Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 8 min read

Putting communities at the heart of conservation

With responsibility for conservation programmes and partnerships in Madagascar, Mozambique, the Comoros, Belize and Timor-Leste, Frances Humber, Conservation Programmes Manager, Blue Ventures is the London-based ‘fixer’ who makes sure that projects are on track, looking after the critical behind-the-scenes work of providing technical support to staff in the field and managing relationships with funders. Having completed

Jim Pettiward
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 5 min read

Durrell Conservation Academy – helping conservationists everywhere!

Theo Blossom is the Training Coordinator for Durrell Conservation Academy based in Jersey, UK. Durrell are world leaders in conservation training – offering a unique learning experience wherever you are in your career. Theo kindly takes some time out of his busy schedule to tell us about Durrell Conservation Academy… What is Durrell Conservation Academy?

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Animal Welfare December 31, 2015 5 min read

Bird ringing in Costa Rica with Pablo Elizondo

Pablo Elizondo partners up with local communities to protect endemic species in Costa Rica. Conservation Careers Blogger and former Costa Rica Bird Observatories volunteer Stella Diamant speaks with Pablo about his daily work, the importance of reaching out to local people and why budding conservationists should not give up. What is CRBO? CRBO stands for

Stella Diamant
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for Sea Sense?

Lindsey West: Saving our oceans one sea turtle at a time Today we meet Lindsey West, Director of marine conservation organisation Sea Sense. The NGO, initially established in Mafia Island, Tanzania, in 2001, works closely with coastal communities in Tanzania to conserve and protect endangered species, including sea turtles, dugongs, whales, dolphins, and whale sharks.

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 12 min read

From Hollywood to the Wilderness – an Interview with Mike Tomkies

Mike Tomkies was born in 1928, and following a period serving in the Coldstream Guards became a journalist, landing interviews with stars such as Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Ava Gardner and many more. After moving to the wilderness in Canada and later writing of his experiences there he emerged as one of the greatest nature writers

James Walker
Interviews Climate Change December 31, 2015 8 min read

Water and Wildlife with Chris Gerrard

This week we’re speaking to Chris Gerrard. He tells us about his role as Anglian Water’s Climate Change and Biodiversity Manager, his fascinating career path to date, and provides some practical advice for people looking for a job in conservation. What’s it like being the Climate Change and Biodiversity Manager at Anglian Water? I’ve got

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Early Years December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for World Conservation Monitoring Centre?

What’s it like to work at the World Conservation Monitoring Centre? Emily worked as Assistant Programme Officer at The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. UNEP-WCMC is the United Nations Environment Programme’s specialist biodiversity assessment arm. They provide authoritative information about biodiversity and ecosystem services in a manner that is useful to decision-makers who are driving change in

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 6 min read

Mastering Conservation with Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland

E.J. is course leader for the Masters in Conservation Science at Imperial College London. With so many of the top conservationists around the globe graduating through the course, we’re delighted to be able to share her insights with you. How would you describe the MSc in Conservation Science at Imperial College London to someone who’s

EJ Milner-Gulland
Interviews Scientist December 31, 2015 1 min read

VIDEO – Professor Rhys Green talks about his RSPB career in conservation science

The RSPB offer a diverse range of roles from internships to post-grad opportunities to permanent positions. In this short video, Professor Rhys Green tells us about his RSPB career in conservation science. [vimeo 85252022 w=560 h=315] If you’d like to read more about working for the RSPB, and their paid voluntary and internship opportunities, please click

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Communicator December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The Shadowview Foundation?

Are Drones the Future of Conservation? From Scuba Diver to Drone Operator with Steve Roest. Steve has over 20 years of experience in conservation and is one of the co-founders of Shadowview Foundation, a company specializing in UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) – or drones – and using them for conservation. He is also an UAV Operator

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 7 min read

National Geographic Project Manager – Julie Brown

Conservation is a broad field with many career opportunities that fall under the conservation umbrella. One of the biggest challenges is following your path to discover your niche. Julie Brown spoke candidly with me about her non-linear path to her current role in conservation education. I, as a Conservation Career blogger, was extremely inspired by

Naima Montacer
Early Years Volunteer & Internships December 31, 2015 1 min read

Ara Project Vlog : Feeding the parrots

Conservation Careers Blogger Marta Calix reports live from the Ara Project in Costa Rica where she is working as a volunteer. The Ara Project is dedicated to saving Costa Rica’s two native macaws: the endangered Great Green Macaw and the Scarlet Macaw. In this third in a series of videos sent live from the field,

Marta Cálix
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 3 min read

Marine research in Africa with Joan Kawaka

Joan Kawaka is a Marine Research Scientist working with CORDIO East Africa (www.cordioea.net) and a proud mother of two. She has over six years of experience working with East African coastal communities and in the marine ecosystems of the Western Indian Ocean. Conservation Careers Blogger Michael Murunga interviewed her to hear her fascinating story. How

Michael Murunga
Interviews Celebrating Diversity in Conservation December 31, 2015 6 min read

Being a naturalist, broadcaster and wildlife detective with Ed Drewitt

Ed Drewitt is a naturalist, author, broadcaster, tour leader, birder, photographer, public speaker, bird ringer, zoologist, diver, feather expert, and Peregrin researcher. Here Ed kindly shares his conservation careers advice… Why do you work in conservation? I´ve always been interested in wildlife, particularly birds, since I was six or seven – and was encouraged by my family

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Celebrating Diversity in Conservation December 31, 2015 8 min read

David Cottridge: The life of a wildlife photographer

Internationally renowned wildlife photographer David Cottridge  has travelled the world, photographed most of Europe’s bird species and worked with the likes of Bill Oddie, Nick Baker and Chris Packham. He tells Conservation Careers Blogger Charlotte Rixon why wildlife photography matters and how to follow in his footsteps. How did you get started as a wildlife photographer?

