Our Team
Members of the Dose of Nature community all share a belief in the charity's mission to promote the mental health benefits of engaging with the natural world. They bring with them a wealth of experience, diverse skills and attributes, and endless energy and enthusiasm. If you would like to find out more about joining our dynamic team, either as a team member or a volunteer, please email: info@doseofnature.org.uk.
Our Dose of Nature Team in Kew
Dr Emma Fredman
Shaun Whatling
Tom Krumins
Zehra Ispahani
Lindsey Miller
Our Dose of Nature Team in Guildford
Dr Cat Huckle
Melissa Chakanetsa
Michelle Staples
Dr Emily Sharp
Lisa Swinney
Sophie Smith
Dr Alison Greenwood
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Alison is a Counselling Psychologist, registered with both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). She has worked with diverse clinical groups across a wide variety of therapeutic settings: in charities, in schools, and within the NHS, in both primary and secondary care. Alison’s doctoral research focused on the mental health benefits of engagement with natural environments, and she has been incorporating ecotherapy practices in her work with clients for many years. Her broad experience, working with young people and vulnerable groups such as the homeless, older adults and victims of trauma, has led her to the firm conviction that a greater connection to nature can improve the mental wellbeing of us all. Alison gets her own weekly ‘dose of nature’, sitting in her garden, walking in Richmond Park, and running along the banks of the River Thames.
Dr Georgina Gould
Clinical Lead
Georgina is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with extensive and varied experience within NHS and private sector settings, providing care both in the community and within in-patient settings. She has seven years’ experience of working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) where she has supported children and teenagers with complex mental health difficulties including trauma, depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD and Autism, as well as their parents, carers and families. Having worked with complex, deep-rooted and sometimes ‘stuck’ struggles, Georgina firmly believes in the power of connecting to nature in improving emotional wellbeing and mental health and bringing about long-term, positive lifestyle changes. She gets her own ‘dose of nature’ in her garden, walking in large, open spaces and escaping to be near to the sea whenever she can.
Katie Fernie
Operations Manager
Katie joined Dose of Nature as a volunteer in the summer of 2019 and as Operations Manager two years later. Katie has a strong background in client relations having worked in a client advisory role for 10 years, as an Education Consultant. She has worked within the education field since graduating in 2005 and is excited to be bringing her skills to this wonderful charity. Growing up near the coast, Katie used to get her dose of nature by walking on the beach and cycling through the dunes and only discovered the delights of urban nature in her twenties. Katie now gets her dose of Nature playing outside with her young son, taking long walks in Bushy Park and pottering in her allotment. Katie continues to be fascinated by the ‘hidden gems’ of urban nature to be discovered all around the borough of Richmond and enjoys savouring the beauty of local common spaces - a recent favourite being a rejuvenated shared garden her neighbours transformed during Lockdown.
Dr Emma Fredman
Counselling Psychologist, Kew
Emma is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist registered with both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). Emma has experience working across NHS and local authority settings, in addition to the private sector. Since completing her doctoral training, she has worked in setting up school based mental health support teams and over the last 3 years has been working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) where she has supported children and teenagers with complex mental health difficulties. Emma feels passionately about the importance of early intervention and using nature to foster ongoing emotional well-being. She gets her own ‘dose of nature’ through spending time at her allotment and walks with her friends and family.
Shaun Whatling
Development
Director
Shaun joined Dose of Nature as Development Director in August 2024. Shaun has an extensive background in development, in both NGO and commercial capacities – in a wide variety of revenue generating roles, with a focus on strategic partnership. He’s delighted to return to his NGO roots, and especially to join Dose of Nature. Shaun became conscious of his own need for natural grounding from the first time he moved to London and contact with nature became a conscious choice. Living in Haslemere, he feels incredibly fortunate to have easy access to so many lush woods and what he considers his Surrey rainforest. With three years’ psychotherapy training in his past, an active walker, camper and cyclist, Shaun is excited to offer himself to the mission of Dose of Nature and play a part in bringing more nature into people’s lives.
Zehra Ispahani
Senior Administrative Assistant
Zehra has a background in education, having spent 10 years working with children with learning difficulties in Bangladesh. After returning to the UK, she took time out to homeschool her eldest son, now 17, while continuing to support her younger son, aged 14. She has been involved in a range of volunteer roles over the years and has a deep appreciation for the power of nature to support mental well-being. Zehra gets her own ‘dose of nature’ by sitting with a book (at times unopened) at a café, overlooking the Thames, surrounded by trees and the peaceful rhythm of the river.
Tom Krumins
Operations Assistant, Kew
Tom is a true advocate of the Dose of Nature programme having started his journey with us as a client. It was here where he rediscovered his confidence and found purpose in becoming one of our volunteer guides. Continuing his development with Dose of Nature he leapt at the opportunity to join the team in 2025. Tom provides daily support to the team with its pioneering programme and intends to develop his career in mental health support through nature. Tom is always seeking his next ‘Dose of Nature’; he longs for the sound of the sea but finds solace in the susurrations of the trees.
