I am a senior lecturer in zoology with a specialism in mammal conservation. My passion for wildlife conservation have led me to undertake research in the UK, Nicaragua and South Africa, with the results being presented at conferences in Europe, the United States and Australia. My current focus is on the impact of humans on the much-loved European hedgehog. Through this, I have appeared on BBC 1’s Countryfile and The One Show, BBC Radio 2’s The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, and in many publications including BBC Wildlife magazine, Your Dog, Cotswold Life and a wide range of national press.

I completed a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University where I focused my research on the water shrew. This led to me spending several months in the cloud forests of Nicaragua surveying the biodiversity of this little-studied Central American country. I then completed an MRes in Biodiversity and Conservation at the University of Leeds in 2008. After teaching at Nottingham Trent University I moved to Gloucester to join the team at Hartpury in 2010. Since then I have taught a variety of subjects, with particular favourites being Conservation Biology and the Field Course modules, which is delivered in partnership with a private wildlife reserve in South Africa.

I am currently chair of the Human-Wildlife Interaction Community of Practice. I am also a member of the University's Animal and Agriculture Research Group. 

I am programme manager for Hartpury University's BSc (Hons) Zoology, which was launched in 2018. I work with all levels of the programme to support the student experience, develop the profile of the course and engage with industry to enhance delivery. 

Alongside this, I teach at all levels of undergraduate provision. The modules I lead include Fundamental Skills for Zoology, Field Course, Wildlife Management & Conservation Genetics and Wildlife & Zoo Management. To support teaching I work with a private wildlife reserve in the North West province of South Africa, the Field Studies Council and with Paignton Zoo, amongst others. 

Since completing my doctorate I have started supervising a PhD, and I have been supervising masters and undergraduate level projects for many years. I particularly encourage my students to work with outside organisations to add value to their project. Historically, these have included zoos, wildlife hospitals, national and local animal welfare charities, wildlife trusts, local councils and conservation organisations.

I also work with students on the placement year, seeking out exciting opportunities to support them in their career progression. The placement year can be utterly life-changing, so working closely with students during this time is really rewarding.  

My main research interests centre around mammal conservation, with a particular interest in how humans and animals exist together. This was a key focus of my PhD thesis, which considered the impact of survival of hedgehogs in an anthropogenic world. This led me to look at how hedgehogs survive in the human-dominated landscape, how wildlife rehabilitation affects their survival, the impact of anthropogenic activity which leads animals to require rehabilitation, and how we can most effectively survey for small nocturnal species. 

I have experience of a wide range of survey methods, including mammal trapping, camera trapping, VHF and GIS tracking, and the use of technology such as thermal imagery, plus experience of working with conservation dog teams to detect wildlife. I have an interest in exploring the ethical and welfare-related aspects of survey methodologies on wildlife. 

To further explore the relationship between humans and wildlife I enjoy exploring topics such as mental health and wellbeing of wildlife rehabilitators, the benefits humans gain from interacting with wildlife, and the value of animals and nature in the education of children. 

My research has been kindly funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People's Trust for Endangered Species.