Across the two days, our speakers will bring together perspectives from research, practice, farming, land management, industry, and more to explore how we can strengthen flood and climate resilience. Drawing on experience from Devon and beyond, they will highlight opportunities for collaboration, innovation and long-term action.
Browse the speaker profiles below to learn more about the people you’ll be hearing from at the conference.
View our conference programme to discover which sessions they will be delivering, and make sure you are registered for your chosen workshops through our booking system.
Day 1 speakers
Day 1 focuses on practical flood and climate resilience. Speakers will showcase local projects and approaches, sharing what has been achieved, the challenges encountered, and the lessons that can inform future work.
Keynote Speaker
Nick Viney
Artist and Regenerative Farmer
Artist and regenerative farmer, mentor to landowners, Nick brings over 30 years of frontline farming and nature recovery experience. Believing land ownership is a privilege and responsibility, she passionately advocates for nature-friendly farming, ultra short food chains and empowered stewardship through feminine regenerative principles. Nick uses art (Artist in Residence Groundswell 2022), film and public engagement pieces to share her vision of a reimagined wholescape, healthier for All. Her film ‘Farming The Flood’ is currently screening around the UK.
Conference Speakers
Professor Richard Brazier
Director for the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW)
University of Exeter
Richard is an environmental researcher at the University of Exeter and Co-Director of the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Waste and Water (CREWW). His research explores soil erosion, water quality, and the environmental effects of landscape restoration, combining field research, data analysis and modelling.
Professor Albert Chen
Personal Chair in Water and the Human Environment
University of Exeter
Albert is a Professor at the University of Exeter’s Centre for Water Systems, with more than 20 years of experience in Water and the Human Environment studies. His research interests include water resources, hydrology and hydraulic modelling, urban drainage, flood forecasting, innovative technologies, the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure, and wider resilience strategies. Albert has contributed to more than 40 international projects and has published 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and 100 conference papers. He currently collaborates with leading academics and industry partners around the world to develop innovative approaches to addressing water management challenges our human society faces.
Dan Cornford
Director
IGI Ltd
Dan develops innovative solutions for managing, visualising and interpreting geoscientific data. He is working with the North Devon Biosphere to develop the Smart Biosphere, which integrates environmental data to provide a holistic picture of Northern Devon’s environment. His interests include improving how uncertainty is modelled and managed across environmental and physical systems.
Dr. Laurence Couldrick
Chief Executive Officer
Westcountry Rivers Trust
Dr. Laurence Couldrick is the Chief Executive Officer of the Westcountry Rivers Trust and leads multiple river conservation and Integrated Catchment Management initiatives across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. With over two decades of experience specialising in the Ecosystem Approach, he bridges scientific research with practical delivery by collaborating with farmers, businesses, and local communities. Through habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and regional environmental schemes, Dr. Couldrick works to safeguard river health and advance sustainable water management across South West England. Additionally, he sits on multiple partnerships and committees across the region to break down silos and integrated water management.
Tom Dauben
Senior Natural Flood Management Advisor
Environment Agency for Devon, Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly
Tom Dauben is Senior Natural Flood Management Advisor at the Environment Agency for Devon, Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly. He has over 10 years experience of developing and delivering natural flood management projects, contributing to new areas of policy development and tools both regionally and nationally, and has co-authored academic papers on NFM. He is currently working on plans to improve the effectiveness and professionalism of delivery of NFM across Devon and Cornwall.
Amirali Davary
PhD Researcher in Engineering
University of Exeter
Amirali is a third-year PhD researcher in Engineering at the University of Exeter, bridging data science and water resources management to advance flood forecasting. Their research applies smart technology and unconventional data streams, specifically using machine learning to analyse video and audio signals for real-time rainfall estimation. By increasing data density across catchments, their work aims to significantly enhance the accuracy and timeliness of flood predictions.
