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 restoration initiatives. They do this by connecting donors with a close affinity to a specific location, with local foundations who then re-grant the funding to grass-roots conservation initiatives to protect the environment, restore nature and safeguard against climate change. It’s an innovative, scalable and exciting model. During the podcast Jade tells us the story of Conservation Collective, and how they are securing new funds within the sector to create impact. We also discuss the importance of fundraising skills within the sector, along with her career story and what she looks for when hiring new staff. It’s a wide-ranging, fascinating and honest discussion about one of the most important issues facing conservationists. Enjoy.

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 public campaigns, appeals, events, membership drives and more.  But where do you start if you want to secure funding for your project? Where can you find the right donors and what steps should you go through in order to be successful, and turn your ideas into reality.  To discuss these questions and many more is today’s guest Elena Zurli from Environmental Grants (environmentalgrants.org).  Environmental Grants is a network of professionals seeking to support conservationists by helping them identify funding for their projects and deliver more impact.  In this episode, we talk about the many ways to secure funding for a conservation project, the dos and don’t of proposal writing, and much more besides. Elena also shares her career story with us along with her advice for people like you who might be seeking to follow in her footsteps.  It's a valuable episode. Enjoy.

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 of both geographical and political borders. By displaying the flyways from the air, land and sea, they help to highlight the importance of collective action in the fight against climate change and biodiversity collapse. Sacha is an adventurer, a conservationist, a champion freediver, and is known as the human swan for her paramotor journey in 2016 following the Bewick's Swan's migration from the Russian Arctic all the way to the UK. We spoke to her in the final days before her latest expedition, from the UK, through Europe and into Africa, charting the flight of the Osprey, and the impacts of climate change on migratory birds. In this episode, we talk about the realities of climate change and the importance of storytelling and communications for conservation, and how to stay hopeful and optimistic for the future.  Sacha also shares her inspiring career so far, along with her top advice for people like you who might be seeking to follow in her footsteps. It's a wide-ranging, enjoyable and really eye-opening chat. Enjoy.

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 JNCC plays within biodiversity conservation efforts, and also her approach to leading the organisation. We also discuss her career path to date, before Gemma shares her advice for people like you, who might be seeking to follow in her footsteps.

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 Nando he’s often known - and Head of Engagement Kristi Foster, who together have nearly 50 years' experience working in the conservation sector. Here are our happiest memories from our careers working in conservation. Warning: if you're not already working in wildlife conservation, this episode might make you want to become a conservationist, too!

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 Foundations Relations at the Institute for Ecological Civilization, or EcoCiv for short. Anna talks us through the work of EcoCiv, and what it’s like to do her role day-to-day. Having worked previously in HR, we also discuss her top tips for applications, along with her advice for aspiring conservation starters and switchers on how to get going in the sector. It’s an exciting, wide-ranging and informative discussion. Enjoy.

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 burnt alive as an agricultural pest. To talk us through the conservation story of the Orangutans today is the world-renowned founder of The Orangutan Project, Leif Cocks. Leif has had a 30-year career working with Orangutans. He’s a passionate campaigner for the species and has been a key player in developing conservation plans for Orangutans and influencing positive change for orangutan protection and survival. This includes the first-ever successful reintroduction of the zoo-born Orangutan into the wild. We start the chat with his first connection with the species, before talking about what makes the species so special and fragile, then discussing the threats they face and conservation activities that could turn the story around. We also discuss the skills, roles and mindset needed in order to succeed in nature conservation on the frontline. It’s a wide-ranging, thoughtful and fascinating discussion. Enjoy.

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 revolution is today’s guest - Tara Mikhael.  Tara works covers the sustainability or supply chains at the consulting powerhouse Deloitte, where her works seeks to better understand the root and branch ethics of business operations.   In this fascinating chat we talk about the fledging sustainability and climate change profession, the roles it encompasses and work it’s seeking to achieve.  We also discuss her own passions and career to date, and Tara shares her advice for people seeking to better understand or enter the industry.  It’s an inspiring, eye-opening and fun podchat. Enjoy. 

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 known - and Head of Engagement Kristi Foster, who together have nearly 50 years' experience working in the conservation sector. Together we explore how different decisions, opportunities and even chance events - including seemingly disastrous ones! - helped us get to where we are today.

