I am an independent researcher with the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery within the Environmental Change Institute in the School of Geography at the University of Oxford.
My interests are wide-ranging, but centre on applied research questions around people and nature. I have a background in ecology with experience in fungal ecology, citizen science, forest carbon cycling and aspects of sustainable agriculture. This expertise is now being applied in understanding how we can "do" nature recovery so that benefits to people and nature are maximised, how we can engage communities in nature recovery efforts and equity of access to nature and green spaces.
I hold a PhD in Fungal Ecology and a BSc in Biology from Cardiff University. Since completing my PhD in 2008 I have slowly shifted from ecology towards people and nature. This shift was initiated through ten years with environmental NGO Earthwatch Europe, a citizen science-focused research charity. I built on this experience while working with the Oxfordshire Treescape Project, an initiative to support community groups and land managers in nature recovery planning through opportunity mapping, and in my current role with the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery.
I work in close collaboration with local governments and NGOs as well as social and natural scientists, which suits my focus on applied research. Recent projects, including my 2025 OPEN Fellowship, have developed in response to local government needs so that there are direct paths to policy and action impacts in local communities.
Throughout my career I have focused on communication, being on the British Mycological Society's Education and Outreach Committee, teaching on Oxford University's Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques course, giving talks at careers events, conferences and lab meetings, and running innovative workshops such as Fungal Ecology for Forest Ecologists and a workshop on using Lego Serious Play to generate innovative research collaborations.