Ian Dolben – Chairman

My interests in fish started around the time of GCE exams when sitting with a fishing rod seemed more attractive than revision. Despite this I passed a few exams and ended up with a degree, at the same time coming to the conclusion that there were easier ways to catch fish, involving nets and electricity, than angling.

My early career was spent in a variety of sexual positions, generally involving numbers of hormonally challenged coarse fish and their eventual progeny. All this took place on a sewage treatment works in Rotherham – I lived on site in the delightfully named ‘No3 Water Pollution Cottage - always gets a laugh that one. Sadly re-organisation and a lack of management support meant re-location to York, joining the other piscatorially challenged scientists chopping up fish, visiting fish farms and splashing about in rivers.

Fast forward to the present day and having survived numerous re-organisations, name changes and even BRITE, have now achieved best ever job of Fisheries Scientist in Head Office team, working for the legendary Miran Aprahamian. Along the way acquired job of IFM Careers Officer, and have now re-entered fishing circles but have graduated to salmon and sea trout fishing (well, to be accurate fishing in rivers known to be frequented by salmon and sea trout… yet to get one on the hook). And through all this time, followed the most successful team in British football (oh yes they are) and spent a most pleasurable evening recently watching the Reds give the so-called mighty AC Milan a 3 goal start and still winning the 5th (that’s FIFTH, Man U fans) European Cup.

e-mail: chairman@ifm.org.uk

Professor Robin Welcomme – IFM Secretary

I was born in London, England in 1938 and went to school in Finchley N. London. After national service in the Air Force I went to Birkbeck College, University of London, whilst working at the MAFF laboratory in Whitehall Place. On graduation I got a job as Scientific Officer at the East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization, Jinja (Uganda) and also obtained a PhD at Makerere College, University of East Africa. In 1967 I transferred to work for FAO as a Fisheries Biologist in Benin, West Africa and moved to Rome in 1971 as a Fishery Resources Officer and eventually became Chief, Inland Fishery Resources and Aquaculture Service. During my work for FAO I developed my work on river fisheries, acted as Secretary of the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission as well as Technical Secretary to other regional fishery bodies and helped draft the technical version of the Convention on Biological Diversity. I retired from FAO in 1997 to join Imperial College, London as a Senior Research Fellow and later as a Senior Research Investigator. In the meantime I still maintain an active interest in river fisheries.

e-mail: r.welcomme@ifm.org.uk

Chris Randall – Membership Secretary

Having worked for the Environment Agency’s (and the National Rivers Authority) Fisheries team since I secured a position as a Fisheries Assistant back in 1990, I recently moved to a new post of Area Fisheries Technical Specialist in January this year.

Although my angling is now confined to the occasional holiday trips my passion for the natural environment and the outdoor life keeps me close to water. For the past eight years I have been an avid canoeist, travelling, with my wife Selena, across Europe and North America to paddle in unspoilt waters.

e-mail: membership@ifm.org.uk

Derek-John Gent – CPD Officer

After an Environmental science Masters at Southampton University I started gravel cleaning for the EA and was soon radio-tracking salmon on the River Test. In 2001 I left the EA and spent 5 weeks at sea with the British Antarctic Survey counting zooplankton. Soon back at the EA as a Fisheries Scientist I learned loads by also doing the Certificate and Diploma in Fisheries Management by the IFM. I now live on the Upper Avon with my partner who runs a sports bra company (Lessbounce.com) and my labrador Harry. I enjoy most active sports including diving and in any spare time I run a business selling my paintings (many of fish).

e-mail: cpd@ifm.org.uk

Editor FISH

Currently the IFM is appointing a new editor of FISH - please check back soon for details.

e-mail: fish@ifm.org.uk

– Careers Officer

Currently the IFM is appointing a new careers officer - please check back soon for details.

e-mail: careers@ifm.org.uk

–  Commercial/ Advertising

Currently the IFM is appointing a new Commercial/ Advertising officer - please check back soon for details.

John Gregory – Vice-President

My first permanent job in fisheries was in the Solomon Islands helping set up a tuna fishing industry for 2 years in the early 1970’s – how I wish that I had known then what I know now – it could have been so much more sustainable. I began working in freshwater fisheries as a fisheries scientist in Anglian Water Authority before moving to Wales to learn more about our game fisheries. Since then I’ve had a variety of jobs in fisheries and other fields and am now responsible, amongst other things, for the Environment Agency’s salmon rearing in Wales.
I’ve enjoyed working with colleagues in the Institute since working in Essex when we set up the East Anglian branch, and have remained very active since, doing a number of jobs and serving on Council and various committees. We had great support from the water authority in the early days and I’m pleased that it has continued into the Environment Agency with the same sort of approach to personal development.

I’m a big believer in CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and have worked to promote its use in the IFM and by employers. We’ve made huge progress over the last few years in getting a robust scheme in place and although it’s voluntary, a substantial number of members have signed up to it. The Institute still has a great future ahead of it and has a truly important role to play in ensuring that fisheries managers, scientists and technicians are equipped with the right skills to ensure truly sustainable fisheries.

e-mail: john.gregory@ifm.org.uk

Jason Watts – Press Officer

As long as I can remember I have had a love of the environment and particularly anywhere that’s wet, spending many a long hour poking about in local ditches and ponds to see what I could find. Fisheries was therefore a natural progression for me so off I set to Hull to obtain my Fisheries degree. On graduating I worked on Country Estates setting up and running a range of coarse and trout fisheries until I joined what was the National Rivers Authority in 1992 as a fisheries survey inspector. There I stayed going through various re-organisations and job titles until June this year, when I finally escaped to join East Riding of Yorkshire Council, a sort of going back to my roots.

My family takes up most of my spare time, though the kids are now at an age (10 and 6) that I can guide them into my way of thinking. In fact I have just returned from a holiday in France where both managed to catch their first ever fish (using a rod and line) in a stream behind the holiday cottage, so both are now “hooked”.

e-mail: press@ifm.org.uk or j.watts@ifm.org.uk

Valerie Holt – Executive Secretary/Treasurer

After leaving grammar school in 1958! I did various jobs in accounts, and a four year stint in Canada with a young baby, finally moving into the environmental field in 1972 with the Trent River Authority. On the formation of Severn Trent Water I moved into Water Recreation, with special emphasis on owned river fisheries, trout reservoirs and country parks. The job evolved through the years, and successive employers (NRA and EA) to a greater emphasis on conservation and biodiversity, although still looking after river and lake fisheries. I retired from EA in 2002.

I joined IFM in 1979 and became Membership Secretary in 1984 until 1998, then Treasurer from 1992 to present, and have filled all officer posts in Midlands Branch during the years.

I have had a lifelong passion for wildlife and the countryside and now enjoy these from my narrowboat, Bittern. As well as IFM work I am also a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Treasurer to Thorne and Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum.

e-mail: v.holt@ifm.org.uk

Andy Beal– Training Secretary

Andy is new to this post and some details will be posted here soon

e-mail: training@ifm.org.uk

Alex Coley – Website Editor

e-mail: website@ifm.org.uk

For branch contacts please see the Branch pages