Our Staff
We're a small team based in Plymouth, UK. Yet the impact of our work is far reaching and often belies our humble office in Britain's Ocean City. This is due to our collaborative nature. And thanks to our large and ever-growing supporter base, who champion our work wherever they go.
Thank you to all the many individuals, organisations and businesses that support our work. We couldn't do it without you!
Shark Trust Podcast (The World of Sharks)
Shark Trust Podcast (Living with Sharks: Tourism, Conflict & Coexistence)
Paul Cox
CEO
I've been with the Trust for over a decade, during which time I've served as Managing Director and now CEO. I take great pleasure in working alongside the whole team, and being involved in work across all the programmes. My primary role is in leading fundraising and partnership to ensure that the Trust can keep growing and evolving. It's an enormous honour to be at the centre of creating positive change - both in terms of the Trust itself and the work that we're proud to deliver.
If I had to pick a favourite shark I think I’d go for the Blue. They’re just great looking sharks with a fascinating life history. But then you could say that about most sharks!
Ali Hood
Director of Conservation
Working as the Trust’s Director of Conservation constantly inspires and challenges me, and has kept me motivated in my role since I started with the Trust in 2002! I work to secure management and protection for vulnerable species; to develop sustainable fisheries; to hold governments and industry to account for their commitments, and to call them out when they're falling short or praise them for success! And to endeavour to inspire the public, researchers, documentary makers, and the media to step away from the tired rhetoric of sharks as species to fear. Instead to grasp the consequences of biodiversity loss, and the fundamental role played by elasmobranchs in our ocean’s health. I also get to work with a phenomenal team of people, both within the Trust, and in our global network of collaborators. What’s not to love?!
…but don’t ask which shark I like best, there’s too many to choose from!
Cat Gordon
Senior Conservation Officer
I’ve been fascinated by the natural world for as long as I can remember, but it was discovering SCUBA diving as a young teenager that really cemented my career choice. Suddenly, there was a whole world beneath the surface to explore - and I wanted to know more. After studying BSc Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, MSc Conservation Biology, and becoming a PADI Divemaster, I joined the Shark Trust in 2010 - where I’ve largely focused on threatened species and conservation planning.
Today, I lead the Community Engagement programme, bringing people closer to sharks, skates and rays through citizen science initiatives such as the Great Eggcase Hunt and Basking Shark Project. I’m currently developing a new project, Living with Sharks, which explores the changing relationship between sharks and coastal communities, and looks at where human-wildlife conflict can occur.
My favourite shark? That’s a difficult one! I’m fascinated by the weird and wonderful such as the Goblin Sharks, and the often-overlooked species like the flat ones. I have a soft spot for Scalloped Hammerheads too, thanks to an unforgettable diving experience with them.
For me, the best part of conservation is helping people discover just how fascinating sharks are, and giving them the opportunity to help protect them.
Shark Trust Podcast (Underwater Photography)
Shark Trust Podcast (Living with Sharks: Tourism, Conflict & Coexistence)
Caroline Robertson-Brown
Marketing Manager
I saw my first wild shark on my first dive after becoming a qualified diver and I was hooked! I went on to become a diving instructor, underwater photographer and journalist. I have a degree in Biology and an MSc in Animal Behaviour. My passion for sharks and rays only gets stronger the more I see and learn about them.
My role at the Shark Trust is to ensure our message and goals reach a wide audience. Engaging existing shark lovers and inspiring people to appreciate and protect the incredible species within the shark, ray, skate and chimera families.
My favourite shark is the Great Hammerhead Shark. Amazing to encounter underwater. Incredible evolutionary design.
Harriet Allen
Data Analyst
I have been passionate about the ocean, conservation, and sharks for as long as I can remember, and it has always been a dream of mine to work in shark and ray conservation - so I’m very pleased to now be working with The Shark Trust! I studied my MSc in Marine Environmental Management, which was followed by a few years working in conservation with a focus on spatial analysis. I joined the Shark Trust in 2022 and as the Citizen Science Data officer I manage all the eggcase records and sightings that are submitted to our databases. Once checked, I use that data to pick out trends or other interesting information from the data collected over the last 20 years.
My favourite elasmobranch is the Manta ray, I think they’re so beautiful and I’d love to see/study them one day. Shark wise I think my favourite has to be the Pelagic Thresher, but I will always have a soft spot for Whale sharks as I have studied and worked with them and they are such gentle giants
Mark Packer
Outreach & Engagement Coordinator
I can still remember when I first became obsessed with sharks when I was 8yrs old, it was much like the phases I had of being obsessed with other animals, but it never ended.
I was studying and working as a nurse, always with one eye on the shark world and how I could get involved in any way I could. In 2021, I went back to university to study MSc Marine Conservation, and I was lucky enough to join the Shark Trust team.
I cover our Outreach and Engagement, making shark science and conservation accessible to all! This includes educational workshops, social media, working with aquariums and hosting the Shark Trust Podcast!
My favourite shark is the Shortfin Mako Shark. It was the shark that got me into shark conservation on the No Limit’s campaign.
Jack Renwick
Fisheries Conservation Officer
I’m a conservationist with a passion for being in, on, or under the water, so I’m very glad to be working as the Conservation Officer for Fisheries at the Shark Trust!
I studied BSc Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology followed by MSc Marine Conservation, then began my career in conservation in fisheries enforcement. At The Shark Trust, I advocate for sustainable fisheries for non-threatened species and secure necessary management for highly threatened species. I’m involved in fisheries policy and management planning, stakeholder engagement, campaign activity, and developing resources.
My favourite shark is the Goblin shark, mostly because of how strange they are. They are the only surviving species in a 125 million year old family of sharks, plus they can protrude their jaws to catch prey!
Hettie Brown
Conservation Officer
I have always loved being in and on the water and won’t go anywhere without my mask and snorkel. So, after studying BSc (Hons) French, German and Spanish I pursued my passion to protect the marine environment and studied for an MSc in Marine Conservation.
During my year abroad in Ecuador, I began my SCUBA training and saw my first shark (a baby blacktip) and the most impressive oceanic manta rays. Ever since then I’ve had a soft spot for sharks and rays, and I am super excited to be working at the Shark Trust!
Here, I get to use both my degrees; I am using my language skills to translate lots of our work and make sure our message and goals reach the widest audience possible, whilst also getting involved with campaigns and communications for the public and policymakers.
In line for position as my favourite shark stand the scalloped hammerhead, for its quirky head shape, or the whale shark, for their incredible size and majesty.
Louis Hogan
Content & Communications
One of the earliest and most accurate appraisals of me was made by my reception class teacher who said I was “completely obsessed with animals.” I haven’t changed, except I’ve added to this the desire for visual storytelling. My role as Content Creator at Shark Trust involves producing compelling and educational video content that breathes life and brings motion into the cause of shark conservation. It’s a new role, and truly my dream job.
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, and I work closely with our team, trustees, patrons, volunteers, and our great wide pool of public supporters, to curate and promote content, and ensure our values of credibility and approachability shine through in every film. Before studying for the excellent University of Plymouth Marine Conservation MSc, I cut my teeth in business and political journalism – until my heart led me back to my first love. My favourite shark is the Great White – for being the most maligned, most misjudged, and most misunderstood – it’s at the beating heart of our mission to inform.
