If you’ve ever wondered who keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes at Our Rivers, we’d like to introduce you to Marie Goodes, our Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the director.

With an impressive 37 years of experience, Marie brings a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to her role. Her career includes supporting major teams in Blue Chip companies (BP, Unilever, WH Smith). Highly efficient and motivated, Marie thrives on variety and enjoys taking on new challenges that allow her to continue developing her skill set.

A Day in the Life at Our Rivers

One of the things that Marie loves most about her role is that no two days are ever the same. Each morning often begins with making coffee or tea for the team, before the day really gets going. Marie loves our office Nespresso machine, especially.

From there, Marie’s role spans a wide range of responsibilities. She spends time speaking with newly registered clients for the Our Rivers free septic tank upgrade scheme, arranging site survey visits, providing general support, and ensuring office procedures and policies are kept up to date. Alongside this, she plays a pivotal role in supporting the directors and helping the wider team stay organised and focused.

Marie is a firm believer in the importance of picking up the phone and having a proper conversation. She loves talking with people and takes great pride in making everyone feel welcomed, listened to, and valued. This attitude perfectly reflects the ethos of Our Rivers.

Marie enjoys working in a pet-friendly office. Her lunchtimes are usually spent walking office dogs Clare and Ricco through the nearby fields, making the most of the fresh air and rural surroundings. It’s a welcome change from the high-rise buildings of her earlier career in London!

Life Outside the Office

Outside of work, Marie keeps herself busy with a variety of interests. Having recently moved to Shropshire, she’s thrown herself into DIY projects around the house. She enjoys relaxing with a good book (James Patterson and Sophie Kinsella are firm favourites) and loves going on walks with her husband (ideally with a good pub along the way!).

Fun Facts about Marie

Marie is more than just incredibly organised, she’s also full of surprises

• She completed the London Marathon in 2011.

• She has scuba dived in Cyprus.

• Her takeaway of choice is Chinese, with sweet and sour or lemon chicken and crispy duck at the top of the list.

• If she could have any superpower, it would be communicating with animals.

• On a desert island, she’d take a pillow, plenty of deodorant, and large marshmallows for the campfire.

Why Marie Loves Our Rivers

When asked to describe Our Rivers in just three words, Marie chose Caring, Nurturing, and Rewarding. These are also values that she embodies every day through her work and the way she supports everyone around her.

We’re incredibly lucky to have Marie as part of Our Rivers. Her experience, warmth, and positivity make a huge difference, and she is a real asset to the team.