Meet the BSAC Environment and Sustainability Group

BSAC has appointed the members of its new Environment and Sustainability Group, who will be tasked with implementing the organisation's environmental initiatives.

Katherine Knight, Chair

Katherine will lead the volunteer team as it guides the organisation on green issues, continuing the good work begun by Jane Maddocks, former adviser on Heritage and Environment.

Katherine will be familiar to many within BSAC through her work at Scottish conservation charity Seawilding. As part of a team at Seawilding Katherine provided expert guidance and helped develop the Shore Surveyor and Underwater Surveyor courses before they were successfully introduced to the training programme. She was also instrumental in work to promote the Great Seagrass Survey.

She said:

I vividly remember my first snorkel, seeing the slate grey surface of the ocean give way to a life filled rocky reef. A huge smile spread across my face, and I promptly flooded my mask. Despite this I have been hooked ever since and take any opportunity to be on, in or under the water. I have skippered marine research sailing expeditions in the arctic, been involved in many citizen science projects around the shores of the UK and enjoyed warm water diving on coral restoration projects. I am now based on the beautiful west coast of Scotland where I work in marine conservation and seagrass restoration.

Group members

Freya Powell

I am Freya from North Wales; I am thrilled to be part of BSAC’s Environmental Committee. I recently graduated in Marine Vertebrate Zoology from Bangor University and completed internships with The Sea Watch Foundation (North Wales) and Sharklife (South Africa). My deep passion for the ocean and its creatures has led me to pursue scuba and freediving qualifications. I am excited to connect with others, learn from fellow committee members, and work together to protect and preserve our oceans for future generations.

Helen Mitchem

Scuba (and sharks) are my passion: I love spending time in the water admiring and then campaigning to protect these beautiful, intelligent creatures.
I've been immersed in nature all my life, as a child enjoying outdoor family adventures around the UK. I'm sure this gave me the encouragement to find my fins at Salford University and the backbone to cope with freezing, soaking conditions whilst preparing for / de-kitting after dives.

I work in community conservation: planting, hugging, surveying trees and helping people develop the love for nature that I have. I combine my passion and my work as an OWI, helping people gain skills and develop enthusiasm to admire and protect the marine environment. I want to help raise the profile of habitat destruction and its impacts on wildlife that only divers get up close to see and help BSAC successfully campaign to conserve and enhance our seas for wildlife and people for the future.

Giulia Leanza

I’m currently finishing my MSci in Marine Biology and Oceanography at Bangor University. My research focuses on marine ecosystems, particularly kelp forests and salt marshes. I’m passionate about exploring the ocean and learning more about the natural world around us, while raising awareness of the richness of our seas and advocating for their protection. I’m honoured to be part of the BSAC Environment and Sustainability Committee and excited to take meaningful action. I’ve been diving since 2019, and I’m looking forward to sharing more adventures and conservation efforts with the BSAC community!

Ed Thompson

My day job is working in marine data for NatureScot. I am thrilled to be part of the dive team there, taking part in surveys contributing to NatureScot's monitoring programme. I am a member of the local BSAC club in Orkney, and contribute to MCS's Seasearch programme too. Marine environmental issues are close to my heart and I am super keen to see what ideas we can bring to life as part of the new BSAC environmental and sustainability group. I’ve seen a great deal of environmental enthusiasm at club-level, and I would love to channel the enthusiasm across the BSAC member network to give back to the marine environment we so enjoy.

Reflecting on the new group, Katherine Knight said:

I am delighted to be working with such an amazing team of ocean enthusiasts and to be supporting BSAC members to enjoy diving with a purpose. I am excited to see what opportunities and initiatives develop for everyone to get involved. We are keen to hear your thoughts and ideas. Keep an eye on the newsletter for upcoming polls on what environmental activities you would like to get involved in.

You can contact the group by emailing environmentchair@bsac.com