The ESRA Secretariat
Richard Lilley
Chair
Dr. Richard Lilley is better known to the seagrass community as ‘RJ’. A cofounder and previous CEO of Project Seagrass, RJ joined The Govers Lab at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in January 2024 where he currently helps to facilitate the work of The Seagrass Consortium, a consortia he co-founded in November 2022. RJ believes the most direct path to real change is through building community momentum, and direct-action agendas which have a commitment to long-term change. RJ has been closely involved with the Coastal Communities Network, Scotland for many years. These experiences, combined with observing the success of the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance inspired him to cofound the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance with his wife Sarah Lilley in August 2024.
Sarah Lilley
Treasurer & Secretary
Sarah ‘SJ’ Lilley has over 10 years of experience working in partnerships, fundraising, and community engagement. SJ began her career with Clink Clink, an event production agency in Bristol, England before moving into the third sector as an Area Marketing Manager for Cancer Research UK in 2014. SJ remained in the third sector, but shifted her focus into the international development space. Working first for Mercy Corps before joining Save The Children UK in 2018. In August 2024 SJ cofounded the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance with her husband Richard Lilley in August 2024.