Why I love my job... Ecology is all about problem solving; making the connections between often disparate pieces of evidence and seeing the opportunity in every situation. There is absolutely no chance of getting bored! 

When I'm out... It is usually in the proximity of good quality beer 

When I'm at home... You'll find me building stuff (current project is a green roofed shed), then it's onto making the dream of a carbon neutral, underground house in the peak district a reality. 

Thing you'd never guess from the photo... I'm not easily frightened by opposing barristers.

Why I love my job... When I was growing up I wanted to be the next Jacques Cousteau. I haven't managed to get myself a big boat and go scuba-diving around the world, but my job gets me regularly out in nature - so I'm part way there.

When I'm out... I'll be getting up early to go for a ride on my bike, paddling the canoe with the kids or getting a fresh coffee at Peli Deli in town. 

When I'm at home... (a) trying to get out with the family, (b) doing dad stuff, (c) reading a good book

Thing you'd never guess from the photo... I often get mistaken for George Clooney. Yes, I know - I can scarcely believe it either! 

The professional bit... I'm a bit of an ecology all-rounder, although I do have a couple of specialisms in bats and wetland/freshwater ecology. Over the last 20 years I've worked on amphibian research in France and Portugal, managed conservation sites in England and Wales, and provided consultancy on small barn conversions through to power station EIAs, via windfarms, nuclear sites, the M6 Toll road and the London Olympics site.

Why I love my job... Many parts of the ocean are still inaccessible to humans, which has both protected certain areas and organisms and focused human interactions on others.  This job gives me the opportunity to understand our influence on this environment, how it varies across time and space and work towards creating a sustainable balance between using its resources and maintaining them for the future. In addition, getting to learn and understand more about the marine world and all of its weird and wonderful inhabitants makes every day of this job fascinating.

When I'm out...  I'm getting dragged up a hill by our dogs, in a controlled fashion, of course! My love of outdoor pursuits includes hillwalking, running and boating, all pastimes which I enjoy with my husband Ross and two dogs whenever I get the chance.

When I'm at home... the cooker is on and the smells are wonderful.  I'm a keen baker of both bread and cakes, although my motivation is mostly driven by the prospect of eating them.  

Thing you'd never guess from the photo... A hard day's walk is not complete without having a good beer next to the fire.

Why I love my job... Well who wouldn't love wandering the seven seas, visiting amazing places looking for whales and trying to understand how they live and communicate? I feel privileged that I can get so close to these creatures and learn about the underwater world through how they exploit their environment.

When I'm out... i'll be playing volleyball in some cold sports hall or on the beach when the weather allows it, which is not that often in England!

When I'm at home... I spend most of my time in the kitchen being creative. I am truly Italian, loving my pasta and pizza, which I like to prepare from scratch.

Thing you'd never guess from the photo... I am actually quite geeky and, I really enjoy dance music.

Why I love my job... Every project presents a new challenge, often requiring a bespoke solution, working with clients to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. Walking around the countryside, climbing tress and getting up-close to wildlife, does it get better than that? 

When I'm out... If I'm not running around the Derwent Dams pushing my daughter (in a pram) I am more than likely going for a walk with the family and continuing my research into fine ales.

When I'm at home... I'm chopping wood or checking on my solar panel for the bat detector.

Thing you'd never guess from the photo... I'm a closet knitter and mandolin player, but am yet to combine the two, as I have not yet developed a penchant for Arran knitwear, and singing in folk clubs with one finger in my ear.

Why I love my job... I go to places that I would never have the opportunity to see; like the labyrinth of tunnels on an operational MoD site that was like the set of James Bond. When I ordinarily see measures to protect and enhance the wildlife such as reptile fences, bat crossing points and habitat creation on tip sites I realise the work we do is making a difference. 

When I'm out... I'm with the whole family in a nice little cafe deli in Ledbury or walking with my little boy in nearby woods. 

When I'm at home... Recently it has meant doing DIY. I'd like to say it's almost over but there is still the kitchen to do. 

Thing you'd never guess from the photo... I have a very open face so you can probably guess everything there is to know.

Why I love my job... There's always something new, this gives me frequent brain-ache, but its worth it! The job is about keeping everything in balance, the significance of data gathered in the field, the context of the site and species, the planning need and the legal concerns. They never fit together neatly and each one is continuously changing, but that's what makes it fun. 

