Senior Management Team

Mary Rice, Executive Director 

Mary has been with EIA since 1996, joining as a volunteer before holding positions including Head of Communications & Projects, Head of Development and Head of Campaigns. She has been Executive Director since 2008 and is responsible for directing the long-term strategic management of EIA as well as working on specific projects and leading the Elephant Campaign.

Julian Newman, Campaigns Director

Julian joined EIA in July 1997 as an investigator after working as a journalist for six years. He has carried out field investigations into illegal logging in Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Laos, and wildlife crime investigations in Tanzania, Zambia, Singapore and China. He has also been involved in training local NGOs in Indonesia and Tanzania. Since 2008 he has been Campaigns Director.

Cheryl Tissot, Director of Operations

Cheryl joined EIA in January 2024. She is an experienced charity leader with a personal mission to inspire and drive operational excellence through visionary strategic leadership and collaboration. For over a decade Cheryl has held various senior roles in the charity sector including Director of Strategy & Development, Director of Commercial Planning & Operations and Chief Operating Officer. She went on to become Chief Executive at leading national volunteering charity Pets As Therapy. Most recently Cheryl held the position of Chief Executive at the children’s charity Rays of Sunshine. Prior to joining the charity sector, Cheryl worked in business operations management within many global corporations such as Microsoft, Invesco Asset Management and Gilead Sciences.

Bill Dishington, Head of People & Culture

Bill joined EIA in August 2008. He moved to the not-for-profit sector in 1993, working for or advising as a consultant to variety of small to medium sized charities in roles involving HR, finance, administration, communications, facilities, health and safety, ICT and governance, including REDRESS, Landmine Action and Victim Support. At Victim Support he was one of a team of six responsible for the biggest charity merger in the UK.

Emma Sheard, Head of Fundraising

Emma moved to the charity sector in 2007 and since then has held a number of fundraising roles within Individual Giving, legacy and trust fundraising. She joined EIA UK in 2022 as Head of Fundraising and a member of the Senior Management Team. Prior to this, she held the position of Head of Individual Fundraising at Isabel Hospice and has also worked at the RSPB, Children with Cancer UK, NSPCC and The Children’s Society. Emma is a member of the Institute of Fundraising.

Jean Nelson, Head of Finance

Jean has been responsible for the finance function at the Environmental Investigation Agency UK for the last 10 years.  She has a passion for charity financial management and got her start by volunteering in the sector after leaving university with a BTEC HND in Business and Finance and a degree in Combined Studies (Accounting).  Jean is a Fellow member of the Association of Certified Accountants who now has more than 20 years in the Not-for-Profit and Charity sector.