Charlotte Rixon
Interviews Scientist December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for CORDIO?

Marine research in Africa with Joan Kawaka Joan Kawaka is a Marine Research Scientist working with CORDIO East Africa (www.cordioea.net) and a proud mother of two. She has over six years of experience working with East African coastal communities and in the marine ecosystems of the Western Indian Ocean. Conservation Careers Blogger Michael Murunga interviewed

Dr Nick Askew
Scientist Interviews December 31, 2015 3 min read

OpenChannels – Taking Marine Spatial Planning to the next level

Conservation Careers talks to Nick Wehner from OpenChannels – a website providing all the information ocean planners and marine conservationists need to do their jobs most effectively. Nick also talks about career opportunities within this expanding sector. What is marine spatial planning? Marine spatial planning is a process of talking to different users and finding out

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 8 min read

Writing about wildlife: becoming a communications officer in conservation

My last interview was with Kathryn Phillips from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust in north-west England. I run the communications campaign for Kathryn’s Forest Schools project and that interview is part of the work that goes into raising the Trust’s profile, publicising its activities, and strengthening the case for conservation. Writing articles, film-making, and wider communications

Adam Moolna
Interviews Early Years December 31, 2015 1 min read

Ara Project Vlog : The Great Green Macaws

Conservation Careers Blogger Marta Calix reports live from the Ara Project in Costa Rica where she is working as a volunteer. Today she takes us to see the Endangered Great Green Macaws. The Ara Project is dedicated to saving Costa Rica’s two native macaws: the endangered Great Green Macaw and the Scarlet Macaw. In this first

Marta Cálix
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 4 min read

It’s a Frog’s Life with Paul Furnborough

Paul Furnborough is a Conservation Officer with Froglife where he works as a reserve warden on the Hampton Nature Reserve – home to 30,000 great crested newts – and coordinates volunteers and manages projects. He is now studying for a Masters by Research, and his dream conservation job includes working outdoors, studying wildlife, learning species

Paul Furnborough
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 4 min read

From Field Work in Rural Africa to Policy Work in Washington, D.C

Conservation Careers Blogger Christine Pereira interviews Aaron Weil  – Federal Conservation Advocate for Environment America – about his fascinating career story…   Why do you work in conservation? As a child, I didn’t really have much opportunity to enjoy nature as I would have liked, so I spent many of my summers at a camp where I was in

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 6 min read

Dr. Julian Bayliss: The Real Life Explorer

After meeting Dr. Julian Bayliss at Cambridge University back in 2011, shortly after he discovered what is known as the Google Forest, he inspired me to study Zoology after telling me about some of his adventures. Now featuring in his own Google explorer advert he’s inspiring others by showing that new discoveries are still out

Erin Williams
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The University of Exeter?

Keys to success from a King of Conservation: Professor Brendan Godley While he is probably best known for his research with marine turtles, Brendan Godley is also the Course Director for the Biodiversity and Conservation MSc at the University of Exeter Penryn campus.  Brendan co-coordinates two modules on that course (Africa field-course and marine biodiversity and

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 7 min read

The Wildlife Trusts: An Interview with Ian Rickards

The 47 Wildlife Trusts are the UK’s largest people-powered environmental organisation, working for nature’s recovery on land and at sea. The organisation manages some 95,000ha of British land across the the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. They run over 11,000 events annually, helping more than 380,000 people connect with nature in their local

Rosie Hynard
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 7 min read

Sharing indigenous knowledge for a more sustainable world

From edible wild fruits to traditional land management systems, ethnobotanist and ethnoecologist Dr Nancy Turner’s work centres on the relationships between people, plants and environment. Focusing on work with indigenous plant experts of northwestern North America, the Distinguished Professor studies traditional knowledge and resource management systems that can help inform modern sustainability. Her words remind us all to take

Kristi Foster
Interviews Early Years December 31, 2015 1 min read

Ara Project Blog : The Punta Islita Hotel

Conservation Careers Blogger Marta Calix reports live from the Ara Project in Costa Rica where she is working as a volunteer. The Ara Project is dedicated to saving Costa Rica’s two native macaws: the endangered Great Green Macaw and the Scarlet Macaw. In this fourth in a series of videos sent live from the field,

Marta Cálix
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for Butterfly Conservation?

Zoë Randle: The Butterfly (and Moth) Effect Butterfly Conservation Survey Officer Zoë Randle talks to Conservation Careers Blogger Charlotte Rixon about why moths and butterflies matter, meeting Sir David Attenborough and dispelling those jumper-munching myths. How did you get into conservation?  I got into conservation by lucky accident. I’d never wanted to go to university,

Dr Nick Askew