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Our Team

Josephine McCarthy

What made you choose Arbtech?

I chose Arbtech because it was a company willing to employ me, even though I didn’t have a degree.

I gained experience in ecology by retraining and then subcontracting for four years, and when an opportunity at Arbtech came along in 2019, I applied.

Arbtech has an unconventional organisational structure, and there are no traditional barriers to employment.

I would choose Arbtech again today because I benefit so much from the learning opportunities here working alongside people with decades of experience, and I also benefit from a generous investment in employee ‘well-being’, which now includes:

  • Working from home (home-based every day).
  • Unlimited professional development (get a master’s if you want).
  • Trips abroad (fully funded).
  • Voluntary overtime (genuinely voluntary and well-paid).
  • 40 days annual leave (either working bank holidays or taking them as leave).
  • Manage your own day every day (setting your own start and finish times).
  • Bells and whistles perks (including Amazon audio, £25 per month gym contribution, socials etc).

What do you love most about the company?

People here are smart, so I learn a lot.

There are almost no managers – and no unnecessary meetings – at Arbtech.

It has a flat clan-like structure with one chief, it’s a young company, and the atmosphere of the workplace is casual.

The people here are passionate about wildlife and ecology, so they have a lot in common, and the nature of the work means a large percentage of it is varied and interesting.

Employees possess the opportunity to progress, keep learning/training and change jobs within the company while working from home.

In essence, it feels like you get to have your cake and eat it.

What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?

There’s nothing much to reveal.

I enjoy a private life with family and friends, and hobbies, including horse riding, music, and reading – particularly physics and astronomy.

What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?

I would advise people to watch Jordan Peterson rather than listen to anything I have to say!

What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?

The Porsche track day at Silverstone was great.

It was during COVID, so we got to drive the cars by ourselves!

To show off the braking systems, they make you slam the brakes at 70; I used to be a driving instructor but an emergency stop at 70 seemed like too much fun.

I was rubbish at the kickplate but loved the experience as a whole.

A flying version would be fun to see what ‘pulling G’ and flying upside-down feel like.

Where do you want to travel to next?

The future.

But I’ll settle for city breaks – all cities, old and new, both in terms of cultures and people: Manchester, Tokyo, Singapore, Addis Ababa – anywhere that’s plugged in.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

As Arbtech undertakes larger-scale projects, I’d like to move more into the role of an ecological clerk of works (ECoW).

I’ve held my class 2 bat licence for more than three years now, so I can undertake mitigation for (EPSL and BMCL), and I’ve been directly undertaking ecological watching briefs and translocation of protected species on a range of developments.

I enjoy being on-site, and it’s satisfying to see the results of months of collecting survey data finally turn into something tangible and effective, benefiting and saving wildlife.

However, it can also mean causing delays to development, as I am responsible for prioritising the welfare of wildlife, safeguarding developers from legislation, and putting that above the time constraints of any development.

So far, I’ve been lucky to work with supportive developers. Communication at the early stages – far in advance of mitigation works – goes a long way to smoothing the path.

I’ve grown into this role, and it feels like an obvious and natural path for me.

It would be great to work on large infrastructure projects and developments in London (and elsewhere) in the future.

What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?

There are multiple licences and professional memberships that I want to obtain this year.

I aim to be writing my own EPSLs in the next few months.

As previously mentioned, I’d love to get involved in large infrastructure projects. A related goal is to visit The Line – a smart city in Saudi Arabia.

A personal goal is to see the northern lights. Space travel is a fantasy goal I have, but in reality, I’ll be happy just being above ground.

Jo joined Arbtech in September 2019.

Robert Oates, managing director says:

It says a lot about the Arbtech culture when Josephine comes in, brand new, and is a better report-author than quite a few us (me included)–all of whom have been in this game for a decade or more–and yet, instead of being met with envy and politics, everyone is super-keen to share her brilliant work, and jump on her with quesitons about how they can learn and improve. She’s quite literally upped our entire game in a matter of weeks. I’m excited to see what she brings to the table over the coming months and years!

Job Title

Senior Ecologist

Qualifications

  • Class II Bat Licence

Professional Experience

  • Ecology

Specialist Areas

  • Bat Surveys

Hobbies

    Horse Riding, Listening to Music, Reading Books on Astronomy and Physics, and Spending Time with Family and Friends

More Arbtechers

Meet the other members of our leading ecology and arboriculture team.

