Conservation Careers Interviews

February 28, 2023

Changing the world through digital technology and communications | A conservation leader’s career switch

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

Written by Ryan Eddowes

February 9, 2023

Don’t just plant 1 tree, plant 9 | An interview with 9Trees CEO and Director Michael Cunningham

“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

Written by Natalie Cru

February 7, 2023

Wildlife Conservation Art with Xavi Reñé, Illustrator for Rewilding Europe

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

Written by Dr Nick Askew

December 21, 2022

Adventures in ornithology – an interview with Professor Juliet Vickery

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

Written by Kristi Foster

November 30, 2022

Coexisting with African elephants – An interview with Jake from EleCREW

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

Written by Susie Stockwell

November 28, 2022

“Getting paid to do what people pay to do” | The wild life of naturalist guiding

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,

Written by Susie Stockwell

November 17, 2022

Slow and steady wins the race – social justice through turtle conservation

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

Written by Kristi Foster

November 14, 2022

Podcast | Dr Stephen Browne | The Royal Commission for AlUla (Saudi Arabia)

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

Written by Kristi Foster

November 3, 2022

Exploring the “no handbook” realities of becoming a conservation filmmaker; an interview with Christine Lin, National Geographic Explorer

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

Written by Dr Nick Askew

October 24, 2022

Podcast | Daniel Kaul | Natucate

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

Written by Kristi Foster

October 20, 2022

A rose among the thorns | Laurel Fowler

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,

Written by Rita Soares

October 6, 2022

The Iberian wolf: how to protect a misunderstood species?

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

Written by Dr Nick Askew

September 29, 2022

Protecting the forest home of one of the smartest birds in the world!

The wild population of African grey parrots has greatly reduced due to the pet trade, hunting and habitat loss. And in some parts of Nigeria, there is a growing substantial risk of even more habitat loss, due to Government plans to expand palm oil plantations. Because the expansion plans include habitats of these amazing parrots

Written by Sophie Blackman

September 21, 2022

A day in the life of a Kew botanist: Sara Barrios

As a student in Portugal, a conversation with botanist Jorge Paiva spurred Sara Barrios to apply for an internship that led her to the Herbarium at Kew Gardens. Some 16 years later, fresh from fieldwork in the British Virgin Islands, Sara spoke to me about her role as Conservation Partnership Coordinator for the UK Overseas

Written by Dr Nick Askew

September 20, 2022

Conscious Travel | Discovering the world’s wildest places with Natucate

Do you love learning about the natural world and have a sense of adventure? Do you wish you could get out from behind a screen, step out of your comfort zone, and step into wild nature? You can! Natucate is an agency that specialises in organising projects for nature travel, wilderness experiences, voluntary work, internships,

Written by Emma Phipps

September 8, 2022

Conserving for the Future: An interview with Tomos Avent

Tomos is the Head of International Programmes at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), an international conservation charity based in the UK. Read on to discover Tomos’ motivations for conserving nature, the benefit of understanding your own skillset, and the future of conservation. What led you to your current position at WWT? I studied Biology

Written by Ryan Eddowes

August 23, 2022

Save The Animals, Save The World – an Interview with conservation enthusiast Ryan Parker

“You don’t have to be David Attenborough or be able to tell the difference between a Crocodile or Alligator to make a difference in conservation” Ryan Parker has a vision; he wants everyone around the world to join together to help tackle the biggest issues of our time, namely: climate change and the biodiversity crisis.

