Our Team
Sea Trust Wales is run by a dedicated team of staff, interns, trustees, volunteers & alumni.
Staff
Nadia Tomsa
Charity Director & Designated Safeguarding Person
Nadia joined Sea Trust in 2022 as Education & Outreach Officer. In January 2024, Nadia then took on the role of managing the charity. Nadia oversees Sea Trust’s conservation, research, and education projects. She also supports and coordinates all staff, interns, and volunteers. Nadia also acts as Sea Trust’s Designated Safeguarding Person.
Nadia has a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology with Study Abroad. Nadia is passionate about engaging the community and wider public with Wales’ incredible marine life and environment. In her spare time, Nadia can usually be found walking the coast path or swimming in the sea, always looking for wildlife!
Lloyd Nelmes
Aquarium Manager & Project Officer (Recycle Môr)
Lloyd is Sea Trust’s Aquarium Manager. Lloyd also works on various projects with local fishers to reduce the amount of plastic that enters our seas. Lloyd has a BSc in Marine Biology and is currently working on improving his dive qualifications.
Being around the sea so much has unfortunately allowed him to notice the increase in marine plastic pollution so has made it his mission to clean up the Pembrokeshire coast with Surfers Against Sewage organising beach cleans all year round. If he isn’t on the shore looking for our local wildlife he is in the sea surfing or diving with it!
Anna Webberley
Marine Conservation & Education Officer
Anna joined Sea Trust in February 2024, and works with schools and the Marine Biology Club to help with public education and outreach. She also helps with the citizen science marine wildlife surveys. Anna has a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences with a Professional Training Year from Cardiff University.
Anna loves walking the Pembrokeshire coast path, bird watching and exploring local beaches and rock pools.
Tiger Sturdgess
Seasonal Aquarium Host
Tiger joined us as a volunteer at the start of 2024 and works seasonally as our Aquarium Host, keeping a close eye on our tanks and animals as well as running our daily tours. Her lifelong love of the oceans comes from a childhood spent sailing around the
Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. When not hidden in the depths of the Aquarium, Tiger can be found reading in her garden or under the sea SCUBA Diving.
Sam Cox
Charity Administrator
Sam joined the Sea Trust in February 2024 and works part-time providing admin support for the Sea Trust team.
Sam has a background in fundraising agencies (direct mail, telephone & face-to-face) where she has worked alongside some of thetop UK charities.
She enjoys yoga and Somatic movement and regularly walks the coast path and ‘dips’ in the sea.
Friederike Schmidt
Finance Manager
Friederike joined Sea Trust in August 2023.
She works part-time as our Finance Manager and has transformed Sea Trust’s finances!
Friederike swims, walks and grows food in her spare time and loves being part of the local community in Fishguard & Goodwick.
Interns
Kiera Turner
Marine Conservation Intern - Placement Student
Kiera joined Sea Trust in September 2026 and will be here until July 2027, before returning to Queen’s University Belfast to complete her degree in Marine Biology.
During her placement, Kiera will be assisting with aquarium maintenance, animal husbandry, educational outreach and cetacean surveys, where she is excited to gain skills in identification and photography.
In her spare time, Kiera likes swimming, reading, watching movies and spending time with friends.
Nilüfer Mutlu-Smith
Marine Conservation Intern - Placement Student
Nilü joined Sea Trust in September 2026 and will be here until August 2027, before returning to the University of Leeds to complete her degree in Ecology and Conservation Biology.
Nilü has always been passionate about seabirds, and will be involved in community outreach and education through social media, aquarium tours and surveys.
In her spare time, Nilü likes surfing, coastal walks, and reading, and is looking forward to learning more about all things marine biology.
Alex Bill
Marine Conservation Intern - Placement Student
Alex joined Sea Trust in September 2026 and will be here until July 2027, before returning to Swansea University to complete his degree in Marine Biology.
During his placement, Alex will be helping with aquarium maintenance and tours, taking part in seal and porpoise surveys, and looking to better understand the ecology that can be found right on our doorstep.
In his spare time, Alex likes swimming, walking, and learning about the wildlife that can be found in Pembrokeshire.