When I'm out... I don't like thinking about this question, I must have got old or something worse. I promise to have an interesting night out soon, ask me about it next time we speak! 

Thing you'd never guess from the photo... I'm surprisingly homely, I knit and bake, that sort of thing. I also talk funny.

When I'm out... I am usually walking my dog, with the family, or both.

When I'm at home.... I am doing the usual running a house stuff, spending time with my family or sitting in my PJs watching TV.

Thing you can't tell from the photo... I enjoy watching 'Horrible Histories' just a bit too much. And I absolutely loathe tea.

The professional bit... Having been interested in all things nature and wildlife related since I was small, it is great to be able to use my skills working for a business doing such interesting work. Although I am envious of those who work out 'in the field', I am ashamed to say I also get a certain amount of satisfaction from a spreadsheet....and at least I never get rained on at my desk.

Why I love my job... I've had some amazing encounters during my career and get great satisfaction in having the opportunity to safeguard and promote wildlife. My clients appreciate what we do. We all have a common goal to improve the environment we live in.

Thing you’d never guess from my photo... I enjoy riding round the countryside on two wheels, preferably with at least 600cc under me.

Key experience

I have gained a broad range of skills and practical experience since I started work in the early 1990’s with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. I’m licensed in Wales for bats, dormice and GCN and have also held development licences for bats, dormice and GCN. Carmarthenshire is a dormouse hot spot and recently, I’ve been trialing a new type of drain pipe dormouse box against the traditional wooden box. I am competent at cetacean surveys, having worked off the coast of Wales and in Tenerife.  I specialise in BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes assessments, designing schemes and advising clients on how to gain ecology credits.

Why I love my job... Partly because I don’t have to wear a suit or do 9-5, but mainly because I use my skills and experience to encourage wider, responsible public access to the outdoors.

Thing you'd never guess from my photo... I once sang in a punk band.

Key experience

In 2003 myself and a colleague carried out a ground-breaking access survey in and around York which became an exemplar project for future Rights of Way Improvement Plans, now a statutory requirement for all local authorities. Our study examined access across the whole network: what off-road routes did commuters use to get to work or students take to the university? How did people use the city’s open spaces (such as ‘the strays’) for recreation and what measures could be taken to reconcile greater public access with nature conservation? And how could access be safeguarded and even enhanced in the face of new road-building, residential developments, etc?

Modern life and all its competing demands in a nutshell.

Why I love my job... The Old Moor and the Dearne Valley wetlands is something I’ve been involved with since I was 9 and I’m really proud of what has been achieved. You had to be brave to walk around Barnsley with a pair of binoculars round your neck! Guardian profile.

Thing you’d never guess from my photo... I’m 6’6” tall and worked as a coal-mining electrician crawling on my hands and knees and sometimes on my belly.

Key experience

After leaving the mining industry in the early 1990s I went back to college to sit amongst youngsters and take my GCSEs. After a foundation course I joined the University of Sheffield’s ecology degree course. Ecological consultancy was a relatively new business and there wasn’t much work available. So after graduating, I worked part-time on ecological projects and part-time for various companies including sales. As the ecological work increased I completed a masters degree in Environmental Management for Business. After gaining this degree I’ve been busy with a wide range of ecological work specialising in ornithological survey. When I first left the mining industry my ambition in life was to get out of bed in the morning and actually look forward to going to work. This is something I never had while working underground. I’ve achieved that ambition now.

Why I love my job... The sheer diversity of invertebrates means that every time I go out into the field and every time I sit down at the microscope, I encounter something new. The fascination of entomology is enough to fill several lifetimes!

Thing you'd never guess from my photo... Just after it was taken (at Cape St Vincent), as the sun set over the Atlantic I saw the “green flash” for the first time.

Key experience

I specialise on beetles, an excellent group for site assessment in almost any habitat. Survey experience covering all terrestrial, freshwater and coastal habitats, specialising in brownfield sites, heathlands, ancient parklands and coastal sites. My advice on mitigation, compensation and enhancement draws upon three years’ working as the RSPB’s Biodiversity Ecologist, advising on management of reserves for wildlife other than birds. My research experience (from a PhD on grasshoppers and climate change to papers in Nature and Science on the impacts of climate and habitat change on biodiversity) is reflected in the objectivity, clarity and precision of my reports.