Our team

Giles Bristow, CEO, RNLI crew, and luckiest person alive

I joined this outstanding team in 2023 and could not be more impressed by their passion and ability to campaign and work for a thriving ocean and thriving people.

I made my way to SAS via a career as an environmental lawyer and then working at a senior level in environmental NGOs in climate & energy, food, and marine systems.  I am in love with the ocean and share my passion for swimming, sailing, wing-foiling, and surfing with the crew at SAS, friends, and my wife and daughters. I feel incredibly fortunate that I work for the ocean.

Being RNLI crew in Lyme Regis, I may need to run if my pager sounds.

I’m a wild swimmer, stand-up paddleboarder, and rockpool gazer, with a deep love of nature and our blue spaces, both inland and coastal.

I am so excited to be joining Surfers Against Sewage at this pivotal moment when we need to keep up the pressure on polluters and governments, and press for the changes we need.

I joined SAS in November 2022 and as the Financial Director I am responsible for ensuring the finances of the charity run smoothly.

My love of the ocean started at a young age when I used to go dinghy sailing. In my 20s I sailed across the Atlantic and the beauty and vitality of the ocean has stuck with me ever since! These experiences motivate me to help protect it for the future.

I’ve been with SAS since 2010, leading the team responsible for raising income at SAS. We connect our amazing supporters who want to change the world with the team at SAS who are delivering our work to protect the marine environment.

I live in St. Agnes, Cornwall with my wife and 2 children.

Pete Warman he/him

I joined SAS in 2022 and enjoy working with the team to continue evolving the charity as a progressive workplace, as well as overseeing our operational areas including our carbon neutral ambitions. I love sea swimming and it’s great to work somewhere that does its bit to allow oceans to thrive.

Adriana Ciontea (she/her) – Communications Officer

David Attenborough, nature and ocean activist extraordinaire, said that “Saving our planet is now a communications challenge. We know what to do, we just need the will.”

Fuelled by my passion for words and the ocean, I joined SAS in August 2022 as a Communications Officer. I oversee our social media channels, and love to inspire and connect with other ocean activists.

I only surf the bookish/watery corners of the internet (for now).

Aloha, I’m Yvette. I joined SAS in May 2023 as the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager. I have spent several years campaigning for blue spaces (any open water) to be a more diverse and equitable place and I am so very happy that I now get to work on amplifying voices from all communities to help protect the blue spaces we love and encourage more people to engage with them.

I love spending time in the ocean, or anywhere, with my partner, 3 children and 2 dogs and of course the many amazing women and girls we surf with at Wave Wahines.

I joined SAS in July 2023 as their Senior Fundraising Data Development Officer. You’ll find me diving into all things data and systems within our fundraising team to enable more Ocean saving work!

I love the Ocean. And data! So I’m thrilled to part of a Surfers Against Sewage, campaigning and taking action. Although – you won’t catch me surfing any waves – just enjoying the beauty of them!

Annie McKelvey (she/her)

I joined SAS in May 2021 as the Education Administrator, and have since moved to the Campaigns and Policy team as the Senior Water Quality Data Officer. As well as supporting our campaigning work, I’m involved with running our Safer Seas and Rivers Service app. I love being in the salty coastal air, preferably in either hiking boots or a wetsuit! 🏄‍♀️🥾

Carol O’Hanlon (Senior Trusts & Foundations Officer)

I joined SAS in September 2022 on a temp assignment, now I’m a fully fledged team member working with the amazing fundraising team.

I adore nature, and I’m proud to work with incredible folk who are committed to protecting it.

You’ll mainly find me on coastal walks or exploring rockpools!

Hi! My name is Caroline and I began working for SAS in July 2024. My role involves working with community members, as part of the Million Mile Beach Clean and the Regional Reps programme. I’m really excited to join the fight for our big blue, as an ocean lover and marine wildlife enthusiast, I feel I have a duty to protect what I love.

Chloe Flood – Campaigns Officer
Pronouns: She/Her

I joined SAS in January 2023 as the Campaigns and Policy Coordinator and have recently moved into the role of Campaigns Officer. I help support the delivery of all of our ocean saving campaigns and activations!

I have always felt connected to the ocean. Whether it’s a coastal walk, a quick dip, a snorkel or an attempt at surfing, I am my happiest by the sea!

Emily van de Geer (she/her) – Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager

I joined SAS in January 2019 and after 4 years leading on our education work I now look after our Philanthropy and Partnerships team.

My role involves, securing funding for our work through Trusts & Foundations, and working with the philanthropists and businesses who support us.

I’ve spent almost a decade working to protect the ocean. When I’m not in the office, you’ll find me in or by the sea.

I joined SAS in January 2024 as the Executive Assistant supporting the CEO, Trustees and Leadership team in all matters governance.  I feel incredibly privileged to be working with such an amazing team doing incredible campaign work protecting the ocean.

