National Careers Week: Climate and Nature

This webinar was part of a series for National Careers Week, aiming to bring environmental careers to life through real stories and honest insights from professionals working across a wide range of roles and sectors. Within the "Climate and Nature" theme, we explored careers linked to climate change, biodiversity, nature recovery, and sustainability-led decision making.

We were joined for this webinar by:

Gayle Burgess, who leads TRAFFIC’s work on Social and Behaviour Change. Gayle authored the CITES Guidance on Demand Reduction, which Parties are urged to use under CITES Resolution 17.4 Rev CoP19, and is a member of the IUCN SSC CEC Behaviour Change Task Force. Gayle also led the Behaviour Change Technical Support Program (TSP) for the World Bank GEF- Global Wildlife Program. This two-year initiative (2023-2025) provided resources, Toolkits, bilateral support, strategy development, Guidance Notes and Webinars on relevant topics for the 38 countries implementing wildlife conservation for development priorities under GEF 6, 7, and 8. Gayle trained as a natural scientist but brings over 25 years of experience implementing social and behaviour change solutions for sustainable lifestyles and biodiversity conservation objectives. Gayle is a Fellow of the Institution of Environmental Sciences and a Chartered Environmentalist with the Society for the Environment.

Sarah Hodson, a Climate Change Environmental Impact Assessment specialist at SLR Consulting. Sarah has over 15 years of technical experience undertaking risk assurance within the energy, water, and construction industries, as well as for both national and local government. 

Our speakers shared insights into the following areas:

• What it’s like to work in the sector and where your degree could take you after graduation

• A realistic picture of the daily tasks, responsibilities, and skills required

• The transition from university to career, including the steps, decisions, and experiences that helped them succeed.

Header image credit: © anjokan - Adobe Stock