Roger Higman Director
Roger joined the Network of Wellbeing team in late 2014 to take on a leading role in developing our strategy. Roger has over 25 years’ experience of campaigning mainly at Friends of the Earth, including locally, nationally and internationally on issues as diverse as climate change, biodiversity, resource use and economics. Roger is also a Director of the Flameworks Creative Arts Facility in Plymouth, where he lives with his partner, Karen and her three daughters. He is at his happiest exploring the countryside with Karen or working his allotment with his brother, Joe.
Mirella Ferraz Project Manager
Mirella coordinates the Network of Wellbeing’s Share Shed – Library of Things. Before joining the NOW team, Mirella studied Forestry Engineering in Brazil, her home country, and worked on various projects relating to environmental education, waste reduction and sustainable management of tropical forests. Mirella also did her MSc in Holistic Science at Schumacher College in Devon, which allowed her to go deeper into the relationship between music and social transformation. Mirella is happiest when spending time with her lovely young son, Oli.
Mark Jefferys Share Shed Manager
Mark Jefferys manages the Share Shed, a Library of Things in Devon. He’s also one of only three accredited Earth Education trainers in the UK,
He has over 30 years experience in environmental and earth education, teaching adults and children of all ages in the UK, Finland, Australia and America. He is passionate about bringing the natural world to life and reconnecting people with nature in creative ways. A keen songwriter and guitarist, Mark often uses his music in environmental programmes, and is happiest when singing in the woods around a campfire!
Sylvie Mohabir Eden Rise Manager
Sylvie manages NOW’s retreat venue
Eden Rise, located on the outskirts of Totnes. She also works in various local community organisations relating to the environment, nature connection, health and wellbeing. She has vast amounts of experience in project and events management, and loves to be in the heart of organising just about anything.
Sylvie is a free-spirited being, embraces life and new experiences, becomes amazed by something each day, and loves to laugh. She’s in her utmost element when spreading her wings in wild nature, hiking up the highest of mountains, and diving to the depths of the ocean.
Annabel Eden Rise Bookings Administrator
Annabel coordinates retreat bookings, and started working at Eden Rise when it first began! She’s on the end of the email or phone to deal with all the bookings for Eden Rise and answer people’s questions about the venue, as well as managing invoicing and coordinating with caretakers (Hayley and Milton) on any questions on the venue.
Inner enquiry and meditation are central to Annabel’s life. She enjoys walking in nature with her little dog, pottering and lounging in the garden on sunny days and felt making. She also loves bodyboarding when she can and reading and relaxing in front of a Netflix or BBC drama after a long day. And last but not least, spending time with dear friends.
Karen Eden Rise Bookkeeper
Karen started working for Eden Rise in 2014 taking on the bookkeeping and some admin. While having done bookkeeping much of her working life, Karen has also long had a strong spiritual and environmental interest. Undertaking an environmental degree as a mature student, her university placement year brought Karen down to Devon’s Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre where she set up the community composting scheme in the village, and fell in love with Devon. Spiritual interests were later indulged by training in Creative Kinesiology which Karen loves to work with, either as personal support or giving balances to others. Walking in nature and spending time with friends is how Karen loves to spend free time.
Benjamin Eden Rise Caretaker
Benjamin is one of our recruits at Eden Rise who joined in March 2024. He is an enthusiastic gardener, tending to the plants and green spaces surrounding the retreat venue, as well as his own flourishing vegetable patch. He helps maintain the operations of the building between stays and is on-site to assist practitioners and their guests. Benjamin is passionate about living close to nature, biodiversity, and the ecology of off-grid living. In his spare time, he enjoys walking, foraging, creating music, writing poetry, and cooking.
Amy Eden Rise Caretaker
Amy and her rescued dog Lola joined the team at Eden Rise in early 2024. On behalf of Amy, Lola keenly provides their introduction.
A long time ago now, I was adopted. Since then I have been living my absolute best life with my human, who can be seen here encroaching on my photoshoot. How very rude, I am sure you will agree.
Apparently, she is a Caretaker here at Eden Rise, so she tells me. When she isn’t pandering to my every need, she’ll be preparing the venue for guests and making sure that they have everything they require ahead of their retreat to ensure a truly ‘zen-sational’ time!
Regardless of obtaining a vast amount of experience, spanning 20 years, within the sectors of event management, hospitality, charitable fundraising and marketing, she is yet to match my level of charm when it comes to human interaction. She does her absolute best!
In her spare time she loves to help animals and volunteers for animal rescue charities. They all really do seem to like her company, much to my annoyance.
If you see me out and about on my daily security rounds, a duty I take very seriously, please feel free to say hello, I will be sure to give you lots of licks.
We love it here. It is so peaceful and immersive with nature. If you haven’t visited us yet, make sure you do, or you’ll be missing out!
