“If you walk into any room at any conference, it’s really white, and that’s been the case for a really long time.”
Under-representation and the lack of diversity is a systemic issue faced across a wide range of professions, and ecology is certainly one of them. 4.5% of workers in environmental organisations are from ethnic minority groups, which when compared to the average of all sectors being 16% [1], shows just how much room for improvement there is in the profession.
We recently partnered with Mammal Society to host a First Thursday Club webinar, bringing together a panel of professionals working in the environmental sector to discuss these issues by drawing from their own experiences.
Mammal Society are a conservation charity that strive for a future in which sustainable mammal populations can thrive across the UK and Ireland. They share our passion for inclusion, so this was a perfect opportunity to work together.
The Panel
We had four excellent guest speakers during the webinar, including Ferozah Mahmood, Abby Onencan, Emma Onyejekwe, and Alan Yap.
Ferozah is an engagement officer for the Surrey Wildlife Trust, working directly with schools and communities to try to restore nature, as well as helping students to connect with nature.
Abby is an associate professor within the School of Environmental Science. She also acts as the school’s placement director and the foundation year director.
Emma is a registered veterinary nurse who is looking to diversify her career into wildlife conservation. She is currently working on a freelance basis, doing bat survey work as well as working with a rewilding and engagement officer. She also won the Mammal Champion Award from the Mammal Society in 2026.
Alan is a consultant ecologist with RSK Biocensus, undertaking a wide range of surveys to assess the sites for potential habitats and a range of protected species, helping to ensure that the clients remain compliant with wildlife legislation. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) Early Careers Special Interest Group.
Completing the group were hosts Sarah Harmer, Director at RSK Biocensus, and Yashni Vithlani, Training and Events Intern for Mammal Society.
The Prospect of Ecology
Ecology as a profession has many different paths entry routes from going directly from university to working, finding ecology as a career change later in life, or simply being inspired by others and wanting to get involved.
Due to having very limited access to parks or nature reserves while growing up, Alan originally had next to no interest in ecology. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Alan spent time volunteering with his local wildlife trust to help with his mental health. Through doing this, he began to learn more about wildlife and had the opportunity to explore many areas of ecology, such as environmental education and habitat monitoring. This really positive experience inspired him to pursue a career in ecological consultancy, and now he is travelling around the country to undertake a wide range of wildlife surveys and manage projects of his own.
Emma’s experience was similar to Alan’s. During the lockdowns she got involved with the community in her area, including taking part in Citizen Science surveys, which then sparked her passion for wildlife and conservation.
Abby’s journey was very different. she , Beginning her career in general law, she soon developed a passion for wildlife law so began to steer her career development in that direction. While pursuing this, she found herself working in sustainability and environmental work in general, which led her into her current career in ecology.
Ferozah began not knowing what she wanted to do, choosing a degree in biology as this seemed broad enough to figure out what she wanted as she progressed in her studies. During this time, she found that she was really enjoying the ecology modules, and she found learning about animals, plants and ecosystems especially fascinating. Ferozah then went on to complete a masters degree in ecology and conservation.
Although ecology is one of the fastest-growing career sectors in the UK [2], numbers of students studying the field are still miniscule compared to similar areas of study. 18% of all degrees taken in the UK are represented by Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) [3], the category that includes ecology and environmental studies. However, only 2.4% of these STEM students studied within the Geography, Earth and Environmental field [4].
Between 6% to 14% of those studying subjects closely related to environmental careers identify as Black, Asian, Mixed or other, compared to 26% across all higher education subjects [5], showing how little racial diversity exists within ecological studies.
What can we do?
Many children and young adults don’t have the chance to experience ecology in school, and have no idea that this is a viable career. Because of this, showing these young minds what ecology is, and where it can lead is essential.
Many of our colleagues at RSK Biocensus volunteer their time to doing just that, introducing young people to ecology at different stages of their education.
Earlier this year, Charlotte Armstrong, Assistant Ecologist, did a guest lecture at University Centre Leeds for students studying Animal Management and Behaviour, talking about her path into ecology and the opportunities she has had within her time at RSK Biocensus so far.
Alicia De Gracia, Senior Ecology Project Manager, also got involved earlier in the year, giving a presentation at Hermitage Park Primary School about her career in ecology. We also supported the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Youth in Nature Summit, being one of nine ecological organisations represented at the careers fair.
Many people around the country have seen or taken part in ecological work without even realising it, such as rescuing turtles or fighting for the conservation of endangered species, without knowing that there is a whole industry around ecology. So by making this clear from a younger age, we can begin to see the next generation of ecologists.
The next step is to try to be more inclusive as an business sector. Though being much easier said than done, there are different ways that ecology can become a more attractive career proposition for people from all kinds of backgrounds, with all kinds of experience.
When touching on his path to ecology, Alan spoke about his local Wildlife Trust, which provided a four-month paid traineeship, specifically targeting people from under-represented groups, giving opportunities to people who may not have had them elsewhere.
Another big way to encourage this growth is to improve the visibility of diverse and inclusive employment, a great way to do this is through groups targeting awareness within business. An example of this within RSK Group, is the networks created to help every colleague feel valued, represented, and supported at work. These include RSK with Unity, the RSK Pride Network, and the RSK Neurodiversity Network among others, which strive for inclusion within RSK Biocensus and the wider RSK Group. Having a public presence such as this can help to show people in these groups that they are truly valued.
A huge barrier for anyone seeking work can be not knowing if something is for them, so seeing businesses live up to these values, and showing that actions mean more than words, can be the difference between someone getting involved, or giving up before they have even started.
Hopes for the Future
Action is worth more than any words, and when we see action taking place, it is a huge step as a whole towards inclusion within the sector. No matter how small, one action can be noticed by someone else, who may then make an even bigger action, making a huge difference going forward.
Ecology needs diversity, as those from different cultures, lifestyles and upbringings may have skills and experience to be able to bring into the sector, that we very rarely see. By showing our support and advocating for inclusion, we can begin to work towards a more inclusive profession, and a more inclusive world, one step at a time.
You can hear more about the panel’s experiences in the full video here.
References:
1. Gayle, D. (2025) Environmental groups in UK ‘still very white – especially at the top’. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/03/environmental-groups-in-uk-still-very-white-especially-at-the-top
2. Mattinson Partnership (2024) How Ecology Careers in the UK Are Changing. https://www.mattinsonpartnership.com/article/a-career-in-ecology/
3. Women into Science and Engineering (2026) Higher Education Statistics – 2024/2025 https://wise.theiet.org/resources-and-impact/research-and-statistics/higher-education-statistics-20242025/
4. HESA (2026) Higher Education Statistics – 2024/2025 https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/27-01-2026/sb273-higher-education-student-statistics/subjects
5. Diverse Sustainability Initiative (2022) Background to the Diverse Sustainability Initiative (DSI) https://www.diversesustainability.net/about/background-to-the-dsi/