Written by Fedra Herman

July 26, 2022

What does it mean to be a conservationist? An interview with elephant conservationist Danielle Carnahan

As a young aspiring conservationist, I have so many questions about what it is like to work in the fascinating field of wildlife conservation. Is it hard to earn a full-time income? What about work/life balance? And what does it actually mean to be a conservationist? During my interview with Danielle Carnahan, a US-based elephant

Written by Dr Nick Askew

July 19, 2022

Webinar | Conservation Leadership Programme 2023 Team Awards

Would you like to receive a grant to support your conservation projects as well as gain opportunities to build connections with peers, access expert mentorship and participate in training courses? The Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) – a 35 year-old capacity-building partnership between BirdLife International, Fauna & Flora International and the Wildlife Conservation Society – will

Written by Fedra Herman

July 13, 2022

How to make people fall in love with insects? An interview with Dave Goulson

Insects are fascinating and important creatures. But how do you make people fall in love with bugs? Professor Dave Goulson, a Professor of biology at the University of Sussex, UK, and an author/campaigner, tries to spread his love for insects via his books. If you get as excited as me seeing some bees buzzing about

Written by Dr Nick Askew

June 20, 2022

Podcast | Long-term solutions for people and wildlife | Anna Hixson (Institute for Ecological Civilization)

How can we tackle some of the biggest challenges facing us as a global society, for the betterment of people and wildlife? Can we rebuild and transform economic systems in favour of human and ecological wellbeing, and what does the future look like for protected areas? This forms part of the energetic discussion with today’s

Written by José Francisco Bergua Canudo

June 16, 2022

Manon Fontaine, from arts to wildlife conservation

After a long and successful career in arts design, Manon Fontaine changed the brushes and the puppets to binoculars and animals’ tags. Keep reading if you want to know why and how an artist in her 40s managed to turned into an international all-round wildlife conservationist. Who is Manon Fontaine? I am a very curious,

Written by Kate Tointon

June 14, 2022

Inside internships: Five top tips to ensure interns get what they really need

Internships can help rising conservationists kick start their careers, develop vital skills, boost their networks, and make a lasting impact on both society and biodiversity. These insights come directly from Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) interns, who shared their stories and experiences in interviews and surveys. CLP is a partnership of three of the world’s leading

Written by Dr Nick Askew

June 14, 2022

The Conservation Careers Bootcamp 2022 | Doors Open!

Start your career in wildlife conservation with our unique programme of training, support community & jobs. Do you want to spend your career helping wildlife to flourish, but are feeling a little lost, confused or disillusioned? If you’re a student, job-seeker or career-switcher, getting started as a professional conservationist can be hard. But what if you

Written by Karen Nolan

June 1, 2022

People power – Preserving biological diversity through citizen science

Dr Liam Lysaght is Director of the National Biodiversity Data Centre, an Irish organisation that collates and manages data on Ireland’s wildlife. He started his career as a park ranger at the Burren National Park, later moving to work at the Heritage Council before taking up his current role at the data centre. In this interview,

Written by Jasmine Rees

May 26, 2022

Making Waves in UK Marine Conservation with Emily Cunningham

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

Written by Charlotte Munroe

May 23, 2022

Securing a job in research science – advice from lemur scientist Lydia Greene

Lydia Greene is a lemur scientist carrying out research at North Carolina’s Duke Lemur Center. Based in Durham, United States, the center is internationally acclaimed for its pioneering work conducted via non-invasive methods of research. Housing over 200 lemurs and bushbabies branching across 13 species, the center is believed to hold the most diverse population

Written by Barbara Fioravanzo

May 19, 2022

Nature in 360° degrees

“At first, I loved. Then I observed. Finally, I photographed” Some years ago, I was visiting an important photography contest in Milan, when my attention was caught by a photo on display showing a Marsican bear crossing a street in a small village inside Abruzzo National Park. It was a beautiful wildlife portrait but also

Written by Jenna Woodford

May 9, 2022

The Power of Storytelling to Create Representation | An Interview with Jasmine Qureshi

Wildlife conservation is all about protecting and celebrating biodiversity. But, when we look at the industry’s workforce, we see a heart-breaking diversity deficit. Making work in the conservation sector accessible and equitable for all will require equally diverse solutions, and improving representation is a key step. “Nature is all about spectrums and understanding differences”. I

Written by Madison White

May 5, 2022

Call To Arms | Why volunteers need scientists to help win the conservation argument

“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.