Meet the Team
Colin Houston
Projects and Volunteer Manager
Colin joined us in 2015, having previously worked as an environmental consultant and for an international development NGO.
Colin has overseen an ongoing period of transition and growth for Heath Hands, working to develop our strategic direction, policies and procedures, governance structures and programme delivery capacity. A secondee from our partners at the City of London Corporation, he works to enhance our strategic partnerships with local stakeholder groups, partners such as English Heritage, and expand our links with community groups, while managing our staff and volunteers.
Colin has grown our fundraising and launched several new projects to develop our work in different areas - particularly focusing on access, community involvement and inclusion. A keen climber and hillwalker, he tries to get up to the mountains whenever he can!
Karin Oleinikova
Programme Manager
Karin began working at Heath Hands following the launch of our Community Heath project in 2017. Over her time at Heath Hands, she has been instrumental in helping drive a period of growth for our charity.
Karin helps manage our volunteer and community programmes across our green spaces. She has particular responsibility for our Community projects, Youth, School, Health and Wellbeing and Engagement programmes which support local groups and people of all backgrounds and abilities to get involved on our green spaces.
In addition, Karin manages our Administrator and has been busy developing our charity’s communications and fundraising as well as our financial management, data collection and reporting systems.
A keen singer, hiker and traveller, she has been able to combine her interests in community engagement and nature conservation in the role.
Rory Dimond
Session Leader
Rory joined us in early 2019, having previously worked for Buglife and Friends of the Earth. A passionate wildlife enthusiast, Rory has a wealth of in nature conservation experience with a particular interest in insects and other invertebrates.
Rory supervises our volunteer sessions and helps to support our wildlife monitoring programmes. He is passionate about inspiring others with nature conservation, leading a range of workshops, guided walks and ecological talks throughout the year. Rory has been instrumental in helping Heath Hands develop our citizen science projects and community garden areas. A keen wildlife gardener, he is very much our eco expert!
Joanne Maddox
Session Leader
Jo began training as our first Ranger during Autumn 2019. A hugely dedicated nature enthusiast, she is a passionate conservationist and wildlife champion.
As a Session Leader Jo has been helping lead our volunteer conservation and habitat management sessions, combined with supervising different groups and schools that get involved on the Heath.
Jo is also a key part of our wildlife conservation and monitoring, schemes and launched a new butterfly recording scheme.
Jo has built up extensive knowledge about the Heath and its wildlife and enjoys leading our nature walks to inspire others!
Avigail Ochert
Session Leader
Avi was appointed as a Session Leader in September 2020 after joining Heath Hands as a Conservation Volunteer the previous year.
Avi has a background in formal and special needs education and is an experienced environmental educator. As a successful artist she brings a creative flair to Heath Hands’ programmes!
Avi has been helping deliver our community engagement projects, and leads our youth programmes.
Jesse Aberbach
Session Leader
Jesse joined the team as Trainee Ranger in early 2022, having previously been a Conservation Volunteer with us.
Jesse also works as an Environmental Coordinator in a sixth form college, surveys bats for ecological consultancies, and helps manage the wildlife garden at a local secondary school.
Jesse has been helping lead our schools and youth sessions as well as getting involved in our corporate volunteering programme and leading nature walks.
Molly Lambourne
Session Leader
Molly joined Heath Hands as a Session Leader in May 2023 and helps to lead our volunteering sessions.
Molly has previously worked at Kenwood as a ranger/duty manager for English Heritage. She also works for a small agricultural business near Bedford - coppicing willow and hazel and making the cut material into products such as woven fences and other horticultural goods.
A keen naturalist, Molly is a member of the London Natural History Society, and has volunteered for the London Wildlife Trust.
Rose Wray-Brown
Administrator
Rose joined the team in spring 2023, having previously worked in market and social research and being involved in wildlife charities in her spare time. Whilst working for Heath Hands, Rose spends most of her time in the office, supporting the team with administrative tasks related to our fundraising and volunteer programmes.
Rose has always had an interest in nature and conservation, spending time as a youth volunteering on (B)TCV projects across the UK, and more recently through being a member of her local wildlife group in West London. She enjoys time in the outdoors walking and exploring, and in doing so also nurturing her young children’s love of nature!