Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The RSPB?

Influencing Governmental Policies and Strategies for Conservation – Brendan Costelloe’s Story Brendan Costelloe is the Senior Policy Officer at the largest nature conservation charity in the UK; the RSPB(Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). Here he tells us how and why he got into conservation, some of the important work he has done and

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 Volunteer & Internships December 31, 2015 6 min read

Primate and Predators: Reaching New Research Heights

Conservation Careers Blogger Erin Williams is currently working as a volunteer Research Assistant with the Durham University Primate and Predator Project at Lajuma Research Centre in South Africa. The Principle Investigator, Dr Russell Hill is usually based at Durham University in the UK, but during a recent visit to the field site, she was able

Erin Williams
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 6 min read

Volunteering in Seychelles as part of a Zoology degree

I recently interviewed Adrian Skerrett, Chairman of the Island Conservation Society (ICS) in Seychelles, and discussed the experience that volunteers can gain to help launch their careers. When I worked with ICS we organised for two zoology undergraduates from the University of Manchester to spend one year work experience placements with us. The university offers

Adam Moolna
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 Volunteer & Internships December 31, 2015 5 min read

A career helping whales and dolphins with Catarina Fonseca

Catarina Fonseca is the Researcher and Volunteer Coordinator for AIMM – Associação para Investigação do Meio Marinho / Marine Environment Research Association – in Portugal. Here she tells Conservation Careers her watery story… Why do you work in conservation? Since I was a child I’ve dreamed about working with dolphins. I started studying Biology after

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 The Chicago Botanic Gardens?

Finding Your Career 2.0 in Conservation Science: One Woman’s Story Everyone’s career path is different, but much of what we hope to glean from our work is the same. We all want to love what we do. The poet Kahlil Gibran wrote that ‘to work with love is to charge all things you fashion with

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 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 4 min read

How to work for the Cambridge Conservation Initiative?

Elizabeth Allen is the Collaborations and Communications Manager for The Cambridge Conservation Initiative. CCI is a unique collaboration between the University of Cambridge and leading Internationally-focussed biodiversity conservation organisations clustered in and around Cambridge, UK. It represents a critical mass of expertise — on a scale unparalleled anywhere in the world — at the interface of

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Scientist December 31, 2015 6 min read

The Bare Bones of Conservation with Ben Garrod

Ben Garrod is an evolutionary biologist with a huge interest in primatology and bones!  He has presented his first 6 part television series ‘Secret of Bones’ on BBC4, and has around 6 months left before he finishes his PhD in primate evolutionary biology at University College London.  He is also a part-time lecturer at Anglia

Dr Nick Askew
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 1 min read

What’s it like to work for yourself?

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

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

What’s it like to work for The Little Fireface Project?

Conservation Research in Indonesia with Francis Cabana Conservation Careers Blogger Marta Cálix had the pleasure of interviewing Francis Cabana, who is a PhD student researching the nutritional requirements of slow lorises as part of the Little Fireface Project near Jakarta. Francis is also the Research Coordinator for the project and he´ll be staying there for the

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 Scientist December 31, 2015 4 min read

A career in Conservation Science with Professor Andrew Balmford

Andrew Balmford is Professor of Conservation Science in the Zoology Department at the University of Cambridge. His research seeks to tackle fundamental questions about the relationship between people and the global loss of nature – is conservation worthwhile, why is nature being lost, how much would conservation cost, and how can we achieve it efficiently? In this interview with

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 9 min read

Contributing to Conservation in a Creative Way

I first met wildlife artist Martin Aveling at the beginning of 2015 when I was working in South Africa. Anyone with this much talent coupled with a commitment to mitigating the plight of endangered species, is someone you need to know about in the conservation world. Martin grew up in the savannah of Central and East

Emma Ackerley
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 Early Years December 31, 2015 6 min read

Conservation Research in Indonesia with Francis Cabana

Conservation Careers Blogger Marta Cálix had the pleasure of interviewing Francis Cabana, who is a PhD student researching the nutritional requirements of slow lorises as part of the Little Fireface Project near Jakarta. Francis is also the Research Coordinator for the project and he´ll be staying there for the next 14 months. In this interview he

Marta Cálix
Interviews Scientist December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew?

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

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 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
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 7 min read

Biodiversity conservation gets a business edge

Mining and energy operations have some of the most transformative impacts on the planet, with the power to strip landscapes, alter ecosystems and forever change societies. In this interview, Fauna & Flora International’s Business & Biodiversity Director, Pippa Howard, explains how working with business can create large-scale conservation benefits and how to join this emerging

Kristi Foster
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