Communications
+44 (0) 1865 318***
Jo-Anne Croft
Media and Communications Manager - Extn: 806 
Jo started at Earthwatch in July 2007 as PR and Communications Officer. She is currently managing the press office and works closely with Earthwatch's corporate partners, scientists and volunteers to communicate our good work. She is also responsible for global external communications and media relations for Earthwatch's ground-breaking Climate Change Partnership with HSBC.
Prior to this Jo worked in media and events for the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) for two years. She has also lived in New Zealand and France and worked as a face-to-face fundraiser for Greenpeace and as a teacher of English as a foreign language. She has a BSc in Zoology and MSc in Conservation both from UCL.
Jo loves travelling and exploring unchartered landscapes and likes to keep active in her spare time with an impressive array of interests including mountain biking, running, skiing and skydiving.
Crispin Zeeman
Marketing and Design Manager - Extn: 290
Crispin joined Earthwatch in July 2007 as the Publications Manager. He oversees all publications for Earthwatch Europe including the Expedition Guide, Annual Report, Earthwatcher Supporter Magazine and the African Fellowships newsletter. In addition, Crispin's role includes identifying print advertising opportunities, driving new advertising and design ideas, and working alongside others within the communications department towards the wider goals for Earthwatch's ongoing communications strategy.
Before joining Earthwatch, Crispin spent the last sixteen years working within the book trade, both in bookselling and publishing, in various roles including marketing. His interests lie within travel and photography, and he has recently developed his own travel photography website which features galleries of over 150 different images from 15 different destinations around the world. He hopes to expand his website within the next few months to include new themed galleries, such as environment, education and festivals.
Ian Allison
Digital Communications Manager - Extn: 803
In his role as Digital Communications Manager, Ian manages all digital media for Earthwatch internationally, including the charity's websites and social networking profiles. Having previously worked as a Specialist Consultant in the long-haul travel sector, Ian first came to Earthwatch as Expedition Recruitment Officer in June 2006, to oversee the fielding of European volunteers participating on Earthwatch projects worldwide.
Ian's passions are travel and food (not necessarily in that order!) although he is also a keen conservationist and has worked with a number of volunteer organisations across Europe, Australia and South East Asia. In 2007 he joined the Earthwatch research expedition Dolphins of Greece, identifying the many threats faced by vulnerable Bottlenose Dolphins in the Mediterranean and will this summer participate in Marine Turtle conservation efforts in Terengganu, Malaysia.
Chris Deeney
Digital Communications Officer - Extn: 838
Chris is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Earthwatch website, aiming to deliver accurate and engaging content. He also helps with the design and distribution of Earthwatch e-communications. After completing a degree in Applied Biology, Chris joined BTCV (formerly the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) to successfully market the delivery of a £6 million National Lottery project distributing funding for conservation projects. He has since managed websites for local community groups through to international companies - and is delighted to have returned to his conservation roots here at Earthwatch!
As a keen nature photographer, Chris has his own website of wildlife and travel photography. He has volunteered on a range of conservation projects and, as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, contributed to a marine survey programme that helped the Belize Barrier Reef to be declared a World Heritage Site.
Neil Parkes
Designer - Extn: 858
Neil Parkes started Earthwatch as Maternity cover for Catherine Charnock in 2009 and has never left. He has been responsible for the 2010 science and annual reports, numerous Earthwatchers and a whole host of other advertising, and has now been taken on to share the full time design role with Catherine.
Neil's background saw him gain a BA Hons in Graphic Design and qualifications in History of art and photography. His working life has seen him work in the education market for clients such as OUP and Harcourt education, running the design department for HMS as senior designer, a company that specialised in counter terrorism, and he runs his own design studio.
When not working Neil trains in Fujian white crane kung fu, and attempts not to fall off of his motorcycle at great velocity and spends time with his friends and fiancé Ellie.
Rob Stringer
Media and Communications Officer - Extn: 882
Rob Stringer started at Earthwatch in May 2009 as Writer and Editor. He works on varied marketing campaigns, and communicates the work of scientists in the field, and the volunteer expedition experience, to the public and press.
Prior to Earthwatch, he was Assistant Editor for two international business magazines, and has worked in educational publishing, a rural regeneration charity, lived in New Zealand, and volunteered at an HIV palliative care unit and orphanage in Thailand. Rob has a BA in Classical Civilisation and Ancient History, and an MA in Creative and Media Writing, both gained at Swansea University.
Outside of work, he writes - a play of his was produced at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and he has had fiction published. He also writes and performs his own music. Rob has spent a year backpacking alone around the world, and has hitchhiked from Swansea to Morocco for the charity Link Community Development. He enjoys cycling, kayaking, skiing, camping and all that outdoorsy stuff. In 2010 he joined the Earthwatch research expedition Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides.
Ian Oliver
Strategic Communications Manager – HSBC Programme - Extn: 820
Ian joined Earthwatch in November 2010 as Strategic Communications Manager for the HSBC programme. Ian leads communications globally for this programme, working with communications colleagues in the UK, US, India and China. Prior to joining Earthwatch, Ian’s career covered marketing and communications in both the public (local authorities, West Midlands Regional Assembly) and corporate (Lloyds Bank, Peugeot, Wolseley) sectors.
At construction materials distributor Wolseley, Ian led communications for the company’s Sustainable Building Center project, which showcases a wide range of more sustainable building, techniques, products and materials.
Away from work Ian’s interests include classic cars, cricket, running, cycling - he recently rode from Land’s End to John O’Groats – rambling and watching sport – especially the mighty ‘Brakes’ – Leamington FC.
Jenny Mitchell
Image Volunteer
Having worked in various roles within, Jenny decided to move back into the marketing team and help with the ever-expanding image library a few days a week.
Jenny took a BA (Hons) degree in Philosophy in 1968 and joined the NHS to work in administration and then in personnel, taking a professional personnel qualification in 1973. After working in a variety of personnel roles, including specialising in recruitment, industrial relations and employment law, in both the public and private sectors, Jenny took early retirement in 1997. She then joined Earthwatch as an office volunteer, before becoming its Membership Officer from 1998 until 2004, and Personnel and Facilities Manager until 2007.
She has visited Earthwatch's 'Lakes of the Rift Valley' project in Kenya, and projects studying elephants near Tsavo and Grevy's zebras at Lewa, also in Kenya. Jenny spends the rest of her time volunteering for Oxfam and travelling the world, particularly to East Africa.