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 protecting wildlife by providing funding and networking opportunities to conservationists from diverse backgrounds. They are seeking to help change the conservationist profession from a field of exclusion to one of inclusion and growth. In the podcast we discuss the lack of diversity within conservation, the problems it causes and explore the potential solutions that Conservation Nation are developing. We also discuss Lynn’s exciting role and career to date, and she shares her advice for you, the listener, if you’re seeking to start your career in the sector. It’s a thoughtful, sobering and inspiring discussion. Enjoy.

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' experience working in the conservation sector. We explore some of the unseen realities of working as a conservationist - the good, the bad, and the 'ugly' - including how to recognise good organisations from bad ones.

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 in our air.   IF done in the right way, with the right species, in the right places, this could form part of the global solution to climate change.  But with more data available than ever before, how do we make sense of it all to learn about what’s working in restoration and rewilding projects?   How do we put data into people’s hands so they can act more quickly, with more confidence, and have greater impacts?  Today we’re speaking with Andrew Cottam, who’s Head of Geospatial at an exciting new venture called Restor. A free online platform for the restoration movement, Restor is like a Google Maps for nature.   It connects practitioners with ecological data and builds networks between activists, funders and the public.   And for the first time, major scientific datasets are at the fingertips of conservationists … helping local knowledge to fuel global change.  Since launching just last year, Restor has connected over more than 70,000 restoration sites worldwide.   Helping thousands of local actions to become a global movement, and becoming a runner up in The Earthshot Prize along the way.  So if you want to know more about how technology is helping in the battle to restore life on earth, and how you can get involved in your lives or your careers, listen on.  

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 currently serves as the U.S. Domestic Focal Point and Communication, Capacity-building, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) Government Focal Point for the Ramsar Convention. We talk about how the diversity deficit in conservation came about, what problems it creates and why it's so important to increase diversity in conservation. We also discuss the Diversity Joint Venture for Careers in Conservation and their mission to “strengthen the conservation workforce by increasing diversity, equity and inclusion", including increasing the number of women and people of color in the conservation workforce. Lastly explore how people like YOU can get involved and help!

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 of Bioblogía – or Nando he’s often known – and Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist.

Last year, Sir David Attenborough said that saving the planet is now a communications challenge. And within conservation there is a growing realisation that we need to do much more to share our messages, to encourage more support and action. As a result, conservation employers are rapidly looking for people with communications skills. They want staff who can plan communications activities, who can write effectively, get press and media attention, engage audiences on social media, deliver campaigns, write blogs, produce podcasts and much more. At Conservation Careers, we analysed over 30,00 conservation jobs from 100 countries, and we found that 41% explicitly wanted people with communications skills or experience. Here to discuss this today is our in-house communications coach, Lloyd Gofton. Lloyd has over 20 years of communications experience built in the agency sector, working for brands such as WWF, Greenpeace and RSPCA, along with Virgin Atlantic, Samsung and Honda, to mention just a few. In this episode we talk about WHY conservationists need better communications skills, and discuss some examples of the power of communications for making a real difference in the sector. So if you'd like to be more employable, and you'd like to have more impact, then listen on. Enjoy.

Conferences, meetings, festivals, community gatherings, networking events and more... Today there are MANY in-person and virtual conservation events to choose from! So how can you make the most of conservation events for your career? In this episode we discuss how events can help your career, how to choose which event(s) to participate in and how to make the most of an event - before, during and after. Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Dr Fernando Mateos-González of Bioblogía - or Nando he’s often known - and Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist.

If professional conservationists could go back in time and replay the clock what useful information would they have learnt sooner, that would have helped them in their careers? What things might be very different to the expectations of someone just starting out in conservation, and useful to know? Sadly we haven't worked out how to time travel just yet, but we can share our career reflections with YOU!  In this episode we discuss what we wish we'd known about working in conservation and wildlife biology, before we started working in the sector. Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Dr Fernando Mateos-González of Bioblogía – or Nando he’s often known – and Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist.

Getting experience - whether volunteering, interning or even starting your own project - can do a lot for you in the early stages of your career. It can help you understand yourself, test drive different options, grow your network, demonstrate your passion and commitment to prospective employers, build your skillset and make you more employable. But... how do you get experience of conservation when no one's hiring you? If you can’t get a job without experience, and yet it’s hard to get experience without a job, it can feel like a vicious cycle... In this episode we discuss how to get conservation experience, when you're not working in the sector. Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Dr Fernando Mateos-González of Bioblogía – or Nando he’s often known – and Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist.

