Celebrating the Volunteering Achievement Award Winners 2025
The Volunteer Achievement Awards, now in its third consecutive year, aim to shine a spotlight on the remarkable contributions made by volunteers, recognising their dedication and impact on the CIEEM community. This year, we were delighted to build on the success of last year’s volunteer awards by recognising more fantastic volunteers from the CIEEM community. We want to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers who contribute so much to CIEEM and the wider sector.
Following shortlisting by three judges, including members of the Governing Board and Secretariat, we are delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Volunteer Achievement Awards. Please read below to find out more about each of our winners…
Martina Girvan CEcol FCIEEM
Martina was nominated for the many ways she has supported CIEEM’s goals through fostering excellence in ecological practice, mentoring, and advocacy over more than a decade. In her own words…
“I have been a member of CIEEM for 21 years, and started volunteering after my own Chartership, hosting development workshops and assessing Charterships, I have been supporting CIEEM through challenging times, contributing to Covid, and Raising Standards Guidance, advising the Strategic Policy Panel and Advisory and Fellowship Forum. My particular passion is how we deliver the messaging and business cases to deliver real impact, not only Biodiversity Net Gain but Environmental Net Gain – how we align nature restoration with the ecosystem services and showing that we need healthy nature to survive and thrive. I advocate for the use of Nature-based Solutions over grey solutions to deliver climate resilience and community wellbeing as well the biodiversity on which all we rely. I also developed Environmental Net Gain training for CIEEM and I help to shape a wide variety of knowledge sharing. CIEEM is a passionate community that drives change and innovation within our profession – for the benefits of society at large. It is a privilege to be part of that community that continues to collaborate, acknowledging the need for a wider and more diverse reach of blended audience to accelerate the future of our profession as custodians/guardians of the nature. There has never been a more important time to share our practical knowledge on the benefits of nature, pool our resources and speak with a united voice. CIEEM supports the profession with that vision, and I am very touched by this recognition.”
Emma Hatchett CEcol MCIEEM
Emma was nominated for the commitment, empathy, and forward-thinking approach she has brought to her role as Chair of the ‘Level 4 Trailblazer Apprenticeship Group for Assistant Ecologists’, proactively championing outreach and accessibility.
Reflecting on her experiences volunteering with CIEEM, Emma writes:
“Volunteering with CIEEM has been an incredibly enriching experience for me. Since joining the Advisory Forum in 2017, I have had the opportunity to expand my professional network and contribute to raising the profile of our industry. It has been an honour to be a part of such a dedicated community of professionals who share a common passion. I have also been part of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee and now, I have the privilege of chairing the Level 4 apprenticeship trailblazer, a role that allows me to directly influence future generations of ecologists and indeed how we increase diversity and inclusion across the industry. It’s a really important advancement and I feel really privileged to have played a part in this change. This journey with CIEEM has not only been professionally rewarding but also personally fulfilling and best of all its fun, challenging and gives me the chance to support the next generation!”
Sarah Kydd CEcol MCIEEM
Sarah was nominated for the valuable expertise and contributions she has made to the Scotland Policy group since 2019, and the impact this has had on growing CIEEM’s good reputation in Scotland.
About her involvement with the Scotland Policy Group Sarah said:
“I’ve really enjoyed getting involved in the CIEEM Policy Group, things weren’t quite as crazy as they are now when I joined, but with the rapid succession of policy and legislation changes coming our way, it feels more important than ever to be part of the group. Collectively we have a voice and it’s been really rewarding seeing the value of the work the Scotland Policy Group has done in terms of raising awareness and influencing outcomes. I’ve gained so much from the role, in terms of keeping me abreast of changes and it gives a real sense of purpose seeing that we are able to make a difference for nature.”
Craig Llewellyn CEcol MCIEEM
Craig was nominated for the many ways he has contributed to Wildlife & Countryside Link’s work including leading workshops and contributing to national policies and consultations, representing CIEEM as part of various committees, and his work to develop frameworks and guidance. Talking about his volunteering, Craig says:
“Through my role as a CIEEM Policy Representative, it has given me the opportunity to influence policy and legislation at a national level and collaborate with a range of professionals across the sector and beyond. Afterall, policy and legislation are embedded into our roles and forms the backbone of our industry; while protecting the natural environment. It has never been more important to be a CIEEM volunteer, and I am really honoured to represent the profession and stand up for nature at a time when it’s needed most.”
Bethany Lovell MCIEEM
Bethany was nominated for the commitment and dedication she has demonstrated to progressing professional development activities for the sector through her role on the Training, Education and Careers Development Committee. Sharing what she has enjoyed about the role Bethany said:
“I’ve really enjoyed working with members of the Training, Education and Careers Development committee (TECDC) over the last six years. Being a member of TECDC has provided interesting and challenging new experiences and the opportunity to network with other members who I wouldn’t come across in my day job”
Julia McCarthy MCIEEM
Julia was nominated for the dedication, innovation, and community spirit she brings to the Scotland Member Network committee and the key role she plays in encouraging collaboration, driving professional development, and championing high ecological standards. Julia explains why she decided to get involved with volunteering initially:
“Relocating across the Atlantic mid-career comes with its challenges, including building new networks and new local knowledge. I initially joined the Scottish Member Network Committee because I wanted to connect with others in the sector and find ways to create meaningful change. Volunteering has allowed me to learn so much about the lay of the land – not just related to Scotland’s ecology but also the policies and politics of nature in the UK. It has been an amazing opportunity to engage with so many brilliant folks, contribute my time to things I’m passionate about, and build great connections and friendships with others within the sector.”
Owen Peat MCIEEM
Owen was nominated for the dedication and expertise he has brought to his role as Joint Chair of the Professional Standards Committee (PSC), fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where collaboration and fairness are prioritised for all members.
When reflecting on his volunteering Owen shared:
“What encouraged me to volunteer for CIEEM was a shared view that improvement within our profession is both important and positive in terms of outcomes for the natural environment. It has been extremely rewarding to be a small part of that work, but also to work with colleagues from across sectors, nations and specialisms within ecology which I have valued immensely for the support and challenge this has brought to my professional life”.
Jip Vadar
Jip was nominated for the dedication, enthusiasm and impact she has brought to the Scotland Member Network committee to ensure that CIEEM members benefit from a strong sense of community and access to valuable knowledge-sharing events.
Thinking about what she has gained from her volunteering, Jip said:
“I started volunteering with CIEEM in 2023, fresh from my Master’s and struggling to find a job in the sector. It gave me something meaningful to be part of during a frustrating time, and helped me stay connected and motivated. Through volunteering, I’ve been able to see what others are doing and have done in their careers, which has really helped me reflect on my own path and where I might want to head. It’s also made me grow in confidence — professionally and personally — and it genuinely feels like I’m contributing to something bigger. While I feel a bit more settled now, the experience continues to shape me, and it’s a real joy to work alongside such inspiring, like-minded people.”