With arid lands, rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef within roughly 1000 kilometres, plus a worldwide reputation for cutting-edge research in environment and ecology, the University of Queensland is an exciting place to train future conservationists. In 2013, the Australian university launched a one-year Master of Conservation Biology and an 18-month Master of Conservation
Dr. Marcus Barber spent a year living in a tent, tore his knee in a footy match, chopped up a pelican for dinner and directed an impromptu documentary, all in support of Indigenous water rights. Here the environmental anthropologist with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, shares the challenges, lessons and life-changing experiences of more than
The journey to a career in conservation is rarely straightforward – more like a winding trail with unexpected turns and exciting detours. Mark Cox’s path is no exception. After landing his dream job at WWF straight out of college, he ventured into the corporate world, only to rediscover his passion for conservation later on in
Josh Dykgraaf is a visionary artist renowned for his breathtaking creations, where he masterfully layers and manipulates images in Photoshop to reveal the beauty and fragility of the natural world. His incredible artwork in his collection “Terraform” highlights species who need our help. For those passionate about art and conservation, this interview offers a window
Kelsey Prediger is a passionate wildlife biologist who works in Namibia to conserve Pangolins. Originally from Michigan, USA, Kelsey followed her passion to make a meaningful impact for wildlife conservation with an unexpected career pathway shifting from veterinary medicine to wildlife management. She moved halfway around the world and her adventures led her to jump
As a fundraiser I could feel my impact. If you want to have an impact as a conservationist, you need fundraising skills in order to turn your ideas into reality. With 88% of professional conservationists reliant on donor funding for their work, the more fundraising skills you have, the more wildlife you’ll help to save.
What can Coca-Cola teach us about how to better save wildlife, in Australia and beyond? And why should more governments set up charitable foundations to protect their national parks and threatened wildlife? We discuss these and many other issues with today’s inspiring guest – David Goldman. David is the Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at
Kayla Zoon is a wildlife biologist, conservation storyteller and career coach, based in South Africa. Initially as a conservation biologist, Kayla worked across several remote research stations, monitoring wildlife and educating students on how to get involved in wildlife conservation. Throughout her fieldwork, Kayla observed a disconnect between what conservation looked like on the ground
Brittany Sawrey-Coulson is a conservationist and mental health therapist in a private practice in Arizona, USA. During her first career she was immersed in her passion for wildlife ecology and zookeeping, before she recognised her passion for… people! Brittany now spends her professional life sitting one-on-one with people working through trauma and life transition –
Lauren Pharr is an avian ecologist, science communicator, PhD candidate and passionate advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion in the wildlife conservation and research space. In the world of conservation, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and representative field. Lauren, a passionate advocate for DEI, co-founded Field Inclusive,
Are you feeling lost in a sea of opportunities or grappling with self-doubt as a conservationist? You’re not alone. In the world of conservation, there’s often a glamorized portrayal of the work, with images of breathtaking landscapes and exotic wildlife dominating the narrative. But often behind the scenes, the reality can be very different –
Within conservation there is a growing realisation that we need to do much more to share our messages and encourage more support and action. As a result, conservation employers are rapidly looking for people with communications skills. They want staff who can plan communications activities, write effectively, get press and media attention, engage audiences on
As a career switcher, I have a very personal understanding of the misconceptions that surround working in the conservation sector, especially when it comes to ‘breaking into conservation’. I can relate to that feeling of despair brought on by the natural assumption that the only way in is to go via the costly and time-consuming
An island Nature Reserve where environmental conservation and industrial resource extraction go hand-in-hand? This may be hard to imagine but such a place does exist, and this is where Adam McVeigh calls home for two weeks, every month. As a Senior Environmental Scientist for Stantec consultancy in Australia, Adam works on a particularly unique island,
In the realm of nature conservation, few individuals possess the dedication and passion exhibited by Maggie Muurmans, a lecturer that teaches on the Master of Conservation Biology at the University of Queensland, Australia. Aside from teaching and pursuing a PhD in community engagement, Maggie is also the co-founder of the NGO Ocean Connect based on
I first met Dung Nguyen Van, Free the Bears Vietnam Programme Manager, in Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam) in 2017. He was very much a man on a mission as the brand-new bear sanctuary was due to open that July, and his pride for what they had achieved was unmistakable. What I didn’t realise was
Katie Propp is an ecologist and wildlife educator, currently working as the Conservation Education Director at Penguins International. With 18 years of experience in the field of wildlife conservation, Katie shares her tips and tricks in delivering effective science communication, as well as her advice for landing your very own dream job with wildlife. Katie’s
Daniela Ventura is a Caribbean wildlife biologist and bird bander based in Havana, Cuba. Fascinated by nature from a young age, Daniela started studying biology at the University of Havana as soon as she finished high school. She continues to work there since her graduation as both a biology lecturer and bird research scientist. Daniela
Originally from the UK, Kate Sheridan is a conservation biologist and scuba diver, living and working in the Maldives for a coral restoration and research project, Reefscapers. Although everyday life looks like a tropical dream – marine conservation set in island paradise – we discuss some of the hardships of creating a long-term career in
Flavia Tirelli is a Brazilian research scientist and conservationist focused on mammalian carnivores especially small wildcats. After completing her Masters at Federal University of Rio Grande o Sul (UFRGS) and her PhD at the private university (PUCRS) in Brazil, Flavia continues to follow her passion by monitoring wildcats and addressing issues of human-wildlife conflict that
Surita Volland is a bushbaby enthusiast and, on top of her regular job at Johannesburg airport, the founder of Save the Fourways Bushbabies. This small-scale NPO in Johannesburg, South Africa, is working to save the Fourways land corridor from commercial development – a corridor that the bushbabies have made their home. Read on to hear
“If you take care of the little things, the big things take care of themselves” – Renford Reese For many, it’s hard to imagine the intricate inner workings of agricultural ecosystems, especially in a place like Australia. With diversity across temperate and tropical environments, we tend to take the contribution of floral resources and their
Like many conservationists, we spend most time focused on supporting people and the planet, and we rarely take time to celebrate our successes along the way. That’s why we’re dedicating this post to celebrating success stories from 2022! We are incredibly proud of what we as a team, our partners and our community have achieved.
Karla Pound, 34 years old, is a zookeeper and an expedition leader with an incredible story to tell. Currently with Coral Expeditions, Karla works on large tour boats, taking guests on expeditions through some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the world. Having just finished guiding the Kimberley season in remote north-western Australia,
Jordan is an ecologist, conservation activist, science communicator, and project coordinator for COPROT, Communidad Protectora de Tortugas de Osa, a community-based turtle conservation program on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. Jordan is also the founder of One Planet Conservation Awareness, an online platform supporting conservation organisations with raising awareness and funds for their projects
Do YOU have BIG plans for pursuing or growing your conservation career? But are YOU faced with a BIG barrier…money? At Conservation Careers we’re on a mission to help conservationists achieve career success, and create a world where wildlife thrives. We believe all conservationists should be able to pursue training, gain experience, conduct meaningful research
Much like her favourite plant Grevillea mucronulata, Laurel Fowler would not consider herself particularly special or popular. Yet, just as the striking flowers are camouflaged amongst the foliage, the self-confessed plant nerd is a hidden gem within the bush regeneration industry, and an inspiration to many. Laurel studied Environmental Science at the University of Newcastle,
Emily Cunningham is a key figure in the field of UK marine conservation and works tirelessly as an advocate for healthier oceans. Her vision is for local politicians to recognise the key role they can play in the fight for ocean recovery, and for local communities to feel empowered to protect our seas. In this
Would you like to get noticed by potential employers, make new connections and grow your professional conservation network? LinkedIn is a great place to network professionally, but it can seem mysterious at the start! Find out how to get linked IN! Join Conservation Careers’ Head of Community, Dr Fernando Mateos-González, for a free webinar to learn how to use LinkedIN
“I don’t do pilates, I don’t do nails, I don’t do coffee with friends. All I do is my conservation group and my conservation work”. Despite studying a Bachelor of Science (Applied Sciences) and working as a physiotherapist specialising in paediatrics for many years, Lisa Harrold never lost sight of her true passion for conservation.
