New staff for 2021

During the course of a busy year in 2021, Direct Ecology have welcomed three new members to Our Team, with Victoria, Gemma and Scott all joining as Assistant Ecologists.

Victoria Curley joined Direct Ecology in March 2021 after completing her studies in Conservation Biology at the University of Aberdeen. Through her Honours project, Victoria gained extensive fieldwork experience carrying out water vole surveys in the Scottish Highlands. She has also gained fieldwork experience volunteering with conservation and research organisations, conducting whale and dolphin surveys. Since joining the team, Victoria has undertaken a wide variety of ornithological surveys – including breeding bird and vantage point surveys for raptors and wildfowl – in addition to assisting with habitat and protected species surveys.

Gemma Grossart joined the company in May 2021, having three years’ previous experience working and volunteering in the ecology sector in addition to acquiring an MSc in Wildlife Biology and Conversation and a BSc in Animal Biology from Edinburgh Napier University. During her MSc project, she expanded on her experience in bat activity surveys and also gained experience in bat call analysis. Since joining Direct Ecology, Gemma has assisted with reporting, bat activity and daytime surveys, protected species surveys, and habitat surveys.

Scott Allinson became Direct Ecology’s newest member of staff in July after he graduated in Environmental Geography from the University of Stirling with studies encompassing subjects including habitat mangement, environmental policy and GIS while additionally having previous experience as a volunteer ranger and freelance researcher. He had previously undertaken bat roost counts, and has now gained experience carrying out peat surveys. Scott was brought onto the team to provide specialist GIS support, and quickly got stuck in with last season’s busy schedule of dusk and dawn bat surveys as well.

We are also delighted to welcome Senior Ecologist Eilidh McNab back to the team. Eilidh is an experienced ornithologist and mammal surveyor, and also holds a NatureScot bat licence.  She previously worked for Direct Ecology from 2012 to 2016, leaving to undertake academic study.  Over the years, Eilidh has worked on many large and small scale projects for Direct Ecology, covering all aspects including tendering, surveying, reporting and project management.

We are very pleased to add Victoria, Gemma and Scott to the team, and to have Eilidh back with us.