Tree of Life Project Management and Operations
Tree of Life Programme
The team is drawn from a broad range of backgrounds with complementary skill sets. Our goal is to bring focus to the programme, improving operational work in order to free up faculty for scientific endeavour and strategy. We aim to generate efficiency, reduce cost and improve staff wellbeing.
The team can be subdivided into four main areas:
Samples Management – oversees the acquisition of samples from our partners collecting organisms in the field. This team manages sample storage and distribution, and offers our partners strong working relationships so that they can be confident their samples will arrive efficiently and in usable condition.
Wildlife and Environmental Law – provides advice and support regarding all aspects of wildlife and environmental law, both to Tree of Life colleagues and our partners globally. This includes ensuring compliance with regulations and providing practical support where necessary.
Communications & Public Engagement – informs the public, partners, and other internal and external stakeholders about Tree of Life’s science. Most importantly, it means getting people excited about what we’re doing. This can range from producing articles on scientific breakthroughs, running Tree of Life’s social media channels, engaging students with school visits, or appearing at events to show the public what we do.
Project Management – supports faculty and the Delivery & Operations leadership team by translating ideas into deliverables, and implementing strategy. This means managing some of our most high profile projects – including our Sample Tracking System, Darwin Tree of Life and Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics – and delivering their objectives within budget, scope, on time and to a high quality.
Core team

Jessica Bernard
Team Administrator

Dr Nikki Chapman
Wildlife and Environmental Law Adviser

Charlie Hathaway
Principal Functional Analyst & Product Owner

Nancy Holroyd
Samples and Partner Relationship Manager

Miss Chloe Leech
Project Coordinator

Luke Lythgoe
Communications Officer

Dr Victoria McKenna
Project Manager

Haoyu Niu
Project Support Officer

Radka Platte
Sample Manager

Mr Ian Still
Advanced Research Assistant

Magdalena Wilczewska
Management Trainee
Previous team members

Dr Andy Griffiths
Advanced Research Assistant

Jack Monaghan
Public Engagement Coordinator

Dr Lauma Ramona
Research Administrator Tree of Life Programme

Miss Eve Riley
Management Trainee