I swim in the sea every morning before work and whenever else I can, it resets my soul and reminds me how lucky I am to live and work in Cornwall.

Emma O’Neill   (She/her)

Before coming to SAS I worked in the marine mammal rescue field for over 10 years, and have seen the devastating impacts of pollution on our marine life here in Cornwall. It has led me to be passionate about reducing our reliance on single-use plastics, so I was thrilled to join SAS as Communities Officer for Plastic Free Communities in Jan 2023. I support a network of volunteers in the UK, all working to tackle avoidable single-use plastics in their own communities. I love spending time with my family and crazy spaniel around the Cornish coast, and never pass off a chance to jump in the sea!

Emma Piper (she/her) – Operations Officer

Hola! I joined SAS in May 2022 and love looking after the office and everyone in it. Heading up our Net Zero Project as well as diving into IT, supplier due diligence and Health & Safety are just the tip of the iceberg for my role, ensuring no two days are the same!

I am working to protect the ocean as I adore the world’s aquatic wildlife, and want to help keep them safe from present day dangers.

Hello!

I joined SAS in April 2023 as the Science and Research Officer. I am a freshwater ecologist by background, having recently finished my PhD in river health in late 2022. Now, I coordinate water quality research at SAS, in both the marine and freshwater space. I usually have my feet firmly planted in Celtic waters, whether that’s the rivers of Wales or the waves of the South West, and I am so happy to be here driving effective science-backed campaigns to help protect them.

Evelyn Hull (she/her) – Education Officer

I joined SAS in August 2021 and I work in the Education Team, helping to deliver engaging and inspiring environmental programmes to schools all over the UK. Young people’s passion and enthusiasm, along with my deep love for the ocean and everything it has to offer, are my two biggest motivators.

Freya Harris – Campaigns Officer

I joined SAS in January 2023 and I work in the Campaigns & Policy Team to help deliver our campaigns!

As a surfer, sailor and all-round ocean lover, I’ve always valued our connection with nature – and that’s why I’m stoked to be part of such an important organisation working to protect our planet.

Hello,

I originally joined SAS  in 2020 and after taking a year out for an extended surf adventure re-joined in 2023 as Policy and Research Manager.

I’m working with a great team to convince politicians all over the UK to deliver research and evidenced policy solutions to tackle pollution and climate change.

I’m based up in Scotland and if I’m not surfing I’ll be up a munro.

Jacey Price (she/her) – Senior Database Officer

I joined SAS way back in 2016 and during that time my role has evolved into what it is today, which is all things data!

I grew up in Cornwall and have always been lucky enough to live by the sea, which inspires me to work hard to protect it.

Hi everyone, I’m Jaz and I’m new here! As Head of Maintenance, it’s very important I keep the office clean which I do by snuffling up everything I can see.

Josh Harris (he/him) – Head of Communications

I’ve been at SAS since moving back home to Cornwall in early 2021. My role is focused on ensuring that all our communications motivate audiences to engage in Ocean Activism, in whatever way fits their preference.

Growing up in Penzance, I’ve always felt a deep connection with the sea and coastal communities so I feel deeply privileged to be able to spend my working life protecting the ocean.

I joined Surfers Against Sewage as an HR Officer in January 2023.  This is a new role in the ever growing SAS and I am happy to be part of that journey – exciting times!

I am thrilled to not only work for a charity I believe is extremely important to everyone, but also with a team of people that are committed and passionate about the sea and the climate.

I have just returned to Cornwall, left for 9 months and missed it so much.    I even missed swimming in the sea when its freezing, walking on the cliffs when it’s gale force winds 😊 and I am never leaving again!!

Kirsty Davies (she/her) – Community Water Quality Manager.

I joined SAS in March 2022 in a role to improve the water quality of our inland waterways. I feel privileged to work with passionate communities across the UK who are applying for bathing water designation.

Like for many people the water is my happy place. Ensuring the water quality of our rivers, seas and lakes are monitored and protected for people to enjoy and nature to thrive, is what drives me in my role at SAS.

Lara Jeffries (she/her) – Education Manager

I joined SAS in May 2023 following a career in education, as a teaching assistant, teacher and Headteacher.

I work with an incredible Education Team, whose goal it is to develop Ocean Activists and build Ocean Literacy through educational resources, events and activities. We also run the Plastic Free Schools accreditation programme, which empowers pupils to reduce plastic in their school communities. In addition, we offer teacher training to support the delivery of Plastic Free Schools.

I love the ocean…if I am not in it, I am enjoying being near it.

Laura Macey (she/her) – Senior Education Officer

Hey! I joined SAS in January 2021 and work in the Education Team.

