Hi I’m Dr Simon Pickering and I work at Ecotricity. I am a Senior Ecologist and my duties include overseeing all pre-planning permission, ecological surveys, liaison with landowners and statutory agencies, acting as a link to the local community, managing research projects with universities and advising the PR team.

I got into the renewable industry when Dale Vince (MD of Ecotricity) asked me if I wanted to help Ecotricity distinguish between real and made up risk from wind turbines. I had known Dale on and off for about 15 years and had in fact helped him get permission for his first turbine. In the past I worked at Wildfowl and Wetland Trust as a Conservation Officer opposing wind farms that were between a rare goose feeding area and their night time roost.

If you’d like a career similar to mine make sure you get lots of field work experience and be willing to go that extra mile. You must have an understanding of planning law and other people’s motivations, be pragmatic and solution driven and have a good sense of humour!