Conservation Careers Podcast

In this episode of the Conservation Careers Podcast, we meet Beryl Makori , Conservation Manager at The Pangolin Project in Kenya. Beryl shares the remarkable story of rediscovering Kenya’s giant ground pangolin —a species once thought extinct in the country—and the urgent efforts now underway to protect it. From community engagement and ranger patrols to habitat leases and landowner partnerships,...

How One Caribbean Biologist is Shaping the Future of Conservation From Cambridge to the Tropics . In this episode of the Conservation Careers Podcast, we speak with Dr Howard Nelson—Lecturer in Conservation Leadership at Fauna & Flora International and the University of Cambridge. Howard brings over 30 years of experience across the Caribbean and the UK, working in government, NGOs, and academ...

How Nick Bubb Combines Fundraising, Empowerment, and a Life of Adventure to Guide One of Africa’s Leading Conservation Charities, Tusk. What’s it like to lead one of Africa’s most influential conservation charities? How do you support grassroots leaders across a continent while balancing fundraising, strategy, and your own wellbeing? And how can a mid-career pivot lead to purpose and impact in con...

How Conscious Explorer is Transforming Travel Into a Powerful Force for Conservation and Community Development, With Daniel Kaul. Can travel be more than just an escape? How can tourism actively contribute to conservation and community well-being? And what does ethical, sustainable travel truly look like? Today’s guest is Daniel Kaul , founder of Conscious Explorer and Natucate , two pioneering or...

Hi there. Nick here from Conservation Careers, and welcome to the podcast. What’s it like to study and protect turtles in the stunning waters of Egypt’s Red Sea? How can citizen scientists and local communities play a key role in marine conservation? And what are the biggest threats facing sea turtles today? Today’s guest is Micol Montagna, biologist and project coordinator at TurtleWatch Egypt 2....

How Career Coach John Tarnoff Helps Professionals Navigate Change, Find Purpose, and Build Meaningful Careers in Conservation and Beyond. What if midlife wasn’t a crisis but an opportunity? How can professionals transition into conservation careers later in life? And what does it take to reinvent yourself for a career with purpose? Today’s guest is John Tarnoff, career coach, author, and speaker s...

What does it take to rewild a nation? How can restoring nature also regenerate communities and economies? And what’s the future of rewilding as a career path? Today’s guest is Rebecca Wrigley , Chief Executive and co-founder of Rewilding Britain . With over 23 years of experience in conservation and community development, Rebecca has led Rewilding Britain’s mission to restore species-rich habitats...

Lessons From Four Decades of BirdLife International: Richard Grimmett on Conservation Success and Challenges. How does a passion for birds turn into a lifelong career in global conservation? And what can four decades of experience teach us about the evolution of biodiversity efforts? Today’s guest is Richard Grimmett, Senior Conservation Adviser at BirdLife International, where he’s been a driving...

Hi there. Nick here from Conservation Careers, and welcome to the podcast. How can we restore biodiversity while balancing the needs of people and wildlife? And what can large carnivores teach us about coexistence and environmental harmony? Today’s guest is Jonny Hanson, environmental social scientist, conservationist, and author of Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves, and B...

How do you transform landscapes, restore biodiversity and reconnect people with nature - all at scale? And what does it take to build a pioneering conservation initiative from scratch?  Today’s guest is Frans Schepers, co-founder and Executive Director of Rewilding Europe. Frans has dedicated over a decade to leading rewilding efforts across Europe, turning ambitious ideas into tangible resul...

How can campaigning lead to transformative leadership in conservation? And what role do cross-sector partnerships play in scaling biodiversity impact? Today’s guest is Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England and one of the UK’s most prominent voices in nature conservation. He’s been described as ‘the most effective of Britain's eco-warriors’ and ‘one of the top ten environmental figures of the last...

Today’s guest is Sir William Worsley, Chair of the Forestry Commission (England). Sir William shares his rich experience in forestry management, conservation, and the evolving mission of the ForestryCommission since its founding in 1919. In our chat, we discuss the Commission's role in afforestation, timber production and wildlife conservation, and the importance of balanced woodland management. S...

What does it take to lead one of the world’s largest conservation organisations through a time when 41% ofUK species are in decline? And how can today’s conservation leaders inspire millions to fight for biodiversity? Today’s guest, Beccy Speight, CEO of the RSPB, offers her insights into what it takes to manage over 1.2 million members and 200 reserves across the UK. In this episode, we discuss t...

Have you ever wondered how your backyard or garden can help to save wildlife? Or why something as simple as leaving your leaves where they fall can make a big difference for local ecosystems? And what role does media, from television to online platforms, play in conservation efforts?  Today’s guest is David Mizejewski, a naturalist, author, and television presenter with the National Wildlife...

Have you ever felt like an outsider or imposter in your career? Or wondered where (or even if) you can fit and belong? We're biologically hard-wired for connection, and research shows that it's vital to our physical and mental wellbeing. But when it comes to our careers, we often think we need to go it alone. In this special episode, we discuss the importance of community in our careers as conserv...

Today’s guest is Romulus Whitaker, a renowned herpetologist and conservationist often referred to as the"Snake Man of India." Romulus shares his lifelong passion for snakes, conservation and the incredible biodiversity of India's rainforests. In this episode, we discuss what drew Romulus to snakes, especially the King Cobra, his experiences in the rainforest and the significance of water and fores...

Today’s guest is Becky Park, the Programme Manager for the Osprey Leadership Foundation. They work to inspire young people about the natural world and to help them to develop into conservation leaders who can make a real difference, at both a grassroots and international level. We discuss the foundation's origins, its mission in conservation and leadership training, and how it connects the UK with...

Why do so many people get into conservation because of a love of animals, only to discover that it’s all about people? And why if you’re interested in working as a social scientist particularly, should you focus on improving on your softer skills, especially if you want to get ahead in your career? We discuss these questions and many more with today’s guest Dr Laura Thomas-Walters. Laura is the De...

Today we explore the world of conservation and diversity with digital storyteller Taurean Meacham. Working for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Taurean is the Program Coordinator for the Diversity Joint Venture for Careers in Conservation. In this episode we delve into Taurean's work to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in conservation and beyond. We'll hear about how he surviv...

Why do so many people get into conservation because of a love for animals, only to discover that it's all about people?   And why, if you’re interested in making an impact in conservation, should you focus on improving your communication skills to advance your career?  We explore these questions with today’s guest, Jon Monsoon.  Jon brings over 20 years of experience in wildlif...

How Passionate Individuals Can Transform Their Careers and Save Wildlife, With Our Guest Greg Cummings. How can someone transition from being a bartender in London to leading an organisation helping to protect Gorillas - one of the most charismatic species on the planet?  And how can they raise millions of dollars in the process - meeting influential people like Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCapr...

How do you switch careers from working in IT and Quality Management for 20 years to making a real impact in conservation?  That’s exactly what today’s guest - Clare Roberts - has achieved in the past few years, and she’s here today to share her story.  We start by exploring her pre-conservation career in the corporate world of IT consultancy, where she used her free time to volunteer at...

How corporate professionals can contribute to conservation efforts, with our guest Raoul Bollen. How can corporate professionals contribute to conservation efforts?  What skills can they bring from the boardrooms of the private sector to help wildlife charities specifically to develop and grow?  These are some of the topics we discuss with today’s guest Raoul Bollen.  Raoul has been...

How The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Africa use partnerships, science, and sustainable finance to tackle the biodiversity crisis, with our guest Ademola Ajagbe. Today we’re speaking with an old friend and colleague Ademola Ajagbe, the Regional Managing Director atThe Nature Conservancy (TNC) for Africa. Ademola discusses the urgent challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, emphasizing the...

Meetings are a core part of our working lives, and yet studies have found that 50% of time spent in meetings is often wasted. When viewed as a whole that's often billions, if not trillions, of dollars wasted annually, which could be put to much better use. But why do we spend so much of our precious lives clogged up in a confetti of mediocre meetings?! With calendars full back-to-back often borne...