Georgie Freer-Carmichael
PhD Researcher, University of Plymouth
Georgie is a PhD researcher at the University of Plymouth. Her research assesses the wider environmental benefits of Natural Flood Management (NFM), with a particular focus on carbon accumulation rates, river neutrality, and biodiversity gain. Her work has contributed to the Devon Resilience Innovation Project (DRIP) and is helping to build the evidence needed to recognise and fund the multiple benefits delivered by NFM interventions through policy and investment.
Will Frost
Land Management Advisor
North Devon UNESCO Biosphere
Will works with landowners and communities in the Combe Martin and Little Dart catchments to develop Natural Flood Management interventions. He also supports environmental monitoring through the Smart Biosphere network, an integrated data platform that provides a holistic picture of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. This evidence helps inform policy and practice to improve catchment health.
Dr. Matt Holden
Devon Beaver Project Lead
Devon Wildlife Trust
Matt is the Devon Beaver Project Lead for Devon Wildlife Trust, building on more than a decade of beaver projects across Devon. His work highlights the role of beavers as natural engineers, delivering benefits including carbon storage, habitat enhancement and flood alleviation. He also works with communities and landowners to support people in living alongside beavers and to help prepare suitable landscapes for their natural arrival or planned reintroduction.
Phil Metcalfe
Nature Based Solutions Lead Advisor
Environment Agency for Devon, Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly
Phil Metcalfe is Lead Advisor in Nature Based Solutions at the Environment Agency for Devon, Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly. As the Environment Agency’s Project Manager for Dartmoor Headwaters, he works with partners to restore Dartmoor’s ancient woodlands, help nature thrive, and make habitats and landscapes more resilient to the impacts of climate change and flooding.
Liza Oxford
Natural Environment Principal
Plymouth City Council
Liza Oxford is a Natural Environment Principal for Plymouth City Council who leads projects that strengthen community resilience and support climate adaptation. Since 2021, she has managed the Building Resilience in Communities (BRIC) programme, developing innovative approaches to engage residents in understanding risk, building capacity and taking action within their communities. Her wider work focuses on behaviour change, community empowerment and ensuring local voices shape environmental and resilience projects. She is passionate about creating lasting partnerships that help communities thrive in the face of future challenges.
Carrie Park
Environmental Social Science Researcher
University of Plymouth
Carrie Park is an environmental social science researcher with expertise in flood community resilience. She has more than twenty years’ experience working within the environmental sector in stakeholder engagement, environmental research, communication delivery, and project management. Currently Carrie works for the Devon Resilience Innovation Project (DRIP) and the University of Plymouth researching Devon communities assessing their flood resilience. In October 2026 she will start a PhD at the University of Southampton researching the use of oral history to help with estuarine flood management. She has a BSc in Archaeology, MA in Heritage Interpretation and MSc in Sustainable Environmental Management.
Dr. Alan Puttock
Applied Nature-Based Solutions Lecturer
University of Exeter, Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW)
Alan Puttock is a lecturer in applied nature-based solutions (Water) at the University of Exeter and a member of the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW). His interdisciplinary research focuses on nature-based solutions, natural flood management and landscape restoration, with particular emphasis on building more resilient catchments and landscapes. His work combines hydrological and ecological monitoring, remote sensing, laboratory analysis, social science, modelling and GIS to better understand and optimise responses to hydrological extremes. As an environmental scientist and ecohydrologist, he works closely with a wide range of academic, policy and practitioner partners to ensure that research supports effective environmental management and delivers both academic and practical impact.
