About us
The staff
Alastair Boston
Alastair
Boston – North West England Deer Project Officer
Alastair runs the Cumbria Deer Project with funding support from Cumbria Woodlands
Before coming to work for The Deer Initiative, Alastair worked for the Lake
District National Park Authority and the Forestry Commission in forestry and
deer management.
Colin Slater
Colin joined the DI in October 2011 as Central England region Deer Liaison Officer.
Having worked for the MOD for many years Colin turned a lifelong interest of the countryside into a career by returning to education and gaining a first class honours degree in Wildlife and Countryside Management from Staffordshire University.
Before joining the DI Colin worked for
Cheshire West & Chester Council as an Ecology Project Officer. Specialising
in applied ecology at the landscape scale and biological conservation he has a
keen interest in working with landowners and land managers for the benefit of
wildlife, the countryside and the rural economy.
Daniel Embleton
Dan joined the DI in September 2011 as a volunteer research intern to gain experience while looking for a job in the environmental sector. He will be working with GIS on the Non-Native Sika Deer Survey in West Wales. He studied Environmental Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating in 2011
David Hooton
David Hooton – East England Deer Liaison Officer
David joined the Deer Initiative in 2003 from The Forestry Commission having worked as a wildlife ranger for 12 years based at Thetford Forest.
Specializing in deer impact monitoring he has a keen interest in balancing local and regional deer populations with the objectives of both the stalkers and landowners.
Graham Riminton
Since his first
degree in geography Graham has maintained an interest in all things
‘environmental’. He is a lifelong angler and volunteer with environmental /
conservation / wildlife groups.
He decided to return to university to study for
a Masters Degree in Environmental Management (Nottingham University) and before
completing the course he was offered and accepted the follow on opportunity of
doing a PhD research project investigating “Wild Food Networks” (with the focus
on deer stalking, and pheasant, partridge, and grouse shooting,). During the
investigation he was inspired to become a stalker himself and has embarked upon
the required training.
The Venison Project Officer position for the East of
England is an ideal opportunity to put to good use his many years of
management, sporting, conservation and educational experience.
Jamie Cordery
Jamie
Cordery – South East England Deer Liaison Officer
After completing a degree in Ecology, Jamie worked as a professional deer manager in Sussex. Prior to joining the DI in 2006 he was at Sparsholt College for 21 years, teaching Wildlife management from Diploma to Degree level, including the creation of the first full time deer management course and the establishment of the college’s farmed deer herd.
Jamie is currently the DI Best Practice officer, Chair of the DMQ Quality Assurance Group and vice chair of the LANTRA game and Wildlife Industry Group. He is a qualified Shotgun and Rifle Coach and Range Conducting Officer.
Pauline Goring
Pauline has been the office manager at the DI since 2004, dealing with all administration matters for the organisation.
Peter Watson
Peter joined
the Deer Initiative in 2001 as the Central Region Deer Liaison Officer and
technical advisor, he has been the Executive Director since October 2004. Prior
to joining the DI he was the BASC Deer Officer for 5 years.
During that time he was involved in setting up Deer Management Qualifications
and was a Trustee of the Deer Initiative. He joined BASC following a mid-career
break during which he completed a degree in ecology at the University of
Stirling to build in a long term interest in wild deer and their habitats.
