Experience

EnviroCentre

• Canada
• Environmental Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Ecologist

  • May 2017 - Present

  - Protected Species surveys including but not limited to bats, badgers, beavers, red squirrel, water vole and otter.- Phase 1 Habitat and National Vegetation Classification surveys- Preliminary Ecological Appraisal- Ecological Impact Assessment- Habitats Regulation Appraisal- Ecological Clerk of Works for large infrastructure and transmission cable projects- Management of small to medium sized projects- Mentoring of junior staff members - Protected Species surveys including but not limited to bats, badgers, beavers, red squirrel, water vole and otter.- Phase 1 Habitat and National Vegetation Classification surveys- Preliminary Ecological Appraisal- Ecological Impact Assessment- Habitats Regulation Appraisal- Ecological Clerk of Works for large infrastructure and transmission cable projects- Management of small to medium sized projects- Mentoring of junior staff members



Scottish Natural Heritage

• United Kingdom
• Investment Management

• Bats in Houses Roost Visitor

  • Aug 2018 - Present

  - Provide homeowners with advice regarding bats in their property including legislation, management options and licensing. - Conduct surveys to determine species present and roost status.- Report to Scottish Natural Heritage. - Provide homeowners with advice regarding bats in their property including legislation, management options and licensing. - Conduct surveys to determine species present and roost status.- Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.



Scottish Wildlife Trust

• United Kingdom
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Teacher Naturalist

  • Jun 2010 - Present

  I work at the Montrose Basin wildlife centre on an ad hoc basis running environmental based educational activities for children aged 5 to 14. I help groups discover creatures out on the mud, pond life and birds who visit the estuary among other topics.

• Volunteer Assistant Ranger

  • Oct 2012 - Mar 2013

  I volunteered two days a week at Montrose Basin, helping carry out reserve maintenance and habitat improvement work such as the creation of a new wildlife pond and wild flower garden. In addition I participated in the monthly Wetland Bird Surveys and Icelandic Geese counts. My key achievement in this role has been the improvement of my coastal and wetland bird id skills.I also participated in the swan management programme.

• Operations Officer

  • Jan 2016 - May 2017

  - Responding to planning case work- Site lead for a number of SSSI's- Site condition monitoring for a range of habitats- Agri-environment scheme and public access case work- Habitat Regulation Appraisal

• Graduate Bat Mitigation Officer

  • Feb 2015 - Jan 2016

  Working within Scottish Natural Heritages Licencing team, I investigated the success of mitigation work carried out under bat development licences with particular focus on maternity roosts. This role has allowed me to increase my knowledge and understanding of protected species legislation and the licensing process. The project involved extensive fieldwork, carrying out emergence and re-entry surveys at sites across Scotland. I gained experience using heterodyne, frequency division and time expansion bat detectors and can confidently ID species in the field and through sonogram analysis. Most importantly, I now have an in-depth knowledge of bat mitigation techniques and have identified some of the key features of successful compensation.Additional skills/duties:- Project management (PRINCElite training completed)- Volunteer recruitment- Liaising with developers, property owners and consultants - Data analysis with R - Report writing



Robert Gordon University

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Carbon Reduction Project Co-Ordinator

  • Feb 2014 - Feb 2015

  At RGU I implement carbon reduction projects which were funded through the Scottish governments climate change fund. The projects include a bike hire scheme, an energy auditing scheme, the halls energy challenge, a community allotment and food co-op. Although I contributed to all the projects I led on the food growing and distribution projects.Additional skills/duties:- Budget management (combined project budget £260 000 over two years) - Ethical procurement- Stakeholder consultation and engagement- Delivering carbon calculation and energy audit training- Data analysis- Event management (Freshers week events attended by 200+ students plus regular allotment BBQ's and bake days)

• Reserve Assistant

  • Apr 2013 - Nov 2013

  At Muir of Dinnet NNR I carried out site condition monitoring of notified habitats, monitored the breeding bird assemblage, monitored mink rafts, ensured the reserve was maintained to a high standard, led educational groups and tours and ran events to encourage public engagement. I also completed a training course in working with people outdoors.Although I no longer hold a paid position at Muir of Dinnet I continue to volunteer there, carrying out similar duties to my role as reserve assistant.



Kasanka National Park

• Project Assistant

  • Sep 2009 - Nov 2009

  This research project was funded by Edinburgh Botanical Gardens and the University of Aberdeen Herbarium. The aim of this project was to create a species list for Kasanka National Park, Zambia, along with a user friendly field guide and to collect herbarium specimens for the university. In my role as project assistant I identified, photographed and documented tree species and assisted in the planning and execution of project logistics. I also aided the creation of a new exhibit for the parks conservation centre.



The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen

• Data Assistant

  • Jun 2009 - Aug 2009

  It was my responsibility to input data from vegetation surveys and experimental work carried out as part of an on-going project on Uist. I also prepared soil samples to be sent away for analysis by drying, sieving and milling. It was my responsibility to input data from vegetation surveys and experimental work carried out as part of an on-going project on Uist. I also prepared soil samples to be sent away for analysis by drying, sieving and milling.



The Conservation Volunteers

• United Kingdom
• Environmental Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Volunteer Officer

  • Aug 2008 - Jun 2009

  As a volunteer officer it was my job to prepare and maintain tools and equipment for volunteer activities, carry out activity risk assessments, write up project reports and update the volunteer database. I was also in charge of implementing the community gardens project. This involved creating a companion planting, rotational crop system, sourcing materials and devising a planting and care regime to fit with volunteer days.I also learned how to carry out practical land management tasks such as fence building, invasive species removal, step building and path maintenance and drainage.



University of Aberdeen

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Primula Scotica Project Assistant

  • Apr 2008 - May 2008

  As a member of the universities expedition society, I helped to plan, and participated in a project to map and survey the distribution of Primula scotica in the Bettyhill area. My main role was to conduct the vegetation surveys. As a member of the universities expedition society, I helped to plan, and participated in a project to map and survey the distribution of Primula scotica in the Bettyhill area. My main role was to conduct the vegetation surveys.

• Field Assistant

  • Aug 2006 - Aug 2006

  At the end of my second year of university, I assisted a University of Aberdeen PhD student investigating the effects of grazing and nitrogen deposition on Raccamitrium Heath. I helped to carry equipment, record field data and enter data into spread sheets. At the end of my second year of university, I assisted a University of Aberdeen PhD student investigating the effects of grazing and nitrogen deposition on Raccamitrium Heath. I helped to carry equipment, record field data and enter data into spread sheets.



RSPB

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Volunteer Reserve Tour Guide

  • May 2005 - Jul 2005

  I lead a boat tour for small groups of visitors to the RSPB's St Cyrus reserve for sea birds. It was also my duty to try and recruit new members. I lead a boat tour for small groups of visitors to the RSPB's St Cyrus reserve for sea birds. It was also my duty to try and recruit new members.