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 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 Scientist December 31, 2015 6 min read

Helping Kew put Conservation on the Map with Steve Bachman

Steve is the Species Conservation Assessment Officer in the Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The post is based in the Geographical Information systems (GIS) Unit, which is part of the Biodiversity Informatics and Economic Botany department. Also known as Kew Gardens, the non-departmental public body is more than just a pleasure garden; it

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for the WWF?

What’s it like to work for WWF? WWF have 58 offices around the globe and around 6,203 staff. Mary Ellen Swenson is a Human Resources Coordinator at WWF and is based at the headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. Her role involves a lot of work in social media, promoting our vacancies, shortlisting and doing interviewing. In

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to Work for El Paso Zoo?

Ten questions with Zoo Education Curator Rick LoBello Conservation Careers Blogger Naima Montacer was excited to speak to her friend and former boss Rick LoBello about his past. Rick LoBello is Education Curator at the El Paso Zoo. He has also worked in several National Parks including Big Bend, Yellowstone, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns and

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

Getting your debate on: a career in conservation policy

With the power to protect local species, control national deforestation, or guide sustainable development globally, environmental policy is one of the most influential fields a conservationist can pursue. Conservation Careers talks with Nick Phillips of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) about what it takes to work in policy and why it’s

Kristi Foster
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 4 min read

Introducing the International Network of Next-Generation Ecologists

This week we’re talking to Dr Peter Søgaard Jørgensen and the working group from the International Network of Next-Generation Ecologists (INNGE). Peter Søgaard Jørgensen is a biologist studying the macroecological consequences of global environmental change and sustainable solutions that may improve biological food, resource, health and environmental systems in the 21st century. This is currently studied

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

Julia Marton-Lefèvre: Making things happen

Julia Marton-Lefèvre is the Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest conservation membership organization, which brings together states, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, scientists and experts in a unique worldwide partnership. She is the longest serving Director General, and has led the organization for over 7 years. Julia shares with us

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Celebrating Diversity in Conservation December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for BirdLife International?

What’s it like working in conservation fundraising? Nick Askew is the Fundraising and Communications Manager for BirdLife Pacific – a flourishing network of seven national conservation organisations based in Fiji, Palau, New Zealand, Australia, Cook Islands, New Caledonia and French Polynesia. They are supported by the BirdLife Pacific Secretariat which manages regional projects and assists in

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for Manx BirdLife?

The Road Leading to Manx BirdLife – an interview with CEO Dora Querido James Walker is currently employed as a summer bird surveyor for Manx BirdLife, so for his first assignment as a Conservation Careers Blogger he decided to interview their new CEO Dora Querido. Dora originally hails from Portugal and has worked on conservation projects in several

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

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

Conservation doesn’t have to be just about science… Derek Niemann shows how he has used his creative flair, passion, writing skills and wildlife knowledge to inject some imagination and originality into the world of science and editing, bringing wildlife and conservation into the hearts of adults and children. What is your current job title? Youth

Sarashka King
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 5 min read

Sustainable tourism ecopreneurs: transforming the way the world travels

Tourism and conservation might seem at odds, but with more than 1.1 billion tourists travelling every year and a growing demand for environmentally and culturally responsible tourism, the sector is poised to have a positive impact on nature – if the right people get involved. According to Leonie Bowles, Corporate Partnerships Officer with Conservation Volunteers

Kristi Foster
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for Birdwatch Ireland?

How do you become a conservation officer? Alex is Senior Conservation Officer for BirdWatch Ireland – a voluntary conservation organisation in the Republic of Ireland, devoted to the conservation and protection of its wild birds and their habitats. It was formerly known as the Irish Wildbird Conservancy. WHY DO YOU HAVE A CONSERVATION JOB? Initially, because

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for Costa Rica Bird Observatories?

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

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

The human side of conservation: an interview with Dr Philip Dearden

Dr Philip Dearden has worked in Africa for 10 years and still doesn’t call himself an African expert. But as Leader of the Marine Protected Areas Working Group for Canada’s Ocean Management Research Network, co-author of Parks and Protected Areas in Canada: Planning and Management, and with more than 25 years’ experience working in Southeast

Kristi Foster
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 8 min read

Conservation Photojournalism and It’s Important for the Future of Conservation

I recently met Neil Aldridge under unforeseen circumstances, but the passion, the drive and the commitment that pours out of Neil when he talks about conservation issues is inspirational. Neil spent much of his early career volunteering and working with conservation organisations such as The Wildlife Trust, The Galapagos Conservation Trust and Natural England. However

Emma Ackerley
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The European Commission?

What’s it like to work in European fisheries policy? Amelie Knapp is a Policy Officer at European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Here she tells us what it’s like to work on fisheries policy within the European Union, and she shares her career secrets. What work do you do? I work to ensure

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

What’s it like to work for The Society of Conservation Biology?

Having Faith in Conservation: An Interview with Stephen Awoyemi Stephen Awoyemi is Founding Chair of the Religion and Conservation Research Collaborative. He is originally from Nigeria and is additionally currently studying for his Master’s Degree in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge. What is your job title? I currently work in conservation in two capacities. I

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

Setting the Stage for an Iberian Lynx Comeback with Eduardo Basto e Santos

I have followed the conservation history of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) closely for several years. This species is the most threatened feline in the world, living only in Spain, and in Portugal, where I am from. Recently, reintroductions have taken place in Spain and, just shortly before last Christmas, two Iberian lynx were reintroduced

Marta Cálix
Interviews Communicator December 31, 2015 8 min read

Kike Calvo: Using wildlife photojournalism to educate and inspire

Spanish native Kike Calvo, National Geographic Expeditions photography expert, award-winning photographer and journalist, is now based in New York and represented by National Geographic Creative. Having travelled to over 95 countries to compile a portfolio of environmental and cultural documentary photos, in addition to pioneering the use of small manned aerial systems in photography, it

Kaitlin Flood
Interviews Celebrating Diversity in Conservation December 31, 2015 5 min read

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, because as far as I was concerned

Charlotte Rixon
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The Durrell Conservation Academy?

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

Dr Nick Askew