The River Dee Trust conservation charity has appointed two leading professionals as it prepares to scale up its award-winning nature restoration work.
Robert Gordon University’s Principal Professor Steve Olivier, and Chartered Environmentalist Melanie Netherway are joining the charity’s governing body. Along with fellow Trustees they will help to deliver nationally significant programmes to support the river’s wildlife and surrounding communities.
Sandy Bremner, the Trust’s Chair, said: “We are thrilled to have Steve and Melanie join our ambitious team at such an important moment for everyone connected with the river. The challenges from floods, droughts and biodiversity loss have never been greater. That’s why we have never been more determined to deliver solutions on a landscape scale.
“We are in a race against time to restore our iconic salmon stocks, other precious species, and to support affected communities. Our new trustees will bring a wealth of knowledge, energy and commitment to those tasks. They will help build on the already high levels of public support for this work. They will also help to make sure that not a moment is lost in delivering practical solutions.”
Professor Olivier became Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Robert Gordon University in 2020. He has since engaged his staff and students in a range of River Dee projects. The university established Waterside Farm as a flagship ecological restoration and community-engagement project aimed at returning degraded floodplain to a carbon-rich landscape that delivers biodiversity, learning and community wellbeing.
Professor Olivier said "The River Dee Trust is an ambitious charity that delivers practical, landscape-scale solutions that genuinely support the Dee ecosystem and communities.
I have a deep, lifelong connection to our aquatic environments. I know first-hand how precious and fragile our water systems are, which is why I am absolutely thrilled to join the Board and work alongside my fellow Trustees.
The Trust’s dedication to protecting this beautiful and important river ecosystem is something I hold in high regard, and I look forward to helping the team continue its fantastic work to ensure we deliver lasting, positive impact.”
Melanie Netherway is a senior environmental professional working in the energy sector for over 15 years. She has helped deliver significant environmental projects for bp across the globe, with a strong focus on finding sustainable solutions and applying them at pace. Melanie is committed to using her formidable skills to helping a river she loves.
She said: “‘I am absolutely delighted to take on a Trustee role for this wonderful charity. I have seen first-hand the amazing conservation work underway and am deeply impressed with the progressive plans to protect and enhance the River Dee and it’s wildlife. I am excited to be able to bring my skills and experience to support the organisation and play a role in improving the future of the river for future generations to appreciate.”
The River Dee Trust (established in 1998) works with partners to ensure the future of this world-renowned ecosystem and the communities that treasure it. Current programmes include the award-winning Million Trees Campaign to shade the river against dangerously rising temperatures, and a pioneering project to restore critically endangered Spring-run salmon stocks.
For more information... contact debbie@riverdee.org – 07979 878971
Visit our website at www.riverdeetrust.org.uk