Emily Askew
What employment sector do you work in?
Public Sector
How long have you had a green job for nature?
5 years
Please describe the work that you do.
I work as an Environment Officer for an Internal Drainage Board and this role is very varied. I refer to myself as a non-consulting ecologist, meaning when I am doing ecological surveys and reports, they aren’t to advise developments like housing, they are for essential flood management works. My day-to-day includes protected species surveys, monitoring and mitigation, writing biodiversity action plans, designing habitats, implementing policies, handling species licensing, and GIS work.
What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?
The work balance between office work and getting outdoors. My job gives me a great mix of both, and also a lot of independence to decide my own schedule. Certain times of the year are busier than others due to when you need to survey for specific species, but even within that I am able to plan my own week, so I can do jobs when they suit me (and the weather!). The most obvious love about my job though is just getting to connect with nature everyday and encounter some incredible wildlife – I’ve managed to capture some really niche footage like badger mating and nesting marsh harriers.
What inspired you into this career?
Back in 2016 I went to South Africa with Operation Wallacea as a research assistant to collect data on elephants and learn about conservation in the field. When I got back I was due to start university to study Philosophy and Politics, but this experience changed my life and encouraged me to drop out of university and start again to pursue conservation.
Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far?
I don’t feel like I have faced any yet, and I feel really grateful about that. Since graduating, I have thankfully managed to secure jobs that I would want and I try not to take that for granted because I know that I will face challenges at some stage in my career. The hardest challenge I face is probably deciding what I want to do next, I often feel overwhelmed by all of the options within conservation because I am so interested in all of them!
What education/training did you have?
I have a First-Class Honours degree in Wildlife Conservation BSc. My course was quite hands on and offered lots of opportunities to get practical field and survey experience, but I always made sure I was getting further training and experience in between university terms – for example, I worked in an Aquarium and within the business side of a conservation organisation.
My current Environment Officer role has offered me lots of opportunities to continue to develop my skills in the sector. I have since completed training in species specific ecology and management, e.g., badgers, water voles, beavers, and more.
What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession?
Try not to get stuck on the negatives. There is actually a lot of negative press surrounding this career online and on social media. You will read that it is underfunded, underpaid, overworked and impossible to land a good job. Sure, that is sadly the reality sometimes and in certain sectors, but it isn’t everybody’s reality and it doesn’t have to be yours. Keep dreaming your dream and you can make it a reality!
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Tags: England, Public sector, Environmental adviser, Ecologist, Ecological surveyor, Environmental adviser, Freshwater/Catchment
Date profile submitted: 31/05/2026
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