As conservationists, one thing we’ve seen a lot of on the news in recent years is forest fires.   Huge blazes in Australia, California, the Amazon razing forests to the ground and decimating wildlife unlucky enough to be in its path.  Today we’re speaking with someone who works on the front line as an expert on fires and forest ecology within California.   Dr Hugh Safford is a Regional Ecologist for the US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region and Research Faculty at the University of California-Davis.  Hugh manages a staff of ecologists that provide expertise in vegetation and fire ecology across 18 National Forests in California, and is also Director of the Sierra Nevada region of the California Fire Science Consortium.  In this episode we talk about forest fires in California, and how they used to be much more common in the past.   We also discuss how our historical management of forests has caused many of the issues we are experiencing today.  Hugh also shares his career insights and advice, for people like you, who might be seeking to work in the US Forest Service or following similar paths. 

Have you ever considered working as an environmental consultant?   Do you know what one is and does, and what skills they are looking for?  Today we’re speaking to Nancy Thomson, who’s the Director and founder of Thomson Environmental Consultants – a very well known name within the industry.   Nancy has set up two consultancies already. The first she sold, before going round the world on a boat for five years, and now heading her second company which is already turning over £20 million, as it seeks to expand rapidly.  We talk about the what it’s like to work as an environmental or ecological consultant, and the typical projects they get involved with at Thomson.   We also discuss the types of people they’re seeking to hire, along with hearing her career story of how she setup Thomson, and where the company might be going next.  Nancy's a real visionary, modest in character but big in ambition, drive and ability.  It’s a hugely enjoyable and inspiring chat. 

In this episode we’re discussing what it’s like to study and work within academia, how to survive it, enjoy it and more..! Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Dr Fernando Mateos-González of Bioblogía – or Nando he’s often known - and Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist.   

What would have happened if we’d started engaging young people in the conservation movement much earlier? Would we be seeing more action, impact and progress within the sector now as a result?  And how can we address diversity and inclusion issues, in a sector that traditionally has been dominated by white men from relatively affluent backgrounds?  These are some of the topics we discuss in today’s episode with the President of IUCN Canada, James Bartram.   James is an inspiring figure within the conservation movement.   He describes himself as a change agent, building high functioning teams with real impact, always striving to work himself out of a job.   He believes youth are the hope of the world, and has lead teams of over 100 educators - tripling annual budgets from $3 to $9 million, and taking program participants from 200,000 to half a million.  We cover a lot of really interesting ground in this chat, and it’s one of those episodes where the pre-recording chat was so fascinating that we just hit record and kept going.  

Today we’re talking to a hugely inspiring figure within the UK ecology scene, who enjoys disrupting the market, and doing things differently.  Professor David Hill CBE is chairman and founding owner of The Environment Bank which he set up because of his concerns at the way wildlife was being treated within the planning and development sector.  In this episode we cover a lot of ground, and discuss the work of ecological consultants, and the constraints they often face when working within a set area of land – often termed the development boundary.  David talks about his innovative work seeking to secure payments from developers to establish large-scale and long-term conservation areas – separate from development sites – which will really help nature to flood back into our landscapes, on a scale not seen before.   Helping to pay for rewildling projects, and others like them.  He also announces the exciting news that he’s currently seeking to hire people to join him at The Environment Bank, following a large recent investment of funds. If you’d like to find out more about these roles, please contact JSM Associates.  And it’s worth mentioning that David also helped to get Dr Nick Askew, Director of Conservation Careers, his first job out of university nearly 20 years ago, where Nick worked as an ecological consultant for the company David set up and later sold. He’s a great guy.  As always, it’s a wide-ranging, inspiring and hugely enjoyable discussion.  Enjoy. 

