Meet the team
Management Team
Jackie Palmer
CEO
Jackie joined Secret World in 2022 as Head of Operations, overseeing the day to day running of the site. She has since been promoted to CEO where she is looking forward to building the charity over the coming years and allowing it to fulfil its charitable aims.
Jackie has worked for charitable organisations most of her life including being General Manager at a British Legion Break Centre for seven years, she brings with her a wealth of experience in managing people and furthering organisations.
“Secret World is at the beginning of an exciting journey and I look forward to working with the team and advancing the charity to the next level.”
Email: CEO@secretworld.org
Ali Sawer
Administration Manager
After volunteering on Reception and Wildlife Care, Ali was employed by Secret World in 2022 as a Receptionist and Administrator before joining the Senior Team in her current role. She can still be found volunteering for the charity, whether it’s behind the bar at functions in the Bluebell Barn, helping out on the pizza stall at outside events or weaving the willow arch in her lunch break!
George Bethell
Head of Education and Public Relations
George joined Secret World in 2021 as Learning and Engagement Officer, immediately setting to work in getting Secret World’s Education programme up and running post-covid. George has since been promoted to his current role where he manages a small team that focus on education, social media, fundraising and public relations.
George has a background in outdoor education and public engagement, having worked for several charitable organisations including Bristol Zoological Society and We the Curious.
“Education is at the heart of everything we do here at Secret World, by engaging people of all ages with wildlife we can reduce suffering and spread a greater understanding of the beautiful flora and fauna this country has to offer.”
Lauren Valentine
Wildlife Care and Veterinary Services Manager
Lauren joined Secret World in April 2025 as Wildlife Care and Veterinary Services Manager. Lauren is a registered veterinary nurse, and she brings with her a wealth of knowledge of wildlife, having worked with wild and captive wildlife around the world.
Lauren recently completed a degree in wildlife biology, having a strong interest in not just veterinary care of wildlife but also their biology and ecology.
Lauren manages our wildlife and veterinary teams, helping them to deliver the very best standard of welfare for our rehabilitation patients.
Daniel Harding
Finance Manager
Daniel started working at Secret World at the beginning of 2017 as the Charity’s Finance Officer. He has since moved on to dealing with all of the financial aspects of the charity; working closely with the Board of Trustees and the Secret World team to ensure that the charity remains financially secure and is able to meet its future needs.
Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor
Pauline founded Secret World Wildlife Rescue after diversifying the family farm into a visitor experience. Pauline has thirty plus years’ experience working with wildlife and is widely recognised for her skills in hand rearing newborn animals.
Well known for her love of badgers, Pauline has become synonymous with wildlife rescue and continues to work for the charity, supporting the wildlife and public relations functions.
Trustees
Richard Hockey
Chair of Trustees
Richard is the Chair of the Charity’s Board of Trustees. He is a Lawyer who spent the majority of his career in Local Government where, before deciding to take a very early retirement, he was Principal Lawyer/ Strategic Manager at Somerset County Council. He was also CEO of a health charity for 4 years.
He is Somerset born and bred and has volunteered in the past for various animal charities. He is also involved in theatre as an actor, director and producer.
Email: trustees@secretworld.org
Dominic Phillips
Trustee
Dominic is a veterinary surgeon with 20 years of experience in British wildlife veterinary treatment and rehabilitation. After training as a Zoologist at the University of Bristol, he completed an MBA in London and worked in international business and consultancy before re-training as a vet at the University of Edinburgh. Dominic’s veterinary career has covered farm animal, companion animal and wildlife clinical practice.
Having been a partner and director of a veterinary hospital and practice in Somerset for 15 years, Dominic is now combining his work in British wildlife with a post-graduate Master’s degree programme in Conservation Medicine at his old vet school in Edinburgh.
Email: trustees@secretworld.org
Wendy Goodwin
Vice Chair
Born and brought up in Somerset, Wendy has a good knowledge of the local community and native wildlife and has been aware of the work of Secret World Wildlife Rescue (SWWR) for many years. Since 2003 when Wendy and her husband moved to the Somerset Levels, they have been involved with SWWR, calling upon the charity to rescue, treat and release injured and distressed wildlife (mainly swans) around their home.
Wendy is an experienced Social Worker specialising in safeguarding, and currently works in mental health services. Wendy has joined the Board of Trustees, having recently come to the end of her nine-year term serving as a Trustee with another local Charity. Wendy can provide Secret World Wildlife Rescue with professional safeguarding advice, as well as oversee, monitor and evaluate safeguarding adherence in line with local guidelines and national legislation including safe recruitment practices and developing internal Safeguarding Policy and Procedure.
Email: trustees@secretworld.org
Gail Burfitt
Trustee
Gail joined Secret World as a Trustee over 2 years ago. Her previous careers included Royal Airforce, Prison Service, Hampshire Fire Service and Education.
She is a Chartered Health & Safety professional and specialises in Health & Safety & Well-being. Gail is passionate about all animals and really enjoys supporting Secret World and the rescue and rehabilitation of animals.
” My other passion is to ensure that everyone is kept safe and healthy within their work environments but also helping to look after each other and keep each other safe”.
Email: trustees@secretworld.org