Francis Castro
What employment sector do you work in?
Public Sector
How long have you had a green job for nature?
20 years
Salary Range
> £50,000
Please describe the work that you do.
Currently, I work for the Greater London Authority (GLA), in the Green Infrastructure team. I am currently overseeing the preparation of the London Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and working with a range of stakeholders and partners in the development and delivery of Mayoral Biodiversity policy and programmes for London. In my previous role, I worked for the Local Authority as an Ecologist and Nature Conservation Manager for 17 years.
What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?
My work over the past 20 years, being part of the community/people that make up the sector and contributing to a cause that is ultimately leaving a positive legacy, are my top two likes. Advocating for the natural world and using the skills and experience I have developed over the years, to make things happen on the ground, has been highly rewarding. As well, working directly with the community, volunteers and fellow professionals and colleagues, to care for nature, deliver schemes and create new policies and strategies to aid delivery. It has been very satisfying seeing work done with individuals and communities, resulting in positive outcomes, as well watching the habitats I managed or created become valuable wildlife assets has been hugely rewarding. General dislike/frustration is the lack of funding/appreciation of the importance of funding, for business as usual activity (revenue/management and maintenance), and the over-reliance on goodwill from the public, when it comes to caring for nature.
What inspired you into this career?
I followed my passions… basically what I enjoyed doing and where I felt I could offer the most. I have always enjoyed the subject of ecology and being outdoors, I am also a practical person and passionate about protecting nature. The rest is history…
Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far?
When I first started out, it was working out what opportunities were available, and finding belonging in the sector. I know I wanted a role that blended my academic knowledge with practical application, but it was only by chance that I found these opportunities in the charity and Local Government sector. This was through my conservation volunteering I did between 2003 and 2005, while on job seeker allowance initially and continuing when I found part-time work. During that time I found a community of people in the sector I could relate to and I felt welcomed, which encouraged me to carry on and gave me much-needed support. Finding belonging in the sector and feeling I am contributing/and valued, has been a key challenge for me, as well as having the confidence in my skills and abilities that I know I bring, but find it hard to articulate at times. I am a person of colour, my parents were immigrants to this country, and I was brought up in a working-class neighbourhood in London. During the early parts of my career, I did feel I was at a disadvantage to those who had a more traditional middle class upbringing, especially when it came to presenting yourself corporately. Having senior experienced people you can relate to, who can offer mentorship, would have been really valuable to me back then.
What education/training did you have?
I had a BSc Ecology and MSc Conservation in terms of my academic training, but had to build up my practical experience through my volunteering. I have since had further training in many survey, management and operational functions, from being a chainsaw operator, great crested newt licence holder, bat/small mammal surveyor, IoSH certified, First Aid at Work and project management trained to name a few.
What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession?
Have an open mind and be ready for your perceptions of the sector to be shattered! There are opportunities for skilled people in parts of our sector screaming for new talent, but failures in the way jobs are labelled and marketed are a big problem. Be brave, be bold… Trust your instincts and certainly take job titles with a pinch of salt! Take advantage of the networks we have today and reach out for support and mentorship. The sector is far more diverse and nurturing than it was, I promise.
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Tags: England, Public sector, Conservation worker, Ecologist, Policy and law roles, Project Manager, Urban
Date profile submitted: 30/07/2024
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