Meet The Team

Ed has a background in ecology, and a passion for conservation. In his day to day role at EMEC, he leads our highly qualified, knowledgeable and enthusiastic team of land management consultants, ecologists and arboriculturists.

His qualifications include a BSc (Hons) Geography, PgC Geographical Information Systems, MSc Botanical Conservation and a PhD Heathland Ecology.

Ben joined EMEC in June 2020 following an eight-year career working for Tier 1 Civil Engineering Contractors, delivering nationally significant infrastructure projects in the UK and New Zealand. Project Management specific qualifications such as PRINCE2 have supplemented his HND and membership of the Institute of Civil Engineers to allow development into his current role as Project Manager. Within this role he oversees the delivery of EMECs largest projects.

Prior to joining EMEC, Lee was a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Upon leaving the armed forced he obtained a APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ). Holland also holds an BSc Economics (Hons) degree.

Lee is responsible for project managing many of our regional and national projects, where EMEC is responsible for acting as the consultant ecologist tasked with protecting habitats and offering added value advice to developers so that the communities they create, incorporate diversity.

Prior to joining EMEC, Lauren was a key account manager at Mitie for 6 years working across a variety of industry sectors with a landscapes commercial focus. She also holds a BA(Hons) degree from Leeds Beckett University.

Lauren has been appointed to help EMEC project manage a major contract which involves carrying out soil sampling across various sites across England.

Prior to joining EMEC, Clare built up many years of experience in IT consultancy and test management. She is a qualified change manager, experienced in leading teams on major projects. Clare is a member of IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) and their Biodiversity and Natural Capital network. Clare also has experience in practical conservation, including woodland management and volunteer organisation.

In her role, Clare manages the delivery of biodiversity inventory and action plans, for a national infrastructure client. Her accreditations include BSc (Hons), AIEMA, APMG Change manager, Cert. Conservation Management, IEMA Cert. Environmental Management.

After 19 years leading community engagement work within a local authority, Dan decided to make the move into the environment sector. In his role here at EMEC, Dan is leading the stakeholder engagement for a major project with a national infrastructure client.

Alice joined EMEC in September 2020, after returning from a two-year career break in Canada where she worked as a field technician at several bird observatories. Prior to her work abroad, Alice held a graduate ecologist role at a multi-disciplinary consultancy for three years, after graduating from the University of Leeds with an MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation. Alice holds Natural England Class Licenses for bats and great crested newt, and has experience of Phase 1 Habitat surveys and a range of protected species surveys, including bats, great crested newts, badger, water voles and birds. Alice also has experience conducting Biodiversity Impact Assessments to achieve 10% net gain using UK Habitat Classification and the DEFRA Metric.

Vicky joined EMEC as a Senior Ecologist in 2022, having previously worked as a Wildlife Lead Advisor in the licensing team at Natural England. Vicky has worked in ecological consultancy for most of her career, starting as an Assistant Ecologist in 2015. She holds a first-class honours degree in Biology, a certificate in Ecological Consultancy and is registered to use the Level 2 Class licence to survey for bats, and Level 1 Class licence to survey for great crested newt. Vicky is also an Associate member of CIEEM and holds a CSCS card for working on construction sites.

In her role, Vicky leads and reports on a range of habitat and protected species surveys and has worked on mitigation licences for bats, including as the Named Ecologist.

In her spare time Vicky enjoys volunteering with her local bat group and learning new plant species whilst out walking her dog, Dil.

Sarah joined EMEC in June 2018 after graduating from the University of Nottingham that summer with a first class honours degree in Zoology. Sarah holds Natural England Class Licences for bats and great crested newts and is experienced in conducting phase-1 habitat surveys and a variety of protected species surveys, including badger, bat, great crested newt, water vole, nesting bird and reptile surveys. She is also experienced in the design and management of habitat for great crested newts. Sarah qualified as a badger vaccinator in 2019 and assists the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust with their BEVS vaccination program.

For as long as I can remember I have loved being outdoors, no matter the weather! My parents bought me a bird book when I was 7 years old, and my interest in wildlife, especially birds, grew from there on. My love for wildlife and birds continued to grow, and I tailored my education to match my hobby by completing a degree in Ecology and Environmental Management. I have worked as an Ecologist for four years, with my specialism being Ornithology, although I have experience in all aspects of ecology. I hold a survey class licence for Barn Owl and I am a qualified tree climber. I am currently working towards gaining my survey licence for great crested newts and bats.

Greg joined EMEC in September 2020, following three seasons with a large consultancy in the North of England. He completed his degree in ecology and land management in 2016 and now looks to bolster his skills within the ecology field. He is experienced in a wide range of ecological surveys for protected species, including reptile and phase 1 habitat surveys and holds both great crested newt and bat survey licences. He has a passion for birds and has gained a great deal of experience in carrying out breeding, wetland and vantage point bird surveys through working on a large national infrastructure project within the Midlands. A trainee bird ringer for a local group, Greg also volunteers on Breeding and Wetland bird surveys for the British Trust for Ornithology in Nottinghamshire. He is also proficient and trained in the use of chainsaw, brush cutter and other habitat management tools through a previous volunteer ranger position.

