Women in contracting: an interview with Jeanette and Tasha

We thought it would be fun to interview two of our female operatives who have had very different journeys into conservation contracting. To hear more about their education, inspirations, challenges and achievements please read on.

What inspired you to start a career in conservation?

Jeanette: My original plans hadn't actually been focused on conservation or working in the environmental field as I was more interested in working with animals; however, when I moved to Canada I found myself working on a cattle ranch who had quite an open mind to working with nature in comparison to a lot of the neighbouring farms. Then when I applied to college, the course I wanted was full and as I explored other options, I noticed a fisheries and wildlife course which I was accepted into and it all kind of went from there.  

Tasha: Growing up on the edge of the Peak District and spending this time camping, wild swimming and looking for wildlife means I have always enjoyed and appreciated the outdoors. At home I loved learning about our native plants, animals and insects which my mum and nan encouraged me in and this naturally progressed into an interest in the relationship between all of these living organisms and their habitats. I feel I was lucky to attend schools that supported an interest in the outdoors, however this was often limited to becoming a veterinarian or zoo keeper which I didn’t particularly resonate with. Finding out I could actually study environmental sciences in university was a game changer.   

Can you describe your career pathway and how you ended up working for ELMS?

Jeanette: During my first year at college, I changed my major from fisheries and wildlife to restoration ecology which changed my focus on what summer jobs I would pursue. The way college works in Canada meant that I had a four month summer in which to gain experience and each summer I tried something different. One summer was spent weed spraying, another working in a market garden, another as an environmental consultant, and the last as a wildfire lookout observer. 

Feeling a longing to return to the UK, I left Canada soon after and though I wasn't 100% sure I would continue to pursue an environmental career as I had studied quite different ecosystems and was quite sure I did not want to work in an office environment. I did know that I wanted to continue working outdoors and luckily I found ELMS which has allowed me to continue working in the field. 

Image description: some of Jeanette’s photos from working in Canada (from left to right). Conklin Fire Tower May 2022, where it all began on the cattle ranch, Prince Albert National Park, a beaver caught on the trail camera. 

Tasha: In 2024 I graduated from NTU with a BSc in Wildlife Conservation and so started applying for jobs in the sector, leading me to join ELMS. Having taken a placement year during my third year at uni and working for River Holme Connections, an environmental charity, I had in mind a role incorporating more practical aspects of conservation. As well as this I had, throughout high school and college, volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation centre and had a part time job as a dry stone walling trainee which I enjoyed immensely.

I think for a while I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go career wise; in college I studied criminology, psychology and biology and worked as an assistant art teacher but working outside is something I have always found more enjoyable. I therefore took an applied conservation course at NTU which allowed me to explore both practical and theoretical concepts of environmental sciences. I feel ELMS encompasses both of these aspects well and is definitely the right fit for me.

Image description: some of Tasha’s photos from field courses at university and her time working for River Holme Connections (from left to right). Japanese Knotweed spraying along the River Holme, a Water vole latrine found during field sign surveying and grassland transects featuring a curious giraffe in South Africa.

What are some challenges you have faced when working in conservation?

Jeanette: Not beating around the bush but I'm quite a small person and it's challenging to find clothing and safety gear that fits comfortably at an affordable price, because let's be honest this is unfortunately not a high paying industry. Even something as simple as a pair of gloves can sometimes be a challenge to get hold of and don't get me started on chainsaw boots. 

Tasha: As an extremely competitive industry, I found searching and applying for jobs in the conservation sector could be demoralising. Leaving uni and suddenly not having your next steps laid out can be a bit overwhelming and it takes perseverance to keep sending out your CV and cover letters despite a lot of the time hearing nothing back. Many graduate jobs are also initially voluntary or offer low pay so finding something sustainable can be challenging but definitely worth it.

What is your favourite thing about working in contracting?

Jeanette: The variety of the work we’re involved in. One week I could be traipsing across the moors building timber dams or spreading heather brash and the next week I could be clearing scrubland using a chainsaw or brush cutter and then a week later working on a river job. Then there's the people; nothing like bonding in the outdoors that we call our office and knowing how lucky we really are. 

Tasha: I really like the camaraderie. I think if you’re going to be out in every type of weather in very remote areas you have to be able to rely on your team so having a good team dynamic is important. Also the variety of work and all the different places we visit are really exciting, we’ve been all over the place and had the opportunity to use different machines and get stuck in with all kinds of different jobs, which just adds to your experience.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work in this sector?

Jeanette: Try your hand at as many different things as possible. Don't be too rigid in what you want to do; you might enjoy something you'd never have thought of and skills gained elsewhere are often very transferable.

Tasha: Be open minded about finding work, keep applying for jobs and don't feel like it absolutely has to be related to the industry to begin with, all experience is good.