Who we are

Director and Senior Researcher

BSc Hons (Portsmouth, England) PhD (Stirling, Scotland)

Kevin is the longest standing member and Director of the CRRU team. In addition to almost 15 years in the field of cetology, Kevin has an eclectic background in marine and fisheries science. He formerly taught at the University of Bangor as an honorary lecturer on the MSc Marine Mammal Science degree, but now dedicates all his time to the CRRU charity with projects in Scotland, Gibraltar and Thailand. In July 2005, Kevin received the ultimate accolade for his work with the CRRU, receiving a Royal approval from Princess Anne at an honorary maritime reception in Holyrood Palace.

Senior Researcher

BSc (Milan, Italy), MSc (Milan, Italy)

Boasting a broad and dynamic background in marine and freshwater biology, Marina has worked with museum collections, sea grass communities, coral reef health and conservation, marine protected areas, and for the last 8 years field studies with cetaceans in the Mediterranean and Red Seas and in Scotland. Marina is an experienced boat skipper, accomplished field cetologist and a very popular member of the CRRU team. She is also an advanced scuba diver and enjoys languages, politics and photography.

Senior Researcher

MSc (Bremen, Germany) MSc (Bangor, Wales)

Sonja (or Pine as she is more affectionately known) is a senior researcher with the CRRU team who has been involved with the charity since 2003 when she formerly completed her MSc in Marine Mammal Science under the supervision of Dr. Robinson. She currently works with the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society in Chippenham, but regularly assists with the volunteer teams during the summer months. Boasting an impressive publication record, Pine is also a keen sportswoman and an accomplished violinist.

Field Team Leader

VetMed (Perugia, Italy)

A valued member of the CRRU team, Alessandro is a qualified veterinarian who has been involved in a wide number of international  marine mammal projects since 1999. His main interests are the effects of anthropogenic pressures on the health of marine mammals and their ecosystems. In addition to the CRRU, Ale has also worked with Dr. Daniella Maldini with bottlenose dolphins and sea otters in Monterey Bay, California. He is also a passionate sailor and crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the Tall Ship Race in 2000.

Field Team Leader

BSc (Hawaii Pacific, USA) PhD (Carlton, Canada)

Andreas is an eco-physiologist who has been working on the diving physiology of marine mammals and birds throughout the world for the last 13 years. He joined the CRRU in 2008 to assist with diving studies of minke whales in the outer Moray Firth, and still remains actively involved with the charity to date.

Honorary Researcher & PhD Student

BSc Hons (Newcastle, England) MSc (Bangor, Wales) 

Mike first joined the CRRU in 2002 and eventually carried out his MSc thesis on the habitat preference of minke whales with the team in 2004. In 2006, he commenced a PhD study on his beloved minke whales jointly supervised by Drs Kevin Robinson and Gay Mitchelson-Jacob from the University of Wales, Bangor. Mike currently alternates his busy study schedule between Scotland, Iceland, Canada and Japan, and is still very much a key player in the CRRU research dynamic.

Research Assistant

Joining us in May 2010, Gena is the newest addition to the CRRU team. A dedicated conservationist, she has spent the last two years working with seals and otters in an aquarium in Australia. In her spare time she is as a wildlife presenter, educating children on how to protect and conserve Australian wildlife, which she has been doing for the past six years. She has also spent some time volunteering in Thailand at an animal rescue centre. A keen outdoors woman, Gena enjoys hiking, bush walking and scuba diving.

Research Assistant & Membership Secretary

Bev joined the CRRU in 2007 as a corporate volunteer from Reed Elsevier and a valued member of their Green Team infrastructure. Since then, she has provided administrative support to the charity, assisted with fund raising and promotion, and more recently was appointed as CRRU Membership Secretary. Bev also regularly joins the volunteer teams throughout the summer field season as a supporting staff member.

Research Assistant

Jamie joined the CRRU in 2009 and proved himself to be a great "spotter" and boat handler. He is popular with our summer volunteer teams, and whilst he has aspirations to join the airforce we'll be doing our very best to keep him here with us in the meantime.

Research Assistant

BSc (Portsmouth)

Gary is a very personable member of the research team who first joined the crew in 2006. He has worked on a number of cetacean projects on both the east and west coast of Scotland, in Monterey Bay, California and recently with the Sea Watch Foundation in Wales.

Marine Mammal Observer & Board of Trustees

In addition to his role as a trustee of the charity, Dave is an experienced Marine Mammal Observer having worked on seismic survey ships in the the UK, Norway, Brazil and Japan since 2001. In his spare time he is an accomplished musician, and in 1999 he produced a fund-raising CD for the CRRU entitled "Bottlenose Boogie" with his partner Barbi. Dave has been actively involved with the charity since 1998 and remains a great friend and enthusiast.

Treasurer & Board of Trustees

Barbi is a long-term contributing member and supporter of the CRRU and a great asset to the charity. She has worked out in the field and on-shore with the core team since 1998, and has been treasurer to the organisation since 2004. She recently helped to secure a number of estimable grants for the charity, and her dedication to the objects and ethos of the CRRU are second to none.

Secretary & Board of Trustees

Veronica has been involved with the charity since she first volunteered with adminstrative work in 1999. She has worked in the chartable sector for a large number of years, and lends this experience to her role as Trustee and Secretary to the organisation over the last 6 years.