Emma’s career journey
How did your career begin?
I studied maths at university but part way through, I realised how much more fun the biology students were having! I finished the degree but went on to do a masters in Natural Resource Management to convert into the environmental sector and then volunteered with the Somerset Wildlife Trust planning team. I then got a job doing river corridor surveys across Wales, which consolidated my field skills in the riparian environment.
My first consultancy job was as a graduate ecologist in Bath. This broadened my environmental horizons as, alongside deepening my ecological experience, I worked on other parts of environmental impact assessments, including cultural heritage and landscape assessments.
Another job move brought me up north, where I moved on to more senior ecology roles, including working as the site ecologist for Manchester Airport Runway 2. Runway 2 was an interesting site with a large mitigation package, including wildlife and habitat translocation. We also created lots of new habitats, including ponds and woodlands.
These years on-site embedded my knowledge. I had designed many mitigation and compensation packages but working on-site and seeing the activities in practice changed my perception. Witnessing the practicalities involved informed my designs going forward, as I realised that sometimes theory does not work in practice! I now encourage everyone in my team to gain site experience. The responsibility of making decisions on-site as situations evolve builds your self-confidence and understanding.
This experience inspired me to complete a doctorate at Imperial College on woodland creation – using my Runway 2 experience to show that theory and practical realities often don’t align!
Tell us about your career at Binnies
I joined Binnies initially as an ecologist but as the only environmental professional in the Chester office, I began to develop our environmental impact assessment capabilities in the North and my own skill set in this area. I built up the team in Chester and over time, became head of the national Environmental Services Team, with staff located in many of our offices. I really enjoy leading my team and encouraging them to develop their skills by offering them new experiences and challenges.
Our capabilities have diversified over time; we now offer other services including natural capital and nature-based solutions. The shift into holistic solutions that provide not only environmental benefits but also social value is hugely interesting. Seeing the different approaches offered now is great, with heavily engineered solutions now seen as a last resort.
Biodiversity Net Gain is one of the newer and more exciting approaches that brings together skills from ecology, landscape and geographic information systems (GIS). The digital collection of data has also changed ways of working and collaboration is much easier.
RSK Group collaboration
Have you benefitted from the wider RSK Group?
The wider opportunities in RSK provide different markets and specialists to work with, e.g., highways and rail. There is an amazing range of very technical specialists, which I am enjoying learning from and working with.
One difference is the opportunity to offer both environmental design and environmental delivery, working with companies such as Salix and RSK Habitat Management. Within the RSK Group, there is a multitude of skills and services to draw from. Collaborating with RSK’s environmental contractors means we can appraise, design and then follow them through to delivery. Seeing the environmental gains and solutions on the ground can be highly rewarding.
One project that Emma has been involved with for over 16 years is the Donna Nook Coastal Realignment project
This £10 million coastal/flood protection scheme on the Humber Estuary serves also to provide high levels of environmental enhancement and mitigation of coastal squeeze through managed realignment. Binnies was appointed by the Environment Agency as Lead Consultant to develop the Donna Nook Managed Realignment Scheme, to create compensatory intertidal habitat and improve flood protection to agricultural land and residential properties on the coast of Lincolnshire. This role spanned from options appraisal through to delivery and monitoring. The completed scheme comprised a new 2.6 km set-back coastal defence embankment with a public right of way; removal of an existing tidal sluice to allow the site to be tidally inundated, creating approximately 110 ha intertidal habitat; an upgraded pumping station to enable the discharge of an existing fluvial watercourse over the new defence line; and a new public car park with associated landscaping, improved beach access and road widening.
How do you continue your personal development?
I’m fortunate that my career has enabled me to follow my interests with supportive employers and great mentors. I progressed my membership of CIEEM and now am a chartership assessor for the organisation. I have also joined IEMA and am now a Principal Environmental Impact Assessment Practitioner. These qualifications consolidate your knowledge and provide confidence when talking to colleagues. Being both a mentor and mentee challenges you to look at things differently and provides a great sounding board: benefiting from the other person’s experience helps you grow.
What do you see as the next shift in environmental services?
I value the holistic approach – for people to work as an integrated team to look at the wider issues of sustainability.
I’m very interested by the changes created by environmental impact assessments becoming outcome driven, as it provides fresh challenges. Longer term, the focus on natural solutions and the impacts on both environments and communities being considered on a more equal footing within EIAs offers exciting opportunities. I’m hopeful that the pace of change will increase (we are seeing some traction in this area) and people are realising the need to act. Clients want to do the right thing and processes and systems need to support this. Catchment-scale solutions and rewilding are two examples of possible options but the potential for unintended impacts does need managing. We are at an exciting and challenging time!
What is your advice to people starting their career?
Do what you enjoy! Try to resist the pressure or urge to rush your career. Enjoy every stage and embrace a variety of experiences. This way you will find your path. Above all, it should be fun!
About Emma
Emma Stevens is a Technical Director (EIA/Ecology) at Binnies, Chester office and is head of our Environmental Services Department, a growing team of more than 50 multidisciplinary environmental staff. She is primarily responsible for coordinating EIAs, including strategic environmental assessments (SEA) and Appropriate Habitat Regulations Assessments. She is an IEMA Principal EIA Practitioner.