My role involves designing and delivering programmes that inspire and empower young people to join our ever-growing network of ocean activists.

Having been lucky enough to grow up in Cornwall with the beach as my playground, the ocean has become part of who I am. So when I’m not surfing, swimming or generally frolicking in the sea, I’m fighting to protect it.

Lizzie Cresswell, Community Water Quality Officer, she/her

I joined SAS in July 2021 armed with an entrenched belief that protecting the ocean is the Most Important Thing. (Still true.) As part of the fundraising team, I look after our incredible members, donors and legacy-leavers – and help raise ocean-saving funds. Since that July, my love of the ocean has only grown. My surfing ability, however, has not.

Since joining SAS in May 2022, I have worked to take peoples voices from communities across the country to the people of power. As a keen climber and swimmer, the ocean is my solace but I also see its devastation everyday. I am here to fight to protect it

My life has revolved around the Ocean, in the UK, Canada and South America and there’s nothing that makes me happier than surf and sunsets over the sea. I’ve worked with communities in humanitarian, conservation and activism settings and I am stoked to be supporting the amazing communities of Surfers Against Sewage. It’s a privilege to be working with  Ocean Activists from all over the UK, supporting them to positive create change in their communities and working hard to make sure Ocean Activism is an inclusive space for everyone.

I’m thrilled to have joined SAS in April this year as a support for the Education Team and I am excited to have moved to the Philanthropy and Partnerships team as the Partnerships Coordinator as a temporary support. I work together with amazing businesses that are striving to have positive impacts on our Oceans. In my free time you are most likely to find me in the surf or on the beach.

Rachel Yates, Senior Communities Manager (Plastic Free Communities)

Pronouns: She/her

I was born overlooking the ocean, it’s lodged in my heart. That and a desire to do what I can to look after the planet and people. I started my SAS journey as a Rep and when the Plastic Free Communities campaign came along it was a perfect fit. After leading Penzance to become the first place to get Plastic Free Communities status in 2017, I joined HQ to manage the national movement.

Sam Blandford – Individual Giving’s Coordinator – She/Her

Hiya! In April 2023 I joined SAS as Individual Giving’s Coordinator, I help to support our amazing fundraising team and the incredible members and donors that help us to continue to do ocean-saving work!

I have always had a deep love and connection to the ocean from spending my life visiting Cornwall whenever I could, now that I am able to live here, and help to protect what I love, I am living the dream!!!

Sarah Sheldon (she/her) – Communities Officer MMC & Reps

Hiya! I started working with SAS in February 2022. I help manage our Million Mile Clean and support our amazing regional reps, working to create Ocean Activists everywhere.

Although originally from the West Midlands, I have always loved the sea – specifically in Cornwall! I’m extremely happy to now be living here, fighting to restore and protect our beautiful wildlife and coastline.

Hi! I joined SAS in September 2024 as Senior Individual Giving and Supporter Engagement Officer. My role is all about looking after our members, supporters and donors and making sure they all have an amazing experience supporting SAS.

Funnily enough I’m not a surfer, a swimmer or a paddle boarder. Maybe one day. But I AM someone who cares a lot about our rivers, lakes and seas and them not being polluted. That’s why I’m so excited to be part of the SAS team.

I joined the SAS fundraising team as Community Fundraising Officer in 2021.

My role involves developing opportunities to engage people to fundraise for the ocean, such as our latest Dip A Day campaign we ran in 2022. The ocean has given me so much, and I’m thrilled to work in a role where I can help fight for it.

Hi friends. I’m Sparrow, Head of Happiness at SAS. A very important role. My main job is to provide everyone with lots of love and cuddles, and my fur is incredibly soft – quite therapeutic to stroke, some say. It can be quite a tiring job, so when I’m not busy making everyone happy, you’ll likely find me quietly napping under a desk somewhere.

Stephanie Piper (she/her) – Finance Manager

I joined SAS at the end of 2020.  After checking the website over a period of years I was thrilled when finally, a role came up that I was qualified for! It’s a dream to work where you can have a lunch time swim in between managing the day to day finance processes.

I moved to Cornwall 18 years ago so that my children could grow up by the sea. It’s incredibly important to me to protect what we love for future generations.

Having joined SAS in early 2022 as an administrator, I am thrilled to have started off the new year as Partnerships Officer. I work together with our incredible business supporters to maximize our positive impact in the blue spaces that we are all so passionate about. Catch me in the surf or on a hike exploring Cornwall’s beautiful coastlines!

Don’t let my cute ears and winning smile fool you, as head of intelligence I’m all business. Unless you have treats?!

Lucy Luck (She / They) – Campaigns and Policy Coordinator

I joined SAS in April 2024 as Campaigns and Policy Coordinator, my role is to support the delivery of campaigns and activations on all four of our main campaign areas – water quality, the ocean and climate emergency, plastic pollution, and ocean recovery!

