It’s what London Waterkeeper is for that is important – rivers in parks that flow free and healthy. Homes that send their waste water only to sewage works and clean efficient industry that abides by all environmental laws. Only then will we have thriving rivers that are a boon to London.
London Waterkeeper is a member of Waterkeeper® Alliance, a global movement uniting hundreds of Waterkeeper Organisations and Affiliates around the world, focusing on citizen action on issues that affect our waterways. The Waterkeeper movement patrols and protects millions of square miles of rivers, lakes and coastlines in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. For more information visit waterkeeper.org
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Theo Thomas – Chief Executive
Theo launched London Waterkeeper in 2014. The organisation uses environmental laws and grassroots advocacy to drive change. Theo grew up in rural Wales, and after university spent five years at BBC Radio Leicester. He made the move to London twenty years ago to take a position at Keep Britain Tidy, before transferring to Thames21, where he spent 12 years as Senior Programme Manager.
Safiya Egeh – River Project Coordinator
Safiya graduated from City University London in 2022 with a degree in politics. During her time at university, she supported frontline staff at the National Autistic Society. The placement saw her plan engagement projects which boosted morale and team working during the pandemic. Safiya is working to highlight the problem of stormwater pollution and utilise the law to stop the damage being done to rivers.
London Waterkeeper’s Trustees
Dee O’Connell – Chairperson
Dee lives by the River Lea in Hackney, East London. She contacted Theo when he was running “Love the Lea” with Thames21, after noticing how polluted the river was. She started volunteering on the project – testing the water outside her house. When Theo set up London Waterkeeper, Dee supported his vision of an independent voice for London’s rivers and became a founding trustee.
Dee is a keen hiker and has qualified as a Lowland Leader with Mountain Training, she is currently working on her Mountain Leader qualification. She is also co-director of The Brokedown Palace – an outdoor store in east London. One of their brands is Patagonia, who support London Waterkeeper as part of their grants programme for grassroots environmental organisations.
Charles Law – Treasurer
Charles has considerable experience as a Chartered Accountant working with small business units of large commercial organisations across a variety of fields, including FMCG, Paper and Promotional goods. He currently works part-time in the family office of a high net-worth individual.
In his spare time, he has been an assistant scout leader for eight years. This has helped develop his environmental awareness and love of the outdoors, which in turn led him to undertake the role of treasurer and trustee for London Waterkeeper.
Sarah Saunders – Acting Secretary
Sarah Saunders is a winter swimmer at the Kenwood Ladies Pond in Hampstead and met Theo through the Kenwood Ladies Pond Association. Together they organised Thames swims from Richmond on May Day, close to where Sarah grew up, in a time where no-one dreamt of swimming in the Thames. Sarah is a consultant in the photographic industry, working on digital archive projects with museums and organisations. She has documented swimming at the Ladies Pond since 2004 and coordinated the launch of the Ladies Pond Archive at the Bishopsgate Institute. She is passionate about environmental issues, and as a Trustee of London Waterkeeper wants to bring a swimmers voice to the organisation, and help bring about the vision of a ‘Swimmable Thames’.
London WATERKEEPER® The Office Club, The Bussey Building, Unit B.31, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, London, SE15 3SN.
Telephone: 07421 745 619
Registered Charity Number 1165862.
Our supporters
Network for Social Change, Roger de Freitas, Anne Robbins, Patagonia.