Leadership team

Harry Barton - Chief Executive

Harry joined Devon Wildlife Trust in October 2011, having spent the previous five years as Chief Executive of the Earth Trust in Oxfordshire.  He has worked for twenty years in the environmental sector, including spells at the Council for National Parks, Kew Gardens, CPRE and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, where he was Assistant Director (Policy and Development).

Harry studied Geography at Durham University (BSc) and then Environmental Policy at Wye College, University of London (MSc).  He has a passion for the environment and a particular interest in landscape scale conservation, having played a key role developing the Wildlife Trust movement's Living Landscapes programme.

Harry's other interests include cycling, martial arts, music and issues surrounding disability, especially autism.  He firmly believes that spending time in the outdoors - especially the wonderful places we have in Devon - are essential in keeping us happy and healthy.

Penny Mason - Director of Fundraising and Communications

Penny was educated in both England and Canada and has worked in the field of community engagement and development for nearly ten years. As the former Chief Officer of TTVS, a Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), she was responsible for providing support and advice to voluntary and community groups and social enterprises in Northern Devon; for the strategic development of the voluntary and community sector and for developing new services in response to identified need. She is an experienced manager and fundraiser and a Prince2 practitioner.

Kate Taylor - Deputy Director of Resources

Kate joined DWT on 1 April 1994 as Communications Administrator.  This was at a time of rapid expansion for DWT and Kate’s role developed at the same time and by 1999 she was managing the Operations team.  In 2008 a restructuring of DWT created a Resources Directorate and Kate was offered the post of Deputy Director of Resources.  Kate retains management responsibility for the work of the Operations and Supporter Care teams, included within this is responsibility for overseeing Health and Safety for DWT.

Emma Richardson - Director of Programmes

Emma joined DWT in the 1990s and is now Director of Programmes.  She manages the conservation delivery work of the organisation helping the land management and conservation advocacy teams to meet the challenges of delivering a living landscape for Devon.

Emma has lived and worked in Devon for many years, drawn to its landscapes and natural diversity.  She has a degree in English, a post graduate diploma in marketing and is a member of the Institute of Public Relations and Chartered Institute of Marketing.  She works with many other organisations and is currently a board member of the North Devon Biosphere and the Exeter Vision Partnership.

Susan Warren - Director of Development & Policy

Susan has spent over 20 years working in the fields of nature conservation, sustainability, community development and regeneration.

After studying Geography at Cambridge University (MA Hons) and Environmental Science at Aberdeen University (Msc), she worked for a range of local and national organisations both in the UK and New Zealand  including Groundwork, Forum for the Future, and Living Streets Aotearoa.  In addition she has held board and non-executive director positions with East of Scotland Water, Scottish Natural Heritage and South Downs National Park, and is currently a non-executive director of the National Forest Company. 
Whilst she has a wide range of interests across the whole spectrum of the environmental agenda, Susan has a particular passion and interest in championing the importance and value of the natural world in our everyday lives.

Contact us