I love being outside by the sea as a beachcombing enthusiast and a wild swimmer all year round! I often have a pair of binoculars on me looking out for marine wildlife around the Cornish coast. I also volunteer for multiple marine conservation organisations in the Mounts Bay area and can be found crouched down in rock pools or having a boogie on the beach during a silent disco beach clean!

Will Hart (he/his) –Communities Coordinator (Plastic Free Communities)

I joined SAS in 2023 to help support the Plastic Free Communities team and their growing network of amazing volunteers.

Before moving to Kernow I lived in London for over 20 years where I saw first-hand the mass daily consumption of single-use plastics and its direct effect on our environment.

These days I’m a surfer, swimmer, shark nerd and I occasionally make art and music inspired by nature.

Pronouns: he/him

I’ve been a trustee at SAS since 2017 and became chair of the trustees in September 2022. It was time spent in the ocean as a scuba diver and surfer that inspired my own career shift from the law to focus on sustainability, the circular economy, tackling plastic pollution and climate change. It’s an absolute privilege for me to be able to help support the brilliant Surfers Against Sewage team, our reps, volunteers and members protect our oceans, coastlines and waterways.

Dan Crockett is Ocean and Climate Director of Blue Marine Foundation. Based in London, Blue Marine supports marine protected areas, fights unsustainable fishing and restores marine habitats. Dan leads a specialist unit focused on building the value of the ocean as a solution to climate change. In this capacity he supports various ocean climate science, technology and political initiatives globally. He is a trustee of Surfers Against Sewage, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Hometree. He is a widely published writer, surfer and freediver.

Gabe Davies is a legendary UK surfer and as well as SAS trustee works as Ocean Marketing Manager for Patagonia.

Lauren Davies is a Northumberland-based author, screenwriter, producer and surf consultant on feature films. She is a Cambridge Law graduate and Director of Lola Cove Films. Lauren’s work includes the feature documentary, WAVERIDERS, Kelly Slater’s CLOUD 9, THE TONY HAWK SHOW and six books; most recently the environmental children’s book, LITTLE TURTLE TURNS THE TIDE, inspired by Lauren’s young son and mini activist, Bo Reef.

Lauren is a surfer, passionate environmentalist and supporter of SAS since the 90s.

Chris has more than 25 years PR industry experience, 16 of which were spent at M&C Saatchi where he set up and ran M&C Saatchi PR.

He is currently the Managing Director at award winning independent agency The Academy.

He has been a trustee at SAS for more than 15 years, working with the charity on campaigns, and is a keen surfer.

Lesley has had a varied career, including screen printer, knitwear designer, ghostwriter and seaside landlady.

In Australia in 1982, her 10 month-old daughter was hospitalized with gastro-enteritis from airborne spray from raw sewage discharged at a nearby outfall and took many months to fully recover.

Returning to Cornwall, Lesley nursed family through repeated ear infections and stomach bugs caused by raw sewage in the waters around St Agnes.

In the early days of SAS, Lesley was Honorary Treasurer, becoming a non-executive director then a trustee when the charity was formed.

I joined SAS as a trustee in 2017 and love being involved in a small charity that’s making such a big difference! I live in Marazion in Cornwall (a Plastic Free Community with a Plastic Free School!) and am lucky to be able to spend lots of time in, on and under the ocean with my family. I am a marine scientist and conservationist working for the Zoological Society of London and an Honorary Professor at the University of Exeter (Cornwall campus). I focus on how marine science can enable solutions.

I became a trustee of Surfers Against Sewage in 2024, inspired by my deep connection to the sea through sailing, windsurfing, and swimming on the UK’s south coast. My professional experience in finance, technology, and data equips me to support SAS in its mission to combat marine pollution and preserve our beautiful coastlines for all to enjoy.

Lucy Siegle is a UK based journalist and broadcaster who specialises in climate and nature. She has contributed internationally to climate and nature protection including through the UN Oceans Dialogue and the COP26 summit.

Lucy is the author of books including Turning the Tide on Plastic: How Humanity (and you) Can Make Our Globe Clean Again and To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing out the World, published

As well as being a trustee for Surfers Against Sewage, Lucy is a member of British Canoeing. She kayaks most days on the non tidal Thames where she lives near Hampton Court, removing waste plastic from the water.

Jen is a Chartered Accountant who started her career with Deloitte and has specialised in charity finance and governance for over twenty five years.  She lives in Wimborne in Dorset and is also a Trustee of Dorset Community Foundation, The Labrador Rescue Trust and Dorset Equality Group.  Jen swims with East Dorset Open Water Swimming Club at Shore Road Beach in Poole.  She represents small charities on the ICAEW Charity Committee  and attends the ICAEW South West ESG insight meetings.