Meet Our Environment & Biodiversity Officers: Emma and Georgina
In 2026, English Estates welcomed two new Environment and Biodiversity Officers, Emma and Georgina. With endless enthusiasm and passion for their careers in the land management sector, Emma and Georgina are starting a blog series focusing on relevant topics and projects that English Estates is working on across England.
Their first blog allows Emma and Georgina the opportunity to introduce themselves as they answer questions put to them by colleague, Joe Heath.
Emma and Georgina, we know you’re at the start of your careers as Environment and Biodiversity Officers, but how did you get here?
Emma: After graduating from Exeter University in the summer of 2025 with a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology, I was keen to start a career in environmental management and biodiversity protection, where I could work closely with people and communities. My journey to English Estates arose from a desire to be part of a company with a strong reputation for customer care and community engagement.
Georgina: My background predominantly lies in environment and ecology. After completing my integrated master’s degree in Biological Sciences at Durham University, I busied myself with volunteering for the National Trust on a conservation project, freelancing for a local ecology consultancy, and completing a stint at a financial technology company!
Being an Environment and Biodiversity Officer seems quite a broad role – what does it involve, and what are you enjoying so far?
Both: As Environment and Biodiversity Officers, our role is focused on strategic open spaces for new-build residential developments, predominantly Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs). We undertake site visits for new projects, review documentation, and calculate long-term management costs in order to issue proposals for the in-perpetuity management of sites.
Georgina: I have enjoyed the breadth and variety of the role so far, from in-person site visits and client meetings to desk-based work such as habitat mapping and fee calculations. The Indevor Group AGM in January provided a perfect opportunity to travel to Manchester and meet the wider team, while learning about our ambitious goals for 2026.
Emma: I’m enjoying visiting the sites most of all. It’s great to be able to see a potential site first-hand before development work has begun, and to witness the transformation of a site into a SANG. I’m currently undertaking a QGIS training course so that we can both become competent in designing and measuring habitats and sites.
What are you looking forward to?
Emma: I’m looking forward to being part of projects that support local communities while promoting biodiversity within open green spaces to ensure their preservation for future generations. I’m also excited about working more closely with communities – engaging them with nature and encouraging a deeper connection to the environment. As I continue to grow and progress in my role, I’m keen to keep learning new skills, take on new challenges, and contribute positively to both the team and the clients we support.
Georgina: As a data-driven person, I am excited about developing my knowledge and use of QGIS to provide more in-house services to clients, as well as identifying opportunities to streamline our data processes.
I am also looking forward to taking on increasing responsibility in project management, benefiting from consistent learning opportunities from the wider Group, and achieving our targets. 2026 looks set to be our most promising year yet for English Estates.
Follow this series to learn more about how we’re supporting biodiversity across our developments.
