I am really pleased to have joined the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Birds of prey have always fascinated me, with my first animal love being the Peregrine Falcon, serving as my emissary into the wildlife world!

I studied Geography at the University of Liverpool with the intention of working in environmental or wildlife project management. This was not forthcoming when I graduated, and I started working in a financial technology company becoming a project manager, with the idea the skills I learned could be transferred later. This proved to be the case when I moved to South Africa, helping to establish a new wildlife research centre, primarily focused on strategies to mitigate negative human-wildlife interactions between farmers and Chacma Baboons that were foraging in their crops.

The research centre was based near Alldays, right in the north of Limpopo province, and was predominantly a commercial farming area. I spent several years there, working in a variety of roles for both the research centre and the Primate and Predator Project (PPP). I enjoyed leading the environmental education outreach in local schools, while I also setup and coordinated a carnivore research programme in the area too. In keeping with the objectives of the PPP, the carnivore research centred around human-wildlife coexistence and the importance of animal abundance estimates. Towards the end of my time in South Africa I started a Masters project that I later expanded upon to convert into a PhD. This was focused on estimating abundance and understanding space use of mammals, such as leopards, hyaenas and baboons, typically implicated in negative coexistence events.

I see a lot of parallels between hyaena and vultures in terms of their typical standing with humans, and feel they are prime examples of just how important engaging education efforts are in fostering a greater love and understanding of these important animals, and their long-term protection. The conservation work in the field that the Trust does, both in the UK and abroad, is absolutely vital, while the conservation education delivered to our visitors by the wonderful Bird Team members and Education Team is fundamental to long-term conservation success. Being a part of delivering that message is inspiring.

I am a firm believer in evidence-based conservation, and working with integrity and honesty, all three of which I felt the Trust embodied when I applied – and now that I am here, know that they really do! I am excited to help keep pushing our conservation research forwards and raising awareness of all these amazing birds, the struggles they face, and how we can collectively help in conserving them and their habitats.