In this episode we’re delving deeper into the conservation sector and exploring what conservationists need to be better at, in order to save more species, habitats and sites.   Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Dr Fernando Mateos-González of Bioblogía – or Nando he’s often known - and Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist.    During this third episode of a new format of the podcast, the conservation career super-team share their thoughts on where conservationists might be going wrong? And what do we need to be better at, if we’re really going to turn the tide to tackle biodiversity losses across the planet… 

Have you ever met someone and feel like you’ve known them for years? You just clicked? That happened with today’s guest for me.  Marnix van Holland is the WWF Global Programme Manager for their Youth & Education work.  Before the podcast we were chatting and getting to know one another, and in the space of about 10-15 minutes we’d covered so many interesting topics that we took the call to include it in the interview for you guys to listen to.  Marnix oversees WWF's youth oriented work , with an emphasis on countries in the global South in Latin America, Africa and Asia.   Through his work he identifies, negotiates and formulates partnerships in order to mobilise millions of people and dollars to better conserve wildlife across the globe.  During the discussions we explore his work in detail, and opportunities the presented through a greater focus on involving young people more within the conservation movement.   We also discuss topics such as innovation, enterprise, sustainable hunting, parachuting conservation into countries from outside, and much more besides.  It’s a wide-ranging, fast paced, and highly enjoyable conversation and we join it before we’d decided to start the podcast formally. 

In this episode we’re delving deeper into the world of applying for jobs in the conservation sector. Joining our host Dr Nick Askew is Dr Fernando Mateos-González of Bioblogía - or Nando he’s often known and Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist.   During this second of a new pilot format of the podcast the conservation career super-team talk about their own experiences of applying for jobs, and share their opinions and advice on how to make your applications more successful and less painful to produce. 

In this episode we’re exploring a new format which we hope you’ll enjoy. We’ve had 2 years of 1:1 podcast interviews and spoken to over 50 amazing conservationists about their careers, the industry and shared their advice. We love it and will continue to do this. However, through the podcast we’ve often felt the need for some topics to go deeper into the discussion – there's lots more to say, and we're just scratching the surface. We wanted to share our advice more, and to hear from other key figures in the wildlife careers space. So that’s what we’re going to try and do in this pilot episode. We’re going to pick a topic of interest to discuss in detail and to help me we’ve assembled a super team of wildlife career gurus, who have kindly agreed to share their thoughts, experience and advice. And if you’re a fan of the podcast, you’ll already know them. First up is Dr Fernando Mateos-González of Bioblogía, or Nando as he’s often known. Nando is fond of knowledge, advice and inspiration for people seeking careers in conservation biology. Making up this career-supergroup is Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist. Stephanie is an unconventional wildlife biologist, entrepreneur, and careers adviser who has spent nearly two decades studying all over the world.

How do you conserve a species which is incredibly hard to see? A ghost species?  That’s the challenge faced by today’s guest Helen Turnbull, CEO of The Cape Leopard Trust in South Africa.  The Cape leopard is the stuff of legends.   It’s seldom seen and highly elusive, surviving in some of the most inhospitable habitat possible – the rugged mountain ranges of South Africa’s Western Cape.  And here they can come into conflict with people, or more specifically farmers, who can see them threats to their livestock.  This is where the Trust comes in, to ensure the long-term survival of leopard populations by promoting peaceful coexistence and the protection of landscapes, empowered by scientific research, positive community partnerships, education and advocacy.  In today’s episode I talk with Helen about the amazing work of the Trust, and how they tackle such a complex issue.  We also discuss her fascinating career which has taken her from working for an airline for nearly two decades, to being a business owner working in sustainable tourism, to where she is today, leading conservation efforts for cape leopards.  It’s a great story, and we start with Helen providing an overview of the work of the Trust.  Enjoy. 

What unique challenges do women face in conservation?   Are self-sabotage and imposter syndrome more common in women, and how can female conservationists gain more support in their careers?  Today’s episode is something a little bit different…   It’s a recording of a recent webinar by Conservation Careers where we explored the barriers and opportunities for the women, who have dedicated their careers to conserving ‘mother Earth’.  We’re joined by Kirsty Crawford and Laura Cuppage of & another thing, which is an open and honest platform for discussing conservation issues like these.   The webinar is hosted by our own Kristi Foster, who leads us through a really fascinating discussion looking at issues of inequalities and opportunities for women in the conservation movement.   It’s in aspiring and thought-provoking chat … so let’s dive in.  Enjoy! 

Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, how has this person done so much in such a short space of time? I felt like that speaking to today’s inspiring guest – Josh Powell. Joshua is a conservation biologist and presenter for the WWF Voices campaign on global biodiversity, covering conservation issues from the High Arctic to the Antarctic. In 2017, as a National Geographic Explorer, Josh co-founded Rangers Without Borders, a conservation research programme working with wildlife rangers in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Josh is currently completing a PhD at the Zoological Society of London and UCL on Amur Tiger conservation in north-eastern Asia. And as an advisor for The Queen's Commonwealth Trust on environment and society, Josh was recently named one of The Explorers Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World.  He’s a busy guy. In this episode we talk about what drives him in his career, how he’s managed to open so many doors to opportunities and he shares some fantastic advice for what you can do to follow in his impressive footsteps.

In this episode we’re speaking with Dr Stephanie Schuttler from the world of Fancy Scientist. Stephanie is an unconventional wildlife biologist, entrepreneur, and careers adviser who has spent nearly two decades studying all over the world. She’s also author of ‘Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know’. In this podcast episode we explore what it’s like to be a wildlife biologist. We also discuss her top tips for getting started in your career in wildlife biology. Enjoy.

Today we're chatting with yacht skipper, author and marine conservationist Colin Speedie. Colin has had a lifelong involvement with the sea and its inhabitants. He's an expert on basking sharks in his own boat since childhood. We had an enjoyable and wide ranging discussion about basking sharks, the role of yachts and sailing in conservation, and increasing focus on ecotourism as a sustainable way to conserve threatened species. If you're interested in marine conservation or like getting out on the high seas, or perhaps just a stand up paddleboard, then you'll love this episode. Enjoy. 

How do you go from being an athlete playing on varsity football and basketball teams in Canada and Europe to setting up your own ecotourism operation, which helps to conserve wildlife in both Guyana and Belize? That's the journey that our guest today, Jordan Flagel, has been on in his career so far. Jordan is the Executive Director and Founder of TREE, whose mission is to provide life changing experiences in nature and actionable change in the environment. TREE stands for Tropical Rainforest Education and Exploration. In this episode, Jordan shares his unique career story. We discuss the roles of ecotourism and community based activities to help wildlife conservation efforts. He also tells us about an upcoming trip in Guyana, April 2021, where you can join him on a trip of a lifetime. If you have wanderlust and you love conservation, then you're in the right place, enjoy. 

Today we're speaking with the host of The Case for Conservation podcast, and Programme Director at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, André Mader. André is a conservation biologist by training and he's worked mostly in biodiversity policy, first in his native South Africa, and then also in Canada, Switzerland, and then also Japan. During the podcast, we talk about the role of policy and strategy in wildlife conservation efforts, with agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity seeking to influence governments globally to develop more sustainably. We also hear about his thoughts on podcasting, and advice he'd give to people like you seeking to follow in his footsteps. It's a really thoughtful, wide-ranging and engaging discussion. As always, enjoy.

Have you ever met someone and wondered in awe about how they have done so much in such a short space of time? That's a feeling I got when I first met Elliott Connor, who's our guest on the podcast today. Elliott is a 17 year old Australian popular science writer, presenter, producer, and so many other things. He's best known for founding the International Environmental NGO Human Nature Projects, which supports volunteers across 104 countries and established that within just the last 15 months alone. His life goal is to reframe our human relationship with the natural world and his work has been recognised with various honours and awards and accolades. I'm not going to list them here, there's quite a few of them! During this podcast, we talk about Human Nature Projects, David Attenborough, how to succeed as an introvert in a movement like this, and how to talk to Donald Trump about wildlife and lots more besides. It's a wide ranging fun and really inspiring chat. Enjoy. 

Have you ever picked up a can of fish in the supermarket and wondered what the MSC certified symbol actually means for the tuna in the can? Most of us know it means the fish is from sustainable stocks. But how is this judged and verified and how did the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) manage to use consumer choice to certify 17% of all fisheries globally as sustainable in just 20 years? Today we're speaking to Dr Yemi Oloruntuyi who is the Head of the Global Accessibility Program at the MSC. Yemi tells us about the MSC and the issues it seeks to tackle and its successes to date. And then she shares her career stories from her beginnings in Lagos, Nigeria, to where she is now a key part of an organisation seeking to save three in ten of all fisheries within the next 10 years. Yemi also shares her thoughts on the need for more diversity and inclusion in conservation, along with her careers advice for people like you. And finally, she ends by telling us about the opening of the Ocean Stewardship Fund Grants for students and researchers totalling nearly 300,000 pounds. Stay tuned and enjoy! 

