Meet the team
Management Team
Jackie Palmer
Executive Director
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 Executive Director 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.”
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.
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.
Elizabeth Mullineaux
Scientific Advisor
Liz is one of only a few veterinary specialists in wildlife medicine, with 25 years’ practical experience, and helps train and advise our animal care staff.
Liz worked for Quantock Veterinary Hospital for 17 years as Secret World Wildlife Rescue’s main clinical vet. In 2012 she took on the role of Scientific Adviser to Secret World Wildlife Rescue. She is responsible for animal care and veterinary policy, helps run courses and liaises with other professional organisations.
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
Chris Stenlake
Treasurer
Chris is the charity’s Treasurer. He is retired as a Chartered Financial Planner and lives in Exmouth, Devon. Chris is married to Sue and has three adult children and four grandchildren; the family home is also shared with a one-eyed rescue ginger cat called Chivers. He is interested in walking, reading, railways (both model and heritage steam) and investments. Chris is also the Treasurer of a Business Networking Group in his local area.
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
Trustee
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
Chris Pawson
Trustee
Dr Chris Pawson is a psychologist and academic with expertise in child psychology, human-wildlife interaction, and conservation education. In the last 15 years Chris has worked for H.M Home Office, and in several universities where he conducts research and teaches psychology and non-human animal behaviour. Chris is passionate about the protection and preservation of wildlife. As a current member of the committee for the Lundy Field Society he is currently involved in a range of conservation education projects, and initiatives exploring human-wildlife interaction. Most recently his expertise in the field of gull behaviour and human-wildlife interaction has been deployed in schools outreach, and work with several local government councils. Chris tries to get to Lundy island and out on his paddleboard as often as possible.
Email: trustees@secretworld.org