Dr. David Smith
Natural Resources Team Manager
South West Water
David Smith is South West Water’s Natural Resources Team Manager. This Team of over 20 people leads South West Water and Bournemouth Water (SWB), Bristol Water (BRL) and Sutton and East Surry Water (SES) work on species, habitats, biosecurity and Invasive Non Native Species (INNS), fish and eels. It also delivers Upstream Thinking and the South West Peatland Partnerships, SWW’s flagship catchment management programmes and advises the company on its new Green First programme of nature bases solutions for waste and clean water assets. David has worked in the water industry since 2010 leading on peatland restoration, catchment management and biodiversity and he previously worked as a farm advisor and an ecologist for National Parks and led the Exmoor Mires restoration Partnership. David is an ecologist from a farming and horticulture background, with a D.Phil in peatland regeneration in Northern Ireland. He has also recently taken up the role of Vice- Chair for the IUCN UK Peatland Commission.
Dr. Richard Smith
Soil Technical Specialist
Environment Agency for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Richard has been working for the Environment Agency and its predecessors since 1989. He started his career in 1986 working for Anglian Water studying the impact of agriculture on fisheries. He moved to Devon in1989 having joined the former National Rivers Authority and worked on soil erosion mainly with the former Soil Survey & Land Research Centre. He continues to work on this subject both in operations dealing with incidents and supporting national soil policy work with Defra. Richard has written numerous guidance documents on soil assessment, and has published work on soil degradation, runoff and flooding. He was awarded and MBE in 2026 for his services to soil health.
Helen Staddon
Learning, Engagement and Volunteering Manager
Westcountry Rivers Trust
Helen Staddon is Learning, Engagement and Volunteering Manager at Westcountry Rivers Trust. With a background in Marine Science and a teaching career spanning over 16 years, Helen specialises in stakeholder engagement including the design and delivery of education and citizen science programmes. Helen was responsible for community and stakeholder engagement during the delivery of the Rapid Response Catchments project (Part of the Devon resilience Innovation Project), and enjoys developing and using innovative methods for increasing engagement and participation.
Dave Stewart
Chartered Civil Engineer
Torbay Council
Dave is a chartered civil engineer at Torbay Council who has worked in the water sector for over 35 years. He has been the Service Manager for the Council’s engineering team for the last 20 years covering urban design, structures, and drainage. Dave has been a committee member of CIWEM’s Urban Drainage Group and has a wealth of experience in the water sector.
James Thomas
Area Riverlands Ranger, North Devon
National Trust
James is an Area Ranger for the National Trust and part of its Riverlands Programme team in North Devon. Working across Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland and Woolacombe, he helps restore wetlands and natural water processes through measures including pond creation, floodplain reconnection, wet woodland creation, and ‘Stage 0’ restoration. This work aims to improve water quality, reduce flood risk, strengthen drought resilience, and create richer habitats for wildlife.
Mike Wood
Chartered Civil Engineer
Torbay Council
Mike is a chartered civil engineer at Torbay Council who has worked in the water sector for over 25 years. This work has involved feasibility, design, and supervision of flood related schemes as well as flooding research and development. More recently Mike has been working on Innovation projects and development of the Council’s local plan and flood risk strategies.
Day 2 speakers
Day 2 looks ahead to the future of our landscapes and communities, and how they can adapt to a changing climate. Speakers will explore how successful solutions can be scaled up through catchment-wide planning, stronger collaboration, communication, and increased funding and investment.
Keynote Speakers
Anna David
Sustainability Researcher
Riverford Organic Farmers
Before starting at organic veg box company Riverford in 2021, Anna worked for The Wildlife Trusts for a decade where she worked with farmers to increase wildlife and natural flood management on farms. In her current role at Riverford, she is overseeing the company’s biodiversity action, smart irrigation projects and helps the sustainability team with reducing the carbon footprint of the business.
Dr. Nick Paling
Director, Data and Evidence Lead
Bioregional Learning Centre
Nick Paling is an environmental scientist and systems practitioner with expertise in collaborative governance, nature-based solutions and strategic use of data and evidence for environmental resilience. He has spent over two decades bridging science, policy and community engagement across academia, government, NGOs and utilities. Now, as a recently trained regenerative practitioner and co-lead of the Bioregional Learning Centre, he focuses on data, evidence and governance to support climate adaptation and bioregional resilience – working to mentor others and support work that helps communities and ecosystems flourish together.