Sabrina Koeva Neves
Marine Conservation Intern
Sabrina joined Sea Trust in September 2026 and will be here until March 2027, after finishing her degree in Marine Biology at Stirling University.
During her placement, Sabrina will undertake aquarium maintenance, aquarium tours, seal and porpoise ID surveys, front desk work, and admin work.
In her spare time Sabrina likes to find new hike trails and play netball .
Emma López Caballé
Marine Conservation Intern - Placement Student
Emma joined Sea Trust in September 2026 and will be here until June 2027, after finishing her degree in Marine Biology with oceanography at Bangor University.
During her placement, Emma hopes to develop her cetacean survey experience and thoroughly enjoys being out on surveys.
In her spare time, Emma loves walking on the coast path and running.
Emily Stace
Marine Conservation Intern
Emily joined Sea Trust in September 2026, after finishing her degree in zoology at Aberystwyth University. She will be here until June 2027.
During her placement, Emily hopes to expand her knowledge of marine animals, as well as to experience undertaking wildlife surveys and gain an understanding of how a wildlife conservation organisation is run.
When Emily’s not at the Ocean Lab or doing surveys, you’ll find her in a hide bird watching, swimming in the sea or walking on the coast path.
Many thanks to all our previous interns. Sea Trust would not be possible without all your hard work. There are too many names to mention everyone but special thanks to all of our hard-working and dedicated interns!
Trustees
Frances Eggby
Trustee (Chair), Photo ID Volunteer & Visitor Centre Volunteer
Fran was born in Pembrokeshire but grew up in Oxfordshire and returned to Pembrokeshire in 1999.
Fran joined Sea Trust in 2018 as a volunteer and has been a Trustee since 2020. Prior to that, Fran worked in the NHS, in Mental Health, as a Nurse and a Therapist for over 25 years.
Fran enjoys walking, yoga, birdwatching and spending time in nature.
Cerian Goodbourn
Trustee, Visitor Centre Volunteer & Gift Shop Coordinator
Cerian has volunteered at Sea Trust since March 2020 and looks after our amazing shop, keeping it well stocked with interesting and beautiful gifts. Cerian also works on the Front Desk, helping with visitor enquiries and booking the various Sea Trust activities.
Cerian moved to Pembrokeshire 6 years ago from Cardiff, where she had previously been the HR Manager for National Museum Wales in Cardiff for over 25 years.
Cerian loves walking on the Pembrokeshire Coast and is interested in mid-20th century furniture.
Gemma Lawrence
Trustee, Visitor Centre & Fundraising Volunteer, & Sea Trust CIC Director
Gemma is an author of historical fiction and fantasy. Previously having worked for The Monkey Sanctuary Trust and Wild Futures as a primate keeper, retail manager and head of their trading company. Gemma now writes as a career, as well as volunteering for various charities such as Amnesty International, Sea Trust Wales, and previously for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority at Castell Henllys.
She came on board as a fundraising volunteer for Sea Trust Wales in 2025 and completed a Christmas street collection for the charity, and ran the Beast Bach fell race in aid of Sea Trust, as well as presenting an array of new ideas for the charity’s fundraising!
As a trustee, Gemma hopes to help the charity out with further fundraising initiatives but also with hands-on projects. In what spare time she has, Gemma is a keen runner, historian, an avid reader, sea swimmer and has started learning kung fu, a lifelong ambition. She is also a somewhat erratic gardener, amateur photographer and loves wildflowers, walking, and native wildlife.
Virginia (Ginny) Spenceley
Trustee
Ginny has worked in the Hospitality Industry since training at Pembrokeshire College in 1980. In 1989 Ginny joined Chris and Marion Batt (parents) in their new venture running a public Aquarium in Tenby “Silent World Aquarium “.
In 1996 Ginny took over running the Aquarium with her brother after the deaths of their parents, running Silent World Aquarium & Reptile Collection until its closure in 2011 with Russ. Diversifying to an Outreach business visiting schools, groups, clubs and the Oceanlab until 2016.
Ginny now runs the Pembrokeshire Hogspital (Hedgehog Rescue) and is P.A for Beryl who is the founder of the Hogspital.
