Carly Preen
I’ve subcontracted with Arbtech since 2019, where they provided me my with first foot on the ladder into the ecological sector under their ASSET programme.
Arbtech is employee-focused and driven by progress, which is appealing. You also have the flexibility to control your workflow and are offered a level of trust that you don’t see in other firms.
I love the flexible working hours, which allow me to spend time with my children at the drop of a hat. It’s really great – especially over the holidays – knowing that I can simply stop working and take everyone out for ice cream or go to the park for an hour.
I also like that no one is breathing down my neck checking what I’m doing 24/7. If the work gets done on time and to a good standard, then you are free to control your own work-life balance.
I spend time with my family and our animals when I’m not working.
We love to be outdoors at the sailing club and travel to see new places, and we like the mini adventures that geocaching brings!
We always make family time and try to maintain little traditions, such as movie night on a Saturday or afternoon tea on a Sunday.
It would probably be to never settle and always strive to be better; treat each achievement as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
It’s also important not to dwell on the past but to learn from it; don’t look back unless it’s to see how far you have come.
I’ve already been to a handful, but I would say that my favourite so far would be the interns’ 2024 induction dinner.
It was really nice to spend some time with my future colleagues. Also, I love a free calzone!
Everywhere.
But if I have to pick somewhere specific, it would probably be Costa Rica.
I recently had to shelve my PHD plans, so I would like to think that I would have found the time to pick this back up again sometime in the next five years.
I would like to make a point to travel more and make more family memories.
I am very much a workaholic, but I am also acutely aware that life is too short to spend all of it working.
Carly joined Arbtech in October 2024.
Meet the other members of our leading ecology and arboriculture team.