Conference Speakers
Muriel Alix
Biosecurity and Freshwater Ecologist
South West Water
Muriel has nearly 15 years of experience in the environmental sector, working across academia, consultancy, and professional practice. With a PhD focused on zebra mussels, she now leads projects addressing Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and promoting biosecurity within South West Water and beyond.
Henry Andrews
Mixed Farmer, Leworthy Manor Farm
Henry Andrews is a mixed Farmer who farms 800acres of mixed farming with beef, sheep and arable. He has a 140 Aberdeen Angus cows calving down in a Spring Block calving system. He passionately believes that trees are an essential tool in animal welfare in all weathers as well as providing many other benefits. Trees are essential to a viable commercial farming business. He is a member of the silvopasture network the UK’s largest science led study in silvopasture.
Liz Cornwell
Water Resources Strategy Manager
South West Water
Liz Cornwell is the Water Resources Strategy Manager at Pennon, covering South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water and the Isles of Scilly. She has over two decades experience in water resources planning, environmental management, and long-term water supply resilience. A Chartered Environmentalist and Chartered Scientist, she has built a career focused on developing sustainable water resource strategies, supporting climate adaptation, and balancing environmental protection with customer needs. Liz has worked across the water sector, in both the water industry and regulation, on strategic planning, resilience, and regulatory programmes that shape future water resource management. Passionate about developing the next generation of environmental professionals, she also actively supports education, mentoring, and community engagement initiatives.
Kirstie Ellis
Landscape Recovery Project Manager
Clinton Devon Estates, Heaths to Sea
Kirstie joined Clinton Devon Estates in April 2024 as Heaths to Sea Landscape Recovery Project Manager eager to contribute to the landscape recovery project which has the potential to create substantial benefits for both wildlife and people on a significant scale. Kirstie has more than 20 years of project management experience primarily working with local authorities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Previous roles include the St Helena Cloud Forest Project Manager with the RSPB, the Natural Environment Partnerships Officer with Devon County Council, the Landscape and Ecology Mitigation Project Manager with the St Helena Government, and Sustainability Project Officer for Kent County Council. Kirstie holds an MSc in Advanced Ecology from Durham University and a BSc (Hons) in Biology from the University of York, as well as qualifications in people and project management.
Professor Pete Falloon
Science Lead – Food Security
Met Office
Professor Pete Falloon (FRMetS, FRSA) is the Met Office’s Science Lead – Food Security, and leads the Met Office’s Climate Service for Defra on Food, Farming and Natural Environment. Pete has over 30 years of experience in the impacts of climate and land use change on food systems and the environment. Pete has been at the Met Office Hadley Centre since 2004 and led the Climate Impacts Modelling team from 2009-2019. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and of the Royal Meteorological Society, a contributing author to the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) and was a member of the Global Food Security Programme’s Programme Coordination Group board from 2013-2023. Pete is also Professor of Climate Resilient Food Systems at the University of Bristol, Sustainability Director for Food Drink Devon CIC and an Honorary Associate at the Walker Institute.
Andy Gray
Devon Farmer, Elston Farm
13th generation Devon farmer, Andy has been a trustee of Westcountry Rivers Trust for 9 years, a founding director of the Centre for Dynamic Soils, the chair of the Devon County Agricultural Association, chair of the River Taw Fisheries and Conservation Association, co-founder of Rootstock (Devon Regen Conference), and regular speaker at Groundswell. Andy has an obsessive interest in how water interacts with agriculture and landscape, and has many collaborations and pilots looking at improving water quality leaving related to farming practices and soils.