Today we're speaking to Anthony Ochieng, or Tony Wild as he is often known. Tony is a Kenyan-born wildlife ecologist, conservation photographer, traveller, educator, and explorer. He is a busy man! I've been following Tony's work for the past three years and his photography of conservation projects is truly inspiring. He has quickly and rightly amassed a collection of awards for his work, helping to educate and communicate African conservation issues. And he's also very humble man. I'm happy to have him on the podcast today, where we talked about how he found his unique place within the conservation community. Tony talks with passion about how wildlife conservation should be as important for people as having food on the table and also how we need a greater diversity of voices within the sector to drive engagement at the local level. Just a heads up the line was a little poor quality during the call in places, but it's worth persevering to hear Tony's story and messages. As always, enjoy!

Today we're speaking with Beth Thoren, Deputy CEO of Client Earth, and someone who's spearheading a huge and exciting drive to create 20,000 jobs in nature through a new National Nature Service. We start our chat today about this big new idea and then discuss her role at Client Earth. Before then Beth shares her fascinating career story to date, which has seen her working in the US Merchant Navy, before landing key roles such as Head of Digital Marketing at the BBC, and Director of Fundraising and Communications, at the RSPB, which is one of the world's biggest nature conservation charities. Beth then finishes up the podcast really by talking about her thoughts about how to switch careers into nature conservation. It's a wide ranging and inspiring chat, which I know you're going to love.

Today we're talking to Dr. Kerry Kriger, Founder and Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS! Kerry is a powerhouse in the amphibian world, having set up an organisation to help save threatened frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and caecilians across the world. And he's got his work cut out. Of the seven and a half thousand species of amphibians 50% of declining and one in four are threatened with extinction. Since establishing SAVE THE FROGS!, Kerry, his staff and volunteers have organised well over 2,000 educational events in at least 57 countries, helping to enact new laws and creating and restoring and protecting critical wetland habitats. In this fascinating discussion, we talk about his career journey from PhD to establishing the charity. He also shares insight into the industry along with some practical tips on how to get your career going.

Do you enjoy getting out into the field, identifying plants, animals, insects and more? Would you like to be paid for doing this and spend your career surveying for protected species and habitats whilst implementing the law to identify and avoid harmful impacts on them? Then a career as an ecological consultant might be perfect for you. To explore this practical, well paid and highly trained area of conservation, we're speaking with Sue Searle, CEO of Ecology Training UK. Sue has over 17 years experience of ecological consultancy and has helped hundreds of people to get the right training to enter into the sector. We discuss what it's like to work as an ecological consultant, the typical roles available, types of people it suits and skills sought after by employers. We also explore her career journey and Sue shares her top advice for people looking to get started in this exciting area of work. As always, it's a wide ranging, career boosting discussion. 

Do you yearn for adventure? Do you enjoy discovering hidden corners of the globe and enjoy spending time immersed in nature? Then you will love the British Exploring Society. It is an amazing organisation that takes young people to extraordinary destinations, both in terms of the places they visit and also in their own lives. To find out more we're talking to their CEO, Honor Wilson Fletcher MBE. Honor has led the BES for four years, having previously worked to establish 12 state schools in some of the most deprived parts of England. And this is where she had a first opportunity to take part in and see the positive impact of challenging overseas adventures with young people. In this fascinating discussion, we talk about why exploring matters and the impact that adventures can have on people's lives. We also discover what it takes to run an organisation like the BES and where Honor wants to take it next. It's a wide ranging chat about the importance and the impact of nature on our lives. 

Jon Paul Rodríguez is an award-winning Venezuelan conservationist who wears many hats. As Co-Founder of local NGO Provita, he spearheaded work to nearly triple the number of Endangered Yellow-Shouldered Parrots in the wild, winning the Whitley Gold Award in 2019 in the process. More recently, he was elected as the first non-European or non-North American Chair of the IUCN Nature Species Survival Commission. During this discussion we talk about his career, the story of the Yellow-Shouldered Parrot and his vision for the next four years for the Species Survival Commission globally. We also discuss the importance of diversity in conservation, and he shares an inspiring answer as to what single change might make the biggest difference on the planet. 

