Conservation Careers Podcast

Today we’re speaking with ocean writer and PR freelancer Melissa Hobson.  Mel is passionate about communicating how we can all make a difference for the marine environment, our planet and people’s lives.  She’s a certified scuba diver and has worked in PR for over a decade – at first outside of conservation and then more recently turning her considerable talents towards helping wildlife to flouris...

  Today we’re speaking with Valérie D'Hoedt Meyer, who is the Director of the IUCN Academy .  Launched in September 2021, the IUCN Academy seeks to harness expertise from within the International Union for Conservation of Nature network to provide training for those seeking to make a meaningful contribution to the dynamic world of conservation.   The IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of...

If you’re interested in conservation, then you’ve probably heard the term rewilding.  Over the past decade or so it has represented a growing movement within the industry to restore nature back to its former glory. Sometimes involving reintroducing long-lost species back into landscapes.   One of the organisations involved in the movement is Citizen Zoo – a young UK charity dedicated to rewilding,...

Are you keen to switch your career into conservation in 2023? Perhaps you’re feeling a little stuck in a job you’re not fully happy with, and you want to follow your passion and help wildlife to flourish as your day job. Well, today I want to show you that this is possible by sharing the inspiring success stories of four amazing ladies who switched their careers into conservation in 2022 with our...

What will 2023 have in store for you? Today I'm launching a five-day New Year / New Career challenge to unlock your ideas and help guide you in 2023. It could really change your life. Are you ready?!

Welcome to our final podcast episode of 2022! As we look ahead to a new year, we're reflecting on what we loved about 2022, and what we're excited about in 2023. Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Head of Community, Dr Fernando Mateos-González - or Nando he’s often known - and Head of Engagement Kristi Foster, who together have nearly 50 years' experience working in the conservation sector. We're a...

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 of anyone rewilding a desert before? Today we’re speaking with someone who’s leadin...

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 many opportunities for the ‘conscious travel’, including speciali...

A key to success within conservation is the ability to design high-quality projects to protect species, habitats and sites.  But only a small proportion of professional conservationists are formally trained in the essential skills of project design and management. With limited time and money available within the sector, it’s no surprise that employers are increasingly looking for staff with projec...

Have you ever had an idea that you think is great and wish you'd done something about it? Well, today's guest is making her great idea for helping individuals to take action on a global scale a reality. Megan Cromp is Director of Key Conservation, which is seeking to help conservationists gain critical funding and global support through a mobile app that provides real time updates on day-to-day ca...

In this episode we’re speaking with Dr Kate Evans - Founder and Director of Elephants for Africa.   She is an award-winning behavioural ecologist and conservation biologist, with over 25 years of experience in running wildlife research and conservation projects.  Since establishing the charity Elephants for Africa in 2007, Kate has been responsible for funding their applied research, education, an...

When wildlife is in decline the world over, how do we raise more funds for conservation, and ensure these funds are spent to have the greatest impact locally? Today’s guest thinks she has found the answer. Jade Brudenell is the Executive Director of the  Conservation Collective , an organisation with a mission to increase the amount of funding available for the most effective front-line nature res...

To have an impact as a conservationist, you need fundraising skills in order to turn your ideas into reality.  In a sector dominated by charities, the majority of conservation projects are therefore funded by donors, who provide an estimated 90 billion pounds in funding each year.  These include large grants secured from governments, foundations and corporate sponsors to smaller donations via publ...

How can storytelling help to tackle some of the biggest issues of our time, like climate change and biodiversity loss? And what role can migratory birds play, like swans and ospreys?  To talk about these issues and many more is today's guest, Sacha Dench. Sacha is the CEO of Conservation Without Borders, which organises inspiring expeditions following the paths of migratory birds, along the lines...

In this episode I’m speaking with Dr Gemma Harper - the Chief Executive of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, or JNCC for short. JNCC is a public body that provides a shared scientific nature conservation service for the UK. This helps the governments in the UK to achieve their wildlife conservation objectives.  Just one year into her role as Chief Executive, we talk about the important role...

What are our happiest times as conservationists? At Conservation Careers we help thousands of people start or switch their careers into conservation, but we rarely talk about the fun side of the conservation movement. If you're aspiring to work in conservation, we thought you might enjoy a little inspiration :) Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Head of Community, Dr Fernando Mateos-González - or N...

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 guest Anna Hixson. Anna is the Associate Director, Projects and Foundatio...

Did you know that Orangutans are the most intelligent beings on the planet after humans?  Perfectly adapted to their environment, they pass on their knowledge and culture through each generation, in order to help future generations to thrive.  As self-aware being - as intelligent as a six-year-old child - their drive to extinction is an individual story of horror. Sometimes being macheted and burn...

In recent years business leaders and board rooms across the globe have put sustainability and environmental towards the very top of their priorities.  In response an industry is forming rapidly to service their needs, both in house or as consultants. With generalist and specialist roles evolving all the time to keep up with the growing demand.    Riding on the crest of this sustainability revoluti...

Could a single moment change the entire course of your conservation career? At Conservation Careers, we often talk about what steps to take for a successful career helping wildlife. In this episode we switch things up and reflect back on pivotal moments that changed our careers for the better. Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Head of Community, Dr Fernando Mateos-González - or Nando he’s often kn...

In this episode we’re revisiting an important discussion within conservation, and something which may affect you. Namely, barriers to entry which make it difficult to pursue careers for women, people of color, indigenous people, and other under-represented groups. To discuss this in detail today is Lynn Mento, the CEO of new organisation Conservation Nation. Conservation Nation is dedicated to pro...

The media is full of images and stories of the wonderful side of conservation, including field work, research, travel, being outdoors and working closely with wildlife. But what is working in conservation REALLY like? Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Head of Community, Dr Fernando Mateos-González - or Nando he’s often known - and Head of Engagement Kristi Foster, who together have nearly 50 years...

We know that carbon in the atmosphere is increasing at an unsustainable rate, and that half of all native tress on earth have been felled.   This is having impacts on our lives, and on wildlife globally.   Recent studies have also shown that we have nearly a billion hectares of land suitable for ecosystem restoration.   That’s space for one TRILLION trees capturing around 30% of the excess carbon ...

What is the diversity deficit in conservation, and how can we tackle it? In this episode we speak to Cade London, Associate Advisor, Office of Diversity and Inclusive Workforce Management, and Diversity Joint Venture Program Manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Cade is a 5th generation local from Hawaii, with a passion for conservation programs both in and out of government. Cade curr...

With limited time available, and a need to have purpose and impact through our careers, how do we get the right things done well? How we choose tasks, organise our time and keep on top of busy email inboxes? Turns out saving the planet needs some serious time and task management! Joining our host Dr Nick Askew to discuss how to get stuff done as a conservationists, is Dr Fernando Mateos-González o...