Conservation Careers Podcast

How better data and operations can help nature restoration projects grow, and how to bring your skills into conservation, with our guest Bernat Fortet. Picture a tree nursery manager in Panama, raising thousands of tree seedlings - and never finding out what happened to them once they left for the field. Did they survive? Which species did best? It's a gap that runs right through nature restoratio...

How can we restore woodlands to maximise biodiversity? What makes conservation research genuinely useful for the people working to protect nature? And how can you build a successful career in conservation science? Today we're speaking with Professor Kirsty Park, Professor of Conservation Science at the University of Stirling , where she's worked for nearly 30 years. Kirsty's research focuses on un...

How curiosity, experience and an openness to different paths can help you build a fulfilling career in conservation, with wildlife conservationist Iris de Winter. What does a career in conservation actually look like? For some people, there isn't one simple answer. You might be a scientist, lecturer, conservation practitioner and nature guide - combining different roles into a career that's unique...

How conservationists are helping people and predators coexist - and what a 30-year career working with big cats can teach us about saving cheetahs in the wild, with Janet Hinostroza. They're the fastest animals on land , capable of extraordinary acceleration and perfectly adapted for speed. But cheetahs are also facing growing pressure from habitat loss, fragmented landscapes and conflict with peo...

How to understand what you really want, explore new career possibilities and build a practical strategy for making your next move, with career coach Michelle Schafer. Have you ever wondered whether it's time for a career change - but felt unsure about where to go next, what you have to offer, or how to actually make the move? Today's guest is Michelle Schafer , a career coach and author of Cultiva...

How to understand what you really want from your career, explore new possibilities and make a successful career change, with author and career coach Helen O'Neill. Hi there. Nick here from Conservation Careers and welcome to the podcast. Have you ever had that feeling that something in your career just isn't quite right? You're not necessarily unhappy, but there's a niggle telling you that you mig...

How to discover your purpose, find greater fulfilment, and build a life aligned with who you really are, with our guest Maren Oslac. Have you ever reached a point where, on paper, life looks pretty good - you've worked hard, achieved success, ticked all the boxes - but something still feels missing? Today's guest is Maren Oslac, co-founder of The Soulful Leader Project. For decades she's explored...

How conservationists can create lasting impact by empowering communities, transforming environmental education, and building inclusive conservation movements, with our guest Cindy-Lee Cloete. Conservation isn't just about protecting wildlife. It's about people too. The most successful conservation projects don't happen in isolation - they happen when communities are empowered to care for the place...

How conservation organisations can use immersive technology to educate, inspire, and reconnect people with nature, with our guest Camille Mougenot. Have you ever wondered whether technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and immersive storytelling could help people care more deeply about wildlife and the natural world? Today I'm joined by Camille Mougenot, Director of International Par...

How entrepreneurs, innovation, and restoration businesses can help save coral reefs and build a new restoration economy, with our guest Sam Teicher. Coral reefs cover less than one percent of our oceans, yet they support around a quarter of all marine life and provide food, livelihoods, and coastal protection for around a billion people. Yet they're disappearing at an alarming rate. Today I'm join...

How marine scientists can combine conservation, entrepreneurship, storytelling, and tourism to create impact, with our guest Justin Blake. Justin Blake is a marine scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of RockHopper - a social enterprise that blends marine science, storytelling, tourism, and conservation to create new ways of funding and delivering impact. After spending more than 15 years studying...

How Indo Ocean Project is using science, education, and field experience to conserve Indonesia's marine ecosystems, with our guest Lauren Sparks. Indonesia sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle - one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth. But protecting these extraordinary ecosystems requires more than passion. It requires science, local partnerships, long-term monitoring, and people wi...

How to build a meaningful career protecting our oceans, with our guest Dr David Shiffman. What does it really take to build a career protecting our oceans? Today’s guest is Dr David Shiffman - marine conservation biologist, public science communicator, author of Why Sharks Matter , and our Marine Conservation Expert in Residence here at Conservation Careers. David has spent his career exploring th...

How professionals can use their skills, values and career choices to create measurable positive impact, with our guest Devon Fritz. Have you ever wondered how to turn your career into one of the biggest ways you can make a difference? Today’s guest is Devon Fritz , author of The High-Impact Professional’s Playbook and co-founder of the nonprofit High Impact Professionals . Devon works with profess...

How a conservation entrepreneur is tackling snakebite, restoring ecosystems, and building impact from the ground up, with our guest Dr Harry Fonseca Williams. Have you ever wondered what happens when you combine a passion for wildlife with the drive to actually make a difference? Today’s guest is Dr Harry Fonseca Williams - a toxicologist, conservationist, and founder who is working at the interse...

How conservation professionals can build strong teams, positive cultures, and deliver greater impact, with our guest Chris Lee. Today we’re exploring something that sits at the heart of every successful conservation project - but often gets far less attention than it deserves - leadership. I’m joined by Chris Lee, Executive Director at Des Moines County Conservation in Iowa, and co-host of the Par...

How SEED Madagascar is working with local communities is key to protecting wildlife and ecosystems, with our guest Dr Aubrey Alamshah. Today we’re heading to southeast Madagascar - a region of extraordinary biodiversity, but also one facing some very real and complex conservation challenges. I’m joined by Dr Aubrey Alamshah, Conservation Research Coordinator at SEED Madagascar - an organisation ta...

From cloud forests to coral reefs - how Opwall blends science, education and conservation impact with Dr Tom Martin, Head of Research at Opwall Did you know that Operation Wallacea has taken more than 50,000 students into the field over the past 30 years. But what actually happens on an expedition? How does the science work? And how can an experience like this shape an entire conservation career?...

How to build a meaningful career protecting the ocean by working with people, communities, and partners, with our guest Lissa Batey. If you’re interested in building a career in marine conservation , this episode is for you. Today’s guest is Dr Lissa Batey , a marine conservation professional whose work brings together communities, partners, and organisations to deliver meaningful change for marin...

How the Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon is combining science, education and community action to keep the forest standing, with Johana Reyes. If you’ve ever wondered what a sustainable Amazon looks like in practice – how local livelihoods, science and education can work together to protect one of the most biodiverse places on Earth – this episode is for you. Today’s guest is Johana Reyes, Foundin...

How the Wildlife Forensic Academy is training the next generation of crime scene investigators for nature, with Dr Greg Simpson. Hi, Nick here from Conservation Careers and welcome to the podcast. Today we're exploring a lesser-known but vitally important side of conservation: wildlife forensics. My guest is Dr Greg Simpson — a vet, public health specialist, conservationist, and Managing Director...

Hi there, Nick here from Conservation Careers and welcome to the podcast. If you’ve ever wondered how conservation can be truly inclusive, collaborative and community-led — this episode is for you. Today I’m joined by Helen Gibbons , an expert in community-based conservation and our current Expert in Residence at Conservation Careers. With over 25 years of experience working for leading organisati...

When was the last time a piece of art changed how you thought or felt about the natural world? Today’s guest is Rory McCann — a conservation artist and muralist who uses large-scale, community-driven art to inspire awareness, connection, and action for nature. In this conversation, Rory shares what it’s like to create wildlife-inspired murals, and how involving schools and communities in the creat...

Scotland is a land of breathtaking beauty — from its rugged coasts and misty glens to its rich biodiversity and wild spaces. But like all places we love, it needs care, commitment and community to keep it that way. In this episode, we’re joined by Barry Fisher , Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful , the environmental charity on a mission to inspire action for a clean, green, sustainable Sco...

Have you ever felt stuck, burnt out, or unsure of your next move in your career? In this episode we’re joined by Kristi Foster , Head of Programmes at Conservation Careers and an experienced careers coach. Kristi has been a guiding force for hundreds of conservationists — helping them overcome internal barriers like imposter syndrome, burnout, and decision paralysis. Together, we explore what coac...