Daniel Quilter fell in love with Malaysia, its wildlife and people during a field trip while at University. He quickly returned and in many ways never looked back. Since 2005, has been setting up eco enterprises which are businesses which help people and the planet. During this podcast we talk about Fuze Ecoteer, a Malaysian-based experience provider which connects people with wildlife. We talk about the projects they run and how people benefit from them. We also discuss how to choose the right volunteer or internship experience for you, what questions to ask along with exploring Daniel's career to date. Finally, Daniel shares his advice for people seeking to find careers within the conservation sector, along with his idea for what we can do to make a big impact on this precious little planet of ours. So if you love travel, Asia or are interested in volunteering or interning overseas, this is a great episode for you. Enjoy. 

Have you thought about starting a blog? Are you passionate about writing and communicating and want to share your thoughts, experiences and opinions? Will it make a difference? Kate Stephenson did this just nine years ago when she started her blog, Kate on Conservation. Now her award-winning blog highlights important conservation issues, individuals and organisations and tries to give the voice to the voiceless. In this fascinating chat, we talk about her blogging journey, as she shares her advice on how to get going. She also reveals her career path today and the lessons she's learned along the way. So if you're interested in communications, education and conservation, you're going to love this one. Enjoy. 

How do you grow a conservation organisation from 5 staff to over 500 in just over two decades? Why might Greta Thunberg be wrong to avoid air travel, and how is the conservation industry changing the way it hires staff in the 21st century?   I discuss these issues and many more with today’s guest Mark Rose - Chief Executive Officer - Fauna & Flora International (FFI).  Mark is a powerhouse in conservation, and has held the role of CEO for over 20 years.   During that time he has been instrumental in transforming FFI from an organisation with a handful of active projects into a global conservation charity with over 100 projects in over 40 countries.  He has spearheaded the establishment of innovative corporate partnerships that encourage big business to put biodiversity at the heart of their activities, and has extensive field experience doing things like conserving crocodiles in Papua New Guinea.  I met him on a stormy day in the Sir David Attenborough building in Cambridge, and we had a fascinating chat about his career, how he’s grown FFI and where we wants to take it next, and how conservation organisations need to simplify their messages to have far greater impact. It’s an absolute must-listen episode. 

Don't let anyone talk you away from your dreams says conservation biologist and today's guest Dr. Fernando Mateos González. In his free time Fernando ('Nando') runs Bioblogia.net where he helps students and early career professionals find their dream environmental role. Whether it's sharing job offers internships, volunteer opportunities and more Nando loves helping up and coming biologists. In his day job he works as a conservation biologist in the Czech Republic and supports expeditions as a nomadic mercenary scientist. Last year he joined the BBC in the Peruvian Amazon to shoot scenes for the new Attenborough series, Seven Worlds, One Planet. And he's just back from an expedition sailing to Iceland as chief scientist for British Exploring Society. Nando is a super busy, super fun and super passionate biologist. So if you're interested in careers in conservation biology or passionate about expeditions you'll love today's guest. Enjoy. 

Would you love to work in marine conservation but you don't know where to start? Are you struggling to find work or do you dream of switching your career into Blue Planet conservation? During this podcast we're speaking to Emily Daniels from WiseOceans. Emily has always had a sense of adventure and this led her to traveling to Australia at the age of 18, where she began her career in marine conservation. And as a PADI instructor she has worked in marine conservation operations and research station management in countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, Honduras and the Seychelles. Now Emily works for WiseOceans now overseeing all aspects of sales, promotion and recruitment for marine conservation organisations through the Wise Work job board. During the podcast we discuss the types of roles available within the vast marine conservation sector. We also chat about the typical roots in and, as always, she shares her career advice on how to become a marine conservationist. So if you'd like to be the next Jacques Cousteau or Sylvia Earle, stay tuned.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to switch careers into conservation, maybe moving from banking, marketing or law and supply your trade in an effort to save nature? Well, that's what today's guest has done. Nick Bubb is the Business Development Director at Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and prior to FFI, he spent nearly 10 years in professional ocean racing, covering 100,000 sea miles before moving into finance, and then finally into conservation. He's now charged with raising funds for major conservation projects and programs across 40 countries and 300 partners, and gets to work closely with the likes of Sir David Attenborough. In this podcast, we talk about what skills are needed in the modern conservation movement, and how to switch careers with success. We also discuss how to prepare for a TED Talk and what it's like to spend time with Sir David. It's a really fascinating, wide ranging chat. Enjoy.