Luci Isaacson
Director of Climate Vision
Climate Vision
Luci Isaacson BEM is Director of Climate Vision, a consultancy advancing carbon reduction and climate resilience capability through collaborative innovation. She holds degrees in Earth Systems Science and Climate Change Risk Management from the University of Exeter, specialising in behavioural change. She leads pioneering initiatives including Climate Skills with Creativity and empowering communities through natural flood management and recently in the Climate Resilient Meva project, Defra’s NFM programme, and contributes to the Cornwall Catchment Partnership. Luci served two terms on both SWRFCC and Chairing Cornwall Community Flood Forum. A former member of Cornwall Council’s Strategic Resilience Board, she has influenced national policy, including legislative change within the Church of England.
Lucy Jefferson
Senior Culm Catchment Officer, Connecting the Culm
Blackdown Hills National Landscape
Lucy Jefferson is the Senior Culm Catchment Officer for the Devon Resilience Innovation Project (DRIP) and the wider Connecting the Culm project. She works with farmers, landowners, communities, local authorities and environmental organisations to develop and deliver nature-based solutions that improve flood resilience, water quality and biodiversity across the Culm Catchment. Over the past five years, Lucy has been working to scale up natural flood management and catchment-wide resilience initiatives, building the evidence, partnerships and investment case needed to support future catchment-scale projects that deliver long-term benefits for the Culm Catchment.
Theyazan Kelly
Catchment Sensitive Farming Advisor
Natural England
With a strong understanding of the challenges farmers face, Theyazan works with farmers and partner organisations across the Exe catchment through the Catchment Sensitive Farming programme. This work translates the latest guidance into tailored, practical advice that supports individual farm businesses while delivering benefits for water quality and the wider environment.
Jane O’Conner
Strategic Wastewater Asset Manager
South West Water
Jane O’Connor is the Strategic Wastewater Asset Manager at Pennon, covering Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Jane has 29 years experience working in the water Industry in England and Wales, with water companies and as a consultant. A Chartered Chemical Engineer, Jane spent 10 years working in process design and optimisation for both potable water and wastewater solutions. The last 19 years has been focussed on strategic planning within the Regulatory frameworks, including planning capital maintenance investment, supply demand requirements and environmental improvement investments. Joining South West Water in 2021, Jane was part of the South West Water team responsible for publishing the first Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP) in 2023, and is now focussed on developing the second DWMP, for consultation in 2027 and final publication in 2028.
Gavin Saunders
Project Manager
Luppitt Landscape Partnership
Gavin Saunders is project manager for the landowner-led Landscape Recovery project in Luppitt on the Blackdown Hills. He is an ecologist, conservationist and community facilitator with 40 years’ experience in the field, having worked for the Wildlife Trusts, Forestry England and the Blackdown National Landscape as well as founding a nature-based wellbeing social enterprise. He has particular knowledge of the Blackdown Hills and their conservation issues.
Ellie Ward
Biodiversity Action Officer
South West Water
Ellie Ward is a Biodiversity Action Officer at South West Water. She focuses on delivering biodiversity enhancements and supporting nature recovery across operational sites, working collaboratively with internal teams, landowners, and environmental partners. With experience in biodiversity conservation, coastal management, and stakeholder engagement, she has also contributed to strategic initiatives, including the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Ellen Wiles
Novelist, Multidisciplinary Artist, and Academic
University of Exeter, Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW)
Ellen Wiles is Artist-in-Residence at the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Exeter, and a novelist, multidisciplinary artist, producer, and former barrister. She is the project lead for Storying Water: project using creative strategies to engage diverse audiences and experts with water system resilience, funded by South West Water. Her ten-episode narrative podcast featuring expert voices on water resilience will be released in the autumn. For more information, visit her website, www.ellenwiles.com, and follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram @ellenwiles.
Tim Youngs
National Landscape Manager
Blackdown Hills National Landscape
Tim Youngs is the manager at the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, project director of Connecting the Culm and sits on the Nature South West Board. He oversees project delivery, partnerships and investment, while supporting local communities and businesses and identifying future funding opportunities.