OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

in staff Caroline Downey Executive Director Caroline is the Executive Director and she leads and supports the MERCi team. She has worked as a manager, designer, magazine editor, researcher, policy maker and environmentalist, in various fields such as recycling, community development, agricultural extension, environmental education and sustainable development - both here in the UK and abroad.	in staff David Wilson - Finance Officer I have been in the accountancy profession since 1968 and has gained experience ranging from dealing with major companies to small scale traders. I have recently held positions of financial controller and company accountant and have an ongoing portfolio of clients, some of which have been with me for 20 years.
in staff Corrina Low: Development Worker - Herbie As project worker Corrina's role is to work with the Development Worker, local health workers and volunteers to promote healthy eating and run cookery and tasting sessions in the local community.	in staff Ian Green: Merci IT and website developer Ian Green has been teaching Information Technology (IT) in the community for several years; he was trained in many popular software packages and network administration whilst working for London Underground in the 90’s. He then left the world of paid employment and used his IT skills to run computer centres in various environmental, social and community projects in London on a voluntary basis.
in staff Katie Brandon: Neighbourhood Eco-Hub Learning Facilitator Katie came to MERCi as a volunteer two years ago and ended up staying! She currently coordinates MERCi's Neighbourhood Eco Hub which involves programming workshops, community events and Manchester's annual festival of sustainability, futureMANCHESTER. katieb[at]merci.org.uk	in staff Claire Morris: Coordinator - Sustaining Change After completing a degree in Sociology and Politics Claire worked as an adviser at Hope Hospital Citizens Advice Bureau and then as a youth worker and deputy manager for a supported housing project for socially excluded young people.
in staff Finn Jensen: Development Worker - Sustaining Change As part of the Sustaining Change team one of Finn's main tasks is to develop the Sustaining Change Network – catching ideas and share them among the network. He has previously worked as a teacher, journalist and factory worker in Denmark, as an immigration and asylum caseworker, coordinator of a law centre and a manager of a Council for Voluntary Service (CVS).	in staff Sophia Perkins: Development Worker – Sustaining Change and Sow Sew Sophia completed a history degree, focusing on social change in the twentieth century, at Leeds University. She then went south and worked at the Tate art gallery doing marketing and then worked at a private art gallery in central London.
in staff Leonie Nimmo - Administrator Leonie joined MERCi in November 2011. She is a familiar face on the Manchester Social Enterprise scene and is currently also a writer and research manager at Ethical Consumer magazine, a Director of Olive Co-operative and a Project Worker at TogetherWorks, the social enterprise network for Greater Manchester. Leonie's academic background