Ed joined EMEC Ecology in the summer of 2019 after completing a traineeship with Natural England on Dartmoor. Ed is now responsible for leading the Botanical surveying at EMEC as well as delivering practical management as an operative in the Land Management Team. As a botanist he has carries out a range of work including National Vegetative Classification surveys, Site of Special Scientific Interest condition assessments, poisonous plant surveys and advises on habitat management through the production of management plans. Through his role in Land Management he takes part in a wide range of practical conservation work including use of the chainsaw and brushcutter and the creation of wetland, woodland and grassland habitats.  

Joining us in August 2015, Adrian Dutton brings additional skills to EMEC Ecology, with his 30 years experience in invertebrates. He is a valuable asset to the company and has already carried out invertebrate surveys for Natural England across the country, looking at invertebrate abundance in relation to scrub habitat. In addition to the species level identification required for the contract for Natural England, Adrian has been undertaking butterfly and moth surveys at sites in Nottinghamshire and aquatic invertebrate surveys of rivers and streams. The results of these surveys can be used to assess the pollution levels of watercourses.

Having previously worked at a number of other consultancies Laura has plenty of experience carrying out species surveys, QGIS maps and biodiversity impact assessments and biodiversity net gain.

She holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Conversation, MSc in Ecology and Conservation, great crested newt licence, a Field Identification Skills Certificate, as well as qualifications in tree climbing and aerial rescue.

Laura’s role includes carrying out species surveys, managing projects and QGIS mapping. She will also be working on BIA’s/BNG’s from site visit stage to filling out the metric and working with the client to achieve net gain.

In her spare time Laura enjoys climbing, canicrossing / scooterjoring with her husky Nala and hiking with her friends. She also loves bird watching and just generally being in nature. She has also completed the Dougie mac moonlight walk a few times to raise money for a local charity and is currently planning to walk/canicross 99km with her dog to raise money for The Dogs Trust.

Dave is responsible for planning and creating projects as well as managing the team. He holds a BSc combined Honours in Countryside Management and Earth Science from Liverpool University. Dave has over 20 years of conservation experience including nearly 10 years as a Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust reserves officer. Dave holds NPTC qualifications in Level 3 chainsaw felling and Level 2 pesticides as well as tree climbing and he has also assisted with European protected species surveys and mitigation projects.

Philip joined the team after he graduated from Nottingham Trent University, where he completed a BSc in Wildlife Conservation. He has worked on numerous projects including creating wildlife ponds, building dipping platforms and constructing artificial badger setts and assisted with bat, reptile and GCN surveys.

Philip has over 10 years volunteering experience with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust as well as several years’ experience as a volunteer with hazel dormice and bats.

Philip has a Dormouse licence, is a NPTC Level 3 chainsaw operator and is Level 2 pesticide licence holder.  In addition, Philip is an APHA qualified lay vaccinator for badgers, and has assisted the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust with their badger vaccination scheme

Vinny joined us after completing an NVQ in Countryside Management and volunteering for the Trust and EMEC. Amongst numerous different jobs with the Land Management team he has helped create over 25 new ponds as mitigation for great crested newts, installed coir rolls to reinforce banks and increase the plant biodiversity of ponds and waterways and installed temporary amphibian fencing (TAF). Vinny has numerous qualifications including NPTC Level 2 chainsaw operator, tree climber, mewp operator, qualified excavator and dumper operation. Vinny is also an approved ECoW and has assisted the ecology team in a wide variety of European protected species surveys. 

Ed joined EMEC Ecology in the summer of 2019 after completing a traineeship with Natural England on Dartmoor. Ed is now responsible for leading the Botanical surveying at EMEC as well as delivering practical management as an operative in the Land Management Team. As a botanist he has carries out a range of work including National Vegetative Classification surveys, Site of Special Scientific Interest condition assessments, poisonous plant surveys and advises on habitat management through the production of management plans. Through his role in Land Management he takes part in a wide range of practical conservation work including use of the chainsaw and brushcutter and the creation of wetland, woodland and grassland habitats.  

Andy came to us after completing a Wildlife Conservation Degree at Brackenhurst and has gained a wide range of new skills and experience including Level 2 Chainsaw and ATV Driving. He has assisted with a number of protected species projects, in particular GCN pond installation and maintenance as well as numerous practical habitat management projects. 

Joe is currently working on completing his Degree in Zoology at Derby University and spends much of his spare time assisting the team with a wide variety of practical habitat management tasks and is a particularly proficient tree planter. He holds a Level 2 chainsaw and brushcutter licences, NPTC pesticides and ATV driving tickets. 

Kelly joined EMEC Ecology in 2017 as our administrator, coming from a background of charity administration and finance. Kelly ensures the smooth running of day to day office procedures and is always happy to help. Kelly is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians.