The Team

 

We are passionate about the natural environment and take very seriously our duty of care as environment professionals. Therefore our ecological work adheres to the IEEM code of Professional Conduct.

Our small team of staff is made up of dedicated enthusiasts who are prepared to go that extra mile to ensure the quality of work and advice we produce is of the highest standard. 


Personnel Profiles

Robert Yaxley

Robert Yaxley BSc MIEEM CEnv

Rob is the Director and principal ornithologist of WFE, is a full member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, and a Chartered Environmentalist. Previously employed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, and the National Trust, Rob was an independent consultant ecologist from 1998 until 2003 when he established WFE. His background in nature conservation has given him a sound understanding of issues around UK habitats, species and designated sites.

While foremost an ornithologist, he is also a highly capable botanist and has considerable experience in surveying for other protected species including badgers, bats, great crested newts, otters, reptiles and water voles.

Rob has accumulated specialist expertise in the wind farm ecology niche, and can consequently claim participation in a long list of onshore wind farm planning applications (80+ total, 15+ advanced to planning). Rob has considerable experience negotiating wind farm consultations with Natural England and the RSPB. He has performed expert witness duties at three Public Inquiries.

Seth Lambiase

Seth Lambiase BSc MRes MSc MIEEM

Seth has been a consultant ecologist with WFE since 2007. Prior to joining WFE, Seth was a wildlife inventory biologist for the North Carolina State Department of Environment and Natural Resources, USA.

He has over eight years of professional zoological survey experience covering a broad range of taxa including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. He has particular expertise in field surveys for bats, and has carried out bat surveys in a wide range of habitats at sites in the UK, USA, and Costa Rica.

Seth is a Natural England licensed bat surveyor with extensive experience conducting bat roost (buildings and trees) and field activity surveys.

 

John Harris

John Harris BSc AIEEM

John joined WFE in 2007 from Elsevier where he was an editor of ecological materials for Geobase. John is a herpetology specialist, with a licence for great crested newt surveys and extensive experience in reptile survey and mitigation. He is accomplished in field surveys for other protected species including badgers, bats and water voles.

With a strong background in IT, John contributes skills in data management and presentation. John is an Associate member of the IEEM.

 

 

Graham Riley BSc AIEEM

Graham Riley

Graham Riley BSc AIEEM

Graham has been working as a consultant ecologist with WFE since 2008. With a background in ornithology, he previously spent 14 years working on the RSPB stone curlew recovery project, and 2 years as a self employed ornithologist.

Graham has acquired a huge amount of experience working on proposed windfarm sites, having participated in surveys on c40 in recent years.

As well as having ornithological expertise he has gained experience in surveying for protected species such as bats, water voles, great crested newts and reptiles, and is experienced in Phase 1 habitat surveys.

Kelly Moyes

Kelly Moyes BSc PhD MIEEM

Kelly joined WFE in 2009. Prior to working for WFE, Kelly worked as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Cambridge studying red deer ecology on the Isle of Rum, after completing a PhD on the same population at Imperial College and the University of Kent. As a result of this research, she has published papers in international ecological journals.

Kelly has a range of field experience, including living and working on the Isle of Rum and St Kilda and also studying meerkats in the Kalahari Desert. She has also worked on natural history documentaries, as a field assistant and story developer on the BBC productions Autumnwatch and Springwatch.

Kelly has experience in Phase 1 habitat and protected species surveys, including bats, water voles, reptiles and great crested newts and has assisted with water vole mitigation for river restoration work. Kelly contributes to report writing and project and data management and also aims to continue with applied research.

William Riddett

William Riddett BA

Will joined WFE in 2008. He carries out a range of technical office tasks including mapping, report writing, data handling and correspondence, and specialises in avian Collision Risk Modelling. Will has experience in a range of protected species surveys and mitigation, and is capable of conducting Phase 1 habitat surveys. He also has expertise in BREEAM and CSH assessments.

Will also has experience drafting Appropriate Assessments having written them for wind farm proposals and for local authority plans.

Susannah Dickinson

Susannah Dickinson BSc

Susie joined WFE in 2009. She graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2008 with first class honours in Ecology. Susie is  graduate member of the IEEM and a Great Crested Newt Licence holder.

Prior to working for WFE, Susie spent several seasons working as an Aviculturalist for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge. She was  involved in the early stages of the Great Crane Project, rearing the young birds and also working with BBC’s Springwatch and the RSPB film unit.

Susie assists with habitat and protected species surveys, mapping, data handling and report writing; as well as undertaking general office tasks.