Gill Price
Trustee (Secretary), Visitor Centre Volunteer & Designated Safeguarding Trustee
Gill has been a volunteer at Sea Trust since October 2024 and become a trustee in March 2025. She enjoys working the Front Desk, helping with enquiries, the shop and Aquarium bookings. Gill has a background in education and was a teacher in a local primary school for 24 years. She enjoys pilates, reading and walking the coastal path.
We have a talented and knowledgeable team of nine Trustees, some of whom are featured above!
Founder
Cliff Benson
Founder
Cliff is a naturalist and conservationist, involved in aquatic conservation since he was a founder member of WAYD (the Wildlife Association of the Yorkshire Derwent). The group was concerned with protecting the River Derwent in his native Yorkshire from canalisation in the 1970’s. It was during this period he started his long association with local Wildlife Trusts.
He moved to West Wales in 1978 as a partner in Cambrian Bird Holidays helping to establish one of the UK’s first Eco Tourism enterprises. circumstances took him away from Wales but spent several Springs in protecting Red Kite Nests in Mid Wales volunteering with the Tregaron Community Kite Group. It was at this time he first met Iolo Williams, (now a good friend and honorary President of Sea Trust). He returned with his partner Frederike, shortly afterwards he was involved in organising a team of volunteers rescuing oiled sea birds during The Sea Empress Oil Disaster.
Consequently, Cliff began to realise our local Pembrokeshire Marine wildlife was under-recorded and set up Sea Trust as the marine section of the Wildlife Trust. In 2013 Sea Trust took over the management of the Ocean Lab on Fishguard Harbour which necessitated leaving the Wildlife Trust and setting up Sea Trust as a not for profit Community Interest Company, operating as financially independent autonomous community project.
When asked what he most enjoys about his work he answers:
I guess it’s finding out about and raising awareness of the incredible but poorly understood wildlife here in Pembrokeshire, literally on our doorstep. From great whales to our enigmatic little porpoises, I just love it when someone sees a Whale, dolphin or a porpoise for the first time with us”
Volunteers
Sea Trust’s volunteers make all our work possible, and we are extremely proud of their dedication to the Sea Trust’s work and vision.
There are too many to mention by name, but we would like to say a HUGE thank you to all of you for continually donating your time and hard work to us over the years.
Patrons
Iolo Williams
Patron
“I am proud to be supporting Sea Trust Wales as Patron. We go back a long time! The small Sea Trust team and their many volunteers are dedicated marine conservationists. They work year-round to build understanding and fill knowledge gaps to protect our Welsh marine environment and its wildlife. Their motto is; ‘Local people looking after their own marine environment and its wildlife’… and thats what Sea Trust delivers!”
“Rwyf yn falch o allu cefnogi Sea Trust Wales fel noddwr. Awn yn ôl am amser maith! Mae’r tîm yn Sea Trust ynghyd â’u gwirfoddolwyr lu yn gadwraeth forol ymroddedig. Maent yn gweithio trwy gydol y flwyddyn i ledaenu dealltwriaeth ac i lenwi bylchau yn yr wybodaeth er gwarchod amgylchedd morol Cymru a’i bywyd gwyllt. Eu arwyddair yw: ‘Pobol leol yn edrych ar ôl eu hamgylchedd morol eu hunain a’i fywyd gwyllt… a dyna’n union mae Sea Trust yn ei gyflawni!”
Visit Iolo’s Website
Jane Davidson
Patron
Jane Davidson, former Education Minister and Minister for Environment and Sustainability in Wales, and author of #Futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country, is on a mission for sustainability! During her time in the Welsh Government, Jane made revolutionary changes to protect the environment and mainstream sustainability, such as introducing the first plastic bag charge in the UK and creating a Climate Change Commission for Wales. Her recycling regulations made Wales the third best in the world for recycling! Jane is working tirelessly for the Welsh environment and we are incredibly grateful to have Jane as a Patron with us at Sea Trust!
Mae Jane Davidson yn ymgyrchu cynhaliadwyedd. Cyn Weinidog Addysg a Gweinidog tros yr Amgylchedd a Chynaliadwyedd yng Nghymru ydoedd ac awdur ‘Futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country’. Gwnaeth Jane newidiadau chwyldroadol i warchod yr amgylchedd a chynaliadwyedd safonol yn ystod ei swydd yn llywodraeth Cymru – cyflwyno tâl am fagiau plastig, y cyntaf o’i fath yn y Deyrnas Unedig a ffurfio Comisiwn Cymru er Newid Hinsawdd. Oherwydd ei rheolau ailgylchu hi, daeth Cymru yn drydedd wlad yn y byd am ailgylchu. Mae Jane yn gweithio’n ddi-flino tros yr hinsawdd yng Nghymru ac rydym yn ddiolchgar tros ben ei bod hi’n noddwraig ‘Sea Trust Wales’.
Visit Jane’s Website
Alumni
Nicole Murray
Alumni
In 2023, I was lucky enough to spend my placement year with Sea Trust Wales during my undergraduate degree at Swansea University. I got to try a bit of everything – working hands-on in the aquarium, doing porpoise surveys, and helping out with the Marine Biology Club. One of my favourite parts was restarting the Grey Seal Photo-ID project, which was the first time I really got to take the lead on something. After my year with Sea Trust, I went back to finish my degree, graduated with a First, and then moved to Plymouth to start my Master’s in Marine Biology with the University of Plymouth and the Marine Biological Association. For the master’s, we had to interview with different supervisors to get a research project, and all the experience I’d picked up during my internship really helped. It made interviews so much easier because I had real examples and fieldwork stories to talk about. I ended up getting a project that involved six months of vantage point surveys – something Sea Trust had definitely prepared me for. I’ve now finished my master’s and recently started my first job as a Graduate Consultant at Intertek Metoc. I am truly thankful to the whole team for my year with them – doing my internship with Sea Trust was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and it really set me up for everything I’m doing now.
Anna Elliot
Alumni
“I spent seven years working at Sea Trust from 2016 to 2023. This was during a period of major change as it developed from a small CIC into a registered charity with a growing team of paid staff and volunteers. My background was originally in terrestrial ecology but I always had a love for the sea having grown up in Pembrokeshire. After living away for years, I moved back to my home town of Goodwick with my young children and I studied an MSc in Environmental Biology: Conservation and Resource Management at Swansea University where I focused on marine biology. After graduating, I was delighted to secure a position at Sea Trust which was in walking distance from home and with a spectacular office sea view. I learnt so much during my time at Sea Trust, not only about the marine environment but also about people management, environmental education and most importantly for me, how to develop projects and apply for funding. This skillset led me to go on and work for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park as their Funding Officer and then to my current role as the MARINE Fund Cymru Development Manager with WCVA and Welsh Government. I am currently developing a new fund to support projects that enhance the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems in Wales. I enjoy playing a part in making conservation projects happen and the experience I gained during my time at Sea Trust still influences the work I do today. I’m proud to have worked for such a great organisation and hope to continue supporting Sea Trust in the years ahead.”
Hannah Harries
Alumni
In 2012, having graduated from university with a degree in marine biology, I was struggling to find a job. No one would hire me with little experience and all the ‘volunteering’ opportunities I saw cost thousands of pounds (which I did not have spare having just graduated). That was when I got back in touch with Cliff, having done a week of work experience with Sea Trust when I was in school. I started volunteering regularly and when I asked Cliff if he’d employ me full time, he said ‘sure, find some funding and we can’. So, that’s what we did! I spent the next three years working on various projects from the development of our aquarium to our annual ‘Dolphinathons’. I left Sea Trust with itchy feet, wanting to see the world. There’s no doubt that without my time at Sea Trust I would not have had the opportunities that came my way afterwards. I have spent the last 10 years working in the Indian Ocean on coral restoration projects, community outreach initiatives and marine education programmes. Working in such a small team at Sea Trust offered me the opportunity to wear many hats and gain a huge range of experience, which has no doubt aided me in securing work and then working in those roles. I’m extremely grateful to Cliff and continue to be immensely proud of all the things Sea Trust accomplishes.