ABOUT US

Our team brings together a wide range of experience and specialisms to provide a comprehensive range of services. The team is dynamic and is selected specifically for each project to ensure a bespoke innovative solution to each challenge. 

We are a new, refreshing consultancy but with a solid background in both large and small consultancies and experience with a wide range of clients.

Our mantra is that if we cannot solve the problem we know someone that can. We work with clients, in-house staff and specialist contractors to provide a truly comprehensive, cost effective and pragmatic solution.

All staff are members of Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management

Ben established Ecology by Design in 2015 after a successful career spanning central government and environmental and ecological consultancy.  He has over 15 years' experience of working in ecological consultancy and is a Chartered Environmentalist (Cenv).

Ben has expertise across the full range of ecological surveys, providing mitigation both under licence and unlicenced. He has experience working with both public and private sector clients across the UK and in North America.

Ben holds survey licences for bats, great crested newts and hazel dormice and thrives on designing and implementing innovative and pragmatic mitigation to solve technically difficult ecological constraints.

Laura joined Ecology by Design in April 2019 having spent 11 years working with a large ecological consultancy. She routinely undertakes UKHabs habitat surveys, and completes field surveys and Ecological Impact Assessments for protected species including bats, dormouse, reptiles, badger, otter, water vole and great crested newts. She also conducts Habitats Regulations Assessments, identifying impacts on sites of European importance such as Burnham Beeches and Chilterns Beechwoods. 

Laura is a bat specialist, holding a personal Class 2 licence to survey and handle bats, an Earned Recognition bat licence and a Level 1 Thermography Certification to survey bats with infra-red and thermal imaging equipment. She has secured numerous bat mitigation licences for development projects. She also holds a Level 1 personal survey licence and has secured mitigation licences for great crested newts.

Emily joined Ecology by Design in April 2019. Prior to this, she has worked in the ecology industry for three years as a field ecologist then as an assistant ecologist. She conducts surveys for a wide range of protected species along with Phase 1 habitat surveys and BREEAM assessments. She has a great crested newt survey licence and is working towards her bat survey licence.

Emily enjoys travelling, having recently returned from exploring Cuba, along with walking and reading.

Kate joined Ecology by Design in March 2017 after completing a graduate ecologist training scheme. She has experience undertaking bat, water vole, tree hazard and badger bait marking surveys and is currently training for her great crested newt licence in addition to starting a rare reptile course in April.

Kate loves an adventure and spent a year living in the jungles of Madagascar studying lemurs and has worked in Belize surveying stingrays and sharks as part of her Zoology degree, her next trip will hopefully be to India. She enjoys kayaking, scuba diving, cooking and eating!  

Emily joined Ecology by Design in March 2018, having gained experience in ecology through a social enterprise focusing on corporate engagement in biodiversity conservation, an independent ecology consultancy and most recently a sustainability consultancy in London. She has experience in protected species surveys, habitat management and mitigation, and currently holds a level 2 bat licence and level 1 great crested newt licence.

In her spare time, Emily enjoys creative pursuits and exploring the outdoors with family, friends and Kat the dog.

James joined Ecology by Design in July 2019 as an ecologist having come from a background in multi-disciplinary consultancies. He undertakes a wide range of ecological fieldwork and office work but has a particular penchant for dormouse, reptiles and GIS. James holds class 1 licences for great crested newt, bat and dormouse and also holds a licence to survey for rare reptiles: sand lizard and smooth snake.

Oli joined Ecology by Design in November 2021, having gained experience at two other constancy companies following university. Oli has experience with a range of protected species and habitat surveys, for example, great crested newts, bats, reptiles, dormice, badger and water vole, along with carrying out mitigation and clerk of works. Though a generalist, Oli is particularly interested in birds and botany. He currently holds a great crested newt licence and will start working towards his bat licence in the next survey season.

Outside of work, Oli enjoys hiking/cycling, birdwatching, a round of golf and playing guitar and piano

Anna joined Ecology by Design in September 2022. Prior to this, she worked in the ecology industry for five years gaining experience of a wide range of protected species surveys along with Phase 1 habitat surveys. Anna holds class 1 licences for great crested newts and bats. Outside of work she enjoys running, reading and gaming.

Olyvia joined Ecology by Design in 2021, as a University of Reading placement student whilst completing an MSc in Species Identification and Survey Skills. Olyvia now works as an Assistant Ecologist, gaining skills in protected species surveys and working towards her level 1 great crested newt and bat licence. She particularly enjoys plant identification, great crested newt presence/absence surveys and looking for badger field signs. Olyvia enjoys painting wildlife in her spare time and having a go at bouldering.

Anna has a BSc in Zoology and MSc in Species Identification and Survey Skills from the University of Reading. She is a CIEEM member and has been involved in ecological activities and wildlife organisations internationally. She is developing her skills in a wide range of protected species surveys, and especially enjoys bird identification.

In her spare time, Anna enjoys travelling, visiting Nature Reserves and outdoor activities.

TBC - January 2023

Aoife joined Ecology by Design in March 2022 having completed an Msc in Ecological Management and Conservation Biology at Queen’s University Belfast and a BA in Biology at Oxford University. She has experience conducting and analysing newt, lizard, and dragonfly surveys, and has a particular interest in botany. She is aiming to expand her surveying skills and learn more about habitat management and restoration. 

In her free time, she enjoys bouldering, hiking and reading.

TBC - January 2023

TBC - January 2023

Hayley joined the team in March 2021, her background predominately is in customer service. Prior to joining she set up and managed the customer care function for a local start up company. She has experience in both the public and private sectors and is looking forward to providing administration support to the wider team.

Hayley enjoys travelling, walking her dogs and sourcing vintage clothing.

Leanne joined the team in August 2022 to support the business. She loves spending time with family, watching and playing football, long walks and also enjoys camping.