What was your career path to North Wales Wildlife Trust?
I did a degree in Rural Environment Studies and then spent a year volunteering with the Australian Conservation Volunteers.  I returned home and completed an arboriculture course specifically aimed at encouraging more women to enter the field.  I then took a different path (!) and spent 20 years working as a Public Rights of Way Officer for Essex County Council, creating new public bridleways.  I am very proud of my achievements in this role, which were formally recognised by several awards from the British Horse Society.  I then spent 5 years working with Essex Wildlife Trust as Project Manager on a river valley project doing lots of ecological enhancement and community engagement work.  In 2014 , me and my partner rashly decided to leave Essex and move to North Wales – neither of us had jobs to go to.  From day one, I started volunteering with the Trust and this led to me doing my current role.  No regrets!

When did you first become interested in nature and wildlife?  
I always have been.  My love of horse riding means that I have spent hours enjoying and observing wildlife whilst riding through the countryside on my horse.  I have always volunteered – I started in my teens with Derbyshire Conservation Volunteers and have never stopped!

What’s the best thing about your job?
Working with our amazing volunteers and seeing the positive benefits that volunteering can bring to people’s lives. 

Can you tell us something that has inspired you recently? 
Working with BBC Springwatch at our Gwaith Powdwr nature reserve in 2023.  It provided us with a brilliant opportunity to showcase the wildlife living on this wonderful nature reserve.