About Us

Our History

SEWBReC began its establishment in 2003 and has been fully operational since summer 2005. Main Milestones in SEWBReC's Development.

Management and Funding

SEWBReC is run as a not-for-profit company (click on the link to download the Memorandum and Articles of Association (pdf)), made up of representatives of some of its key data suppliers and users. SEWBReC's funding partners.

Company Membership

Membership is open to anyone with whom a working relationship exists (e.g. an individual recorder who submits records, a member of a local recording group or a representative of a partner organisation that utilises SEWBReC services). If you require more information on SEWBReC membership, please contact us.

 

The SEWBReC Team

Adam Rowe (Manager)

AdamAdam has worked in Local Records Centres (LRCs) for nearly fifteen years. After starting his career at Somerset Environmental Records Centre, Adam spent five years working on the 'Hampshire Biological Record' before becoming Manager of Wales's first LRC, the Biodiversity Information Service for Powys and Brecon Beacons National Park, in 2000. Adam joined SEWBReC as its first Manager in Summer 2004. Within Wales Adam sits on the Wales Biodiversity Partnership Steering Group and the Wales Environmental Information Steering Group. He is a former Chairman of the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres, a former Trustee of the National Biodiversity Network Trust and is former Vice Chairman of the National Federation for Biological Recording.

Responsible for: All aspects of financial, business and personnel management. Key contact for current and potential service users. Wales-wide and UK liaison.

 

David Slade (Senior IT and Records Officer)

David is SEWBReC's longest serving staff member having occupied the post of SEWBReC DavidDevelopment Officer (responsible for producing the SEWBReC Development Plan) between late 2002 and spring 2004 when he became SEWBReC's IT and Records Officer. David joined SEWBReC from a post as Assistant Curator of Entomology at the National Museums and Galleries of Wales. In June 2007 David was promoted to his current role. David is a council member for National Federation for Biological Recording.

Responsible for: All IT and technological developments. Key contact for current and potential data suppliers. Stand in manager in absence of Centre Manager.

 

Rebecca Davies (Senior Data and Enquiries Officer)

RebeccaRebecca joined SEWBReC in early 2005. Having qualified with an MSc in Environmental Biology from Swansea University, Rebecca spent two years as Biodiversity Officer for Newport City Council before travelling in Central and South America for six months. In June 2007 Rebecca was promoted to her current role.

Responsible for: Leading the enquiries service, especially commercial and SLA enquiries. LBAP liaison. Undertaking and supervising data entry. Editor of Gwent-Glamorgan Recorder's Newsletter. Organising events, including Annual Recorders' Days, Training Days and Biodiversity Blitz Days.

 

Elaine Wright (Data and Enquiries Officer)

Elaine joined SEWBReC in October 2008. After completing a BSc in ElaineCountryside Management at Aberystwyth University in 2004, she went on to work for HSBC. Alongside this, Elaine volunteered at the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust one day a week, working with their planning and marketing departments. Elaine initially joined SEWBReC as Biodiversity Information Assistant (working on the CCW data computerisation project) and in May 2011 was promoted to Data and Enquiries Officer.

Responsible for: Leading on development control searches for local authorities and assisting with the commercial enquiries service. Undertaking and supervising data entry. Managing volunteers. Maintaining and updating the website. Organising events, including Annual Recorders' Days, Training Days and Biodiversity Blitz Days.

 

Libby Wilcox (Biodiversity Information Officer)

Libby WilcoxLibby joined us in January 2012. Libby first encountered LRC’s whilst completing her MSc in Environmental Consultancy at Newcastle University, where she volunteered for The EYE project in 2007. In May 2009 she was accepted on the Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC) training scheme as a survey and planning assistant. After volunteering with SERC for 8 months she worked for both Devon BRC and Worcestershire BRC as a data recording assistant, until December 2011.

Responsible for: Digitising CCW data. Digitising other large datasets, including historic Gwent Wildlife Trust data.

 

 

Further Information

Local Records Centres in Wales

Local Records Centres - the UK Perspective

Policies and Procedures