Barbara Arizaga is the Director of Communications for the Galápagos Conservancy, an organization based out of the beautiful town of Puerto Ayora in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. The Galápagos Conservancy is committed to protecting one of the world’s most unique island chains and the animals that inhabit them, such as the critically endangered Pink Land
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
The beautiful British Virgin Islands (BVI) are a chain of more than fifty volcanic islands between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The country is home to a huge variety of rare plant and wildlife species. Nancy Pascoe, Deputy Director for Science, Research and Environmental Policy at the National Parks Trust of the
Jetske Bouma is a Dutch environmental economist working for PBL, the Environmental Assessment Agency the Netherlands (Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving). With over twenty years of experience in research and policy evaluation in this field, Jetske has worked internationally on important environmental economic projects from Costa Rica to India. As a teenager wanting to make a
Alicia Hayden is a UK-based wildlife artist, filmmaker, animator, writer, and photographer. She has a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford and a master’s degree in Wildlife Filmmaking from the University of the West of England. Alicia currently works as an Illustrator and Junior Researcher for the BBC Natural History Unit in
In this episode we’re speaking with ocean writer and PR freelancer Melissa Hobson. Mel is passionate about communicating how we can all make a difference for the marine environment, our planet and people’s lives. She’s a certified scuba diver and has worked in PR for over a decade – at first outside of conservation and
A key to success within conservation is the ability to design high-quality projects to protect species, habitats and sites. But only a small proportion of professional conservationists are formally trained in the essential skills of project design and management. With limited time and money available within the sector, it’s no surprise that employers are increasingly
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” – Anne-Marie Bonneau. Conservationist, zoologist and award-winning wildlife photographer Lara Jackson is an inspirational female patron, who is passionate about using her unique skills in photography to tell stories about critically endangered species. Throughout her global
“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
Gain key skills in managing and designing conservation projects using the Conservation Standards – the leading approach within the sector. We’ve opened the doors for our second intake to our career-booster training programme, with a 33% discount until 31st March!
Campaigning, communications and engagement are key tools in conservation work today, and they almost always rely on digital technology! Emma Marsh is the Executive Director of Digital Technology and Communications at RSPB, where she oversees the charity’s global digital technology, communications, campaigning, and engagement work. Emma shared her experience of switching careers into conservation as
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
Last year, Sir David Attenborough said that saving the planet is now a communications challenge. And within conservation there is a growing realisation that we need to do much more to share our messages, to encourage more support and action. As a result, conservation employers are rapidly looking for people with communications skills. They want
“The future depends on what we do in the present”- Mahatma Gandhi There are many ways in which individuals can make a difference in turning the tide against the biodiversity and climate crisis, from becoming politically active to eating less meat and with the seasons, riding a bike to work or staying local for holidays
Xavi Reñé is a Barcelona-based illustrator with over ten years of experience. He illustrates in the field of wildlife conservation art, having worked for various commissioners from sanctuaries to foundations. Xavi currently works as a conservation illustrator and artist for Rewilding Europe, a non-profit foundation working on rewilding on the local, national, and continental level
We’ve reopened the doors to our popular Communications for Conservation Projects course! Learn how to plan and deliver effective communications activities, making you more employable and impactful as a professional conservationist. Join our next cohort by 26th February for 33% off!
If you’re interested in conservation, then you’ve probably heard the term rewilding. Over the past decade or so it has represented a growing movement within the industry to restore nature back to its former glory. Sometimes involving reintroducing long lost species back into landscapes. One of the organisations involved in the movement is Citizen
Professor Juliet Vickery is Chief Executive Officer of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), President of the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU), Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge and Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia. Juliet generously made time to share her career story with me and to reflect on BTO’s recent
Conflicts between humans and wildlife are very common in Africa. These conflicts will most likely increase due to the growth of the human population. By 2050, the human population of Africa is expected to double in size, resulting in an ever-increasing need for space to grow food and built houses. The expansion of human civilization
Rewilding and restoration is an increasingly exciting and popular area of conservation. Whereby land is returned to a more natural state in a bid to let natural processes thrive once more. There are numerous examples of it working quickly and really well – species returning in a matter of years – but have you heard
Christine Lin is a filmmaker and environmentalist with a focus on Indigenous storytelling, bird habitats, and water conservation. As a Senior Producer at the National Audubon Society, she currently leads video and various media projects surrounding the conservation of birds and the ecosystems they rely on. She is also a 2021 National Geographic Explorer, having
Do you love learning about the natural world and have a sense of travel and adventure? Do you wish you could get out from behind a screen, step out of your comfort zone, and step into wild nature? On the podcast today I’m speaking with Daniel Kaul, Managing Director of conservation-oriented travel company Natucate. Natucate offer
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,
Would you like to create better conservation impact during your career? The ability to design and implement projects to better protect species, habitats and sites is key to success within conservation. But only a small proportion of professional conservationists are formally trained in these essential skills. A well-designed and adaptively managed project can make a
Francisco Petrucci-Fonseca is a nature lover passionate about the Iberian wolf. He’s a Biologist and Professor at the University of Lisbon, Portugal. He’s also the co-founder and President of the Portuguese NGO, Grupo Lobo, working for 37 years on better protection and coexistence between wolves and humans. Francisco has dedicated his life to the wolves
Have you ever had an idea that you think is great and wish you’d done something about it? Well, today’s guest is making her great idea for helping individuals to take action on a global scale a reality. Megan Cromp is Director of Key Conservation, which is seeking to help conservationists gain critical funding and
Gain key skills in managing and designing conservation projects using the Conservation Standards – the leading approach within the sector. Conservation Project Management & Design is an online training programme brought to you by the team at Conservation Careers which follows the best-in-class Conservation Standards methodology. It is being taught by Certified Conservation Standards Coach,
In this episode we’re speaking with Dr Kate Evans – Founder and Director of Elephants for Africa. She is an award-winning behavioural ecologist and conservation biologist, with over 25 years of experience in running wildlife research and conservation projects. Since establishing the charity Elephants for Africa in 2007, Kate has been responsible for funding their
When wildlife is in decline the world over, how do we raise more funds for conservation, and ensure these funds are spent to have the greatest impact locally? Today’s guest thinks she has found the answer. Jade Brudenell is the Executive Director of the Conservation Collective, an organisation with a mission to increase the amount
In many parts of the world, it’s that time of year again! In this episode we discuss what it’s like to study and work within academia, how to survive it, enjoy it and more..! Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Dr Fernando Mateos-González of Bioblogía – or Nando he’s often known – and Dr