Lindsey Miller
Counselling Psychologist in Training, Kew
Lindsey joined Dose of Nature as a volunteer in the spring of 2021, she has since worked in both the operations and psychology teams, and is now delighted to be back as a Trainee Counselling Pscyhologist, studying at City St Gorge's, University of London. Lindsey has background in programme management, having worked in safety management within the energy industry for over 15 years. Having grown up in rural Aberdeenshire, Lindsey has always felt a strong connection to nature, but it wasn’t until moving to London in her thirties that she recognised the importance of nature to her own mental health and wellbeing. She is now thrilled to be sharing the benefits of connecting with nature with others. Lindsey gets her dose of nature by exploring local parks and gardens, by taking regular walks along the riverside, and by travelling to explore coastal and mountain landscapes as often as she can.
Dr Cat Huckle
Lead Psychologist, Guildford
Cat is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, registered with both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). Cat has worked in a diverse range of therapeutic settings, including within the NHS in both primary and secondary care services, in the private sector, and in charities. She has previously served as the Joint Programme Director for the University of Surrey Clinical Psychology training programme. Cat is committed to creative, evidence-based approaches to relieving psychological distress and building resilience, and has been delighted to be able to translate her own love of being in green spaces to this work. Cat gets her own ‘dose of nature’ through gardening with her children and daily walks in her favourite local places, like Headley Heath, Epsom Common and RHS Wisley. She also loves to explore different landscapes further afield whenever she can.
Melissa Chakanetsa
Operations Manager, Guildford
With a background ranging from finance, client relations, education and mental health care, Melissa brings a plethora of diverse knowledge to her role as Operations Manager. She holds a BSc in Business Management and Finance and an MSc in Psychology. She has long since been an advocate for the benefits of nature, with her masters dissertation focused on the integration of green prescriptions in the UK national health service. She also holds an Advanced Yoga Teacher qualification and practices meditation and mindfulness daily. She enjoys all natural landscapes with her favourite nature escapes being vast woodlands such as the New Forest and mountain ranges such as Snowden in Wales. Melissa strongly values the benefits she experiences from her daily encounters with nature and is committed to sharing and communicating these benefits in an accessible way to facilitate positive lifestyle changes for greater mental and physical wellbeing.
Dr Emily Sharp
Counselling Psychologist, Guildford
Emily is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, registered with both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). She brings experience from a variety of NHS settings, including supporting people within in-patient services and older adult community mental health, as well as work in the private sector. Before retraining as a psychologist, Emily worked extensively in London creative industries as a post-pr oduction producer valuing the enriching process of creative collaboration. This continues to shape her therapeutic approach working alongside people with compassion and respect for their unique experiences to support meaningful change. Having spent time in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, Emily has long recognised the restorative power of nature for mental health wellbeing. A love for the outdoors began in childhood, playing in the woods and building dens, and this continues with her own ‘dose of nature’ now through walks with family, friends, and her Labrador, Stan, as well as gardening and bodyboarding.
Michelle Staples
Operations Assistant Guildford
When Michelle first encountered a Dose of Nature group during a walk at Dapdune Wharf, she knew she’d found her tribe. Exploring the scientific research behind the charity’s mission affirmed her lifelong belief in the healing power of nature. Inspired by this alignment, she began volunteering, most notably leading monthly art workshops that blend creativity with the restorative benefits of the natural world. Michelle brings a wealth of professional experience from her career as an art editor with a renowned global non-fiction publisher, where she honed her skills in operations, project management, and team leadership. Now, as an Operations Assistant at Dose of Nature, Michelle combines these with her passion for nature-based wellbeing. Her ability to plan strategically, manage resources efficiently, and foster collaboration, along with her dedication to the charity’s mission makes her an integral part of the team, helping to deliver meaningful impact within the community.
Lisa Swinney
Trainee Counselling Psychologist, Guildford
Lisa is a Trainee Counselling Psychologist, studying at the University of Roehampton. She's a qualified lawyer with a background in corporate fundraising and workplace mental health. Spending many hours of her childhood on Wimbledon Common, natural spaces have always felt like a source of restoration and inspiration. She feels happier being outside under the sky than inside under a ceiling. Lisa has been involved with Dose of Nature since joining as a volunteer guide in 2023 and finds it a privilege to be able to share her enthusiasm for the natural world within an evidence-based programme. A current favourite dose of nature of hers is walking along the Basingstoke Canal.
Sophie Smith
Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Guildford
Sophie is a third-year Trainee Clinical Psychologist at the University of Surrey, currently completing a specialist placement with Dose of Nature. She has previously worked across a range of clinical settings, including adul t and older adult community mental health services, as well as a child and adolescent service. In this most recent role, she had the opportunity to take part in and evaluate the be nefits of open water swimming for mental health. Having grown up close to the New Forest, nature has always been a source of comfort for Sophie and has played an important role in supporting her own wellbeing. She continues to weave nature into her life, volunteering in conservation work on Pewley Down in Guildford and developing a growing interest in British birds. Sophie is excited to be joining the Dose of Nature team over the next six months and looks forward to bringing her passion for the outdoors into her clinical practice.