends and family in the green spaces and along the rivers in Lewisham, Catriona loves to work out new ways to bring these places, people and spaces together for the betterment of everyone!

Philippa Nicholls
Project Officer (Combined: Community Eel Officer, Evidence Officer & Catchment Partnerships)
Tel: 07568226407
Philippa (also known as Philly) completed an MSc in Conservation at UCL in September 2020. Her dissertation focused on the current status of the Thames Basin’s eel population, which cemented her strong interest in eels and freshwater ecosystems. Prior to this role, Philippa was working at a London-based sustainability consultancy as an Assistant Ecologist and volunteering with multiple environmental charities. She loves anything to do with aquatic environments, anything to do with her dogs, spending time with her family and friends and playing hockey.

Deb Frankiewicz
Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre Education Officer
Tel: 07711 701694
Deb develops and delivers the fun and interactive education programme to school groups and the local community at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre in West London. Initially trained as a Geographical Information Systems Analyst in Australia, Deb moved to London and soon discovered her love for working with children in the outdoors.

Stephen Haywood
Rural Solutions Programme Manager
Tel: 07500 842 283
Steve started working with the Environment Agency in South West England on their water quality monitoring programmes, but move to London and is pursuing his career in natural flood management. A keen surfer and cyclist, if he’s not found near water, he’ll be out trekking in the mountains somewhere in the world.

Agnes Hodges
Bathing Water Development Officer
Tel: 07568 225 704
Aggie has broad experience in conservation, having worked in woodland and river restoration in New Zealand and London. She is also currently undertaking a part-time MSc in Ecology and Sustainability at the Centre for Alternative Technology, with a focus on political ecology and outdoor swimming. She enjoys playing, coaching and watching football, and all-season outdoor swimming.

Claire Robertson
Oxford Rivers Project Officer
Tel: 07856 715 542
Claire is a freshwater researcher and a community organiser who lives on a canal boat in Oxford. She works on the Oxford Rivers Project, which uses citizen science and community action to challenge water companies, authorities and others to clean up the rivers in and around Oxford. She has an undergraduate degree in Biology, a masters in Environmental Policy and a PhD in Freshwater Ecology. Before working for Thames21, she worked on climate change campaigns and in environmental education. She loves wild swimming (of course), hiking, nature spotting and all kinds of folk and world music.

Thames Programme Manager
Tel: 07585 302623
AJ joined Thames21 in 2015 from the Institute of European Environmental Policy where he worked on biodiversity policy. Interested in grassroots work and urban ecology, AJ delivered the Trout in the Classroom project for the Wandle Trust alongside his policy duties for two years. He plays guitar in a band, these days mostly restricted to friends’ weddings.

Zara Visanji
Evidence Project Manager
Tel: 07749 415 897

Zara gained her master’s in water engineering in 2017 and has more recently been researching emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment plants. Her love of rivers and previous background has led her to Thames21, where she will be focusing on monitoring sewage-derived litter in the Thames. Zara loves to travel, and you will regularly find her exploring waterfalls and wild swimming in rivers or filling herself up with anything sweet.

Rosa Clavane
Community Engagement Manager
Tel: 07500840596
Rosa’s role as Community Engagement Officer for Thames River Watch is to listen to marginalised communities close to the Thames learn how to improve access to the river. Rosa’s previous role was setting up a community dementia therapy programme in Camden and before that she was a teacher in Spain and the UK.  Rosa is interested in the power of community organising to impact positive political change through bringing people together to realise their collective power. Rosa enjoys playing football, exploring London by bike and cooking.

Felicity Rhodes
Thames Volunteer Engagement Officer
Tel: 07568226230 
Before joining Thames21, Felicity previously worked at Toynbee Hall, Providence Row, and Stepney City Farm, in fundraising, and volunteer leadership roles. She has a PhD in isotope geochemistry. This involved looking at how the chemistry of rocks can inform one’s understanding of past ocean oxygen conditions. She lives in East London, and enjoys getting out for long walks along the Thames. When Felicity is not at work, she is most likely to be ballroom dancing, or visiting one of London’s many City Farms.

Chloe Houseman
Thames Monitoring Officer
Tel: TBC;
Chloe has spent the last few years researching microplastic pollution. She recently gained an MRes in environmental toxicology with her thesis focusing on microplastic contamination of ponds and common toad tadpoles situated within a range of different land use types. In her role, she will focus on monitoring sewage-derived plastic pollution, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of different methods for plastic removal. In her spare time, Chloe enjoys spending time with friends going for walks in the countryside, trying new food, and playing board games.

Toby Dighero
Engagement Officer
Tel: 07968 805751 
Toby’s role involves running community-led river engagement and monitoring events across the Tidal Thames. Before he came to Thames21, Toby worked with environmental charity The Conservation Volunteers, supporting, and managing volunteers on community and conservation events in Croydon. He has also previously worked as a mental health support worker and an English teacher in South Korea. In his spare time, he enjoys cycle touring, wild camping and playing ‘ultimate frisbee’.

Matthew Dawson
Community Engagement Manager
Tel: 07597580016 
Prior to joining Thames21, Matthew worked in the homeless sector reconnecting rough sleepers with resettlement and network support strategies. By recognising the strength of collective action that empowers citizens in their local area . In his role, Matthew will be listening to marginalised communities and learning how to increase local access and engagement with the river. Matthew enjoys the outdoors, competitive running, reading and going to watch football.

Carolina Pinto
River Restoration Manager
Tel: 07824 491166
Carolina is an environmental scientist specialised in freshwater management and river restoration. She works in the areas of research, diagnosis, monitoring and recovery of degraded aquatic environments. In her free time she enjoys practising yoga, bike rides, wild swimming and loves experimenting with companion planting in her garden working out which plants help each other to grow.

Miguel Sanabria
River Restoration Officer
Tel: 07597 578 134
Miguel has an MSc in Water Resources Management. Having previously worked at the South East Rivers Trust, he has experience working on river restoration projects, habitat enhancement initiatives, and catchment-scale schemes, including sustainable drainage systems and natural flood management. His interest in nature and conservation comes from his home’s (Colima, Mexico) luscious tropical forests and rivers. In London, he enjoys cycling and exploring the wild city and its surroundings.

Tyler Randall
River Restoration Support Officer
Tel: 0771 170 1696
Tyler completed an MSc in Conservation at UCL in September 2022. His dissertation examined the environmental governance of Snowdonia National Park, which motivated him to work towards connecting people with the nature at their doorstep. Before this, Tyler was leading conservation workdays with the London Wildlife Trust and volunteering with St John Ambulance. He’s a fan of podcasts and pop music and is currently training for the London Marathon.

Jo Goad
River Restoration Officer
Tel: 0775 688 3492
Jo graduated from Cambridge University in 2022 where she loved punting on the River Cam. Her degree in Geography allowed her to complete her dissertation on modelling the effectiveness of leaky barriers. Since then, she worked for a trade association which represented the biogas industry, so she has experience in circular economies, nutrient flows and agriculture. In her spare time, she likes to go to the gym, watch football and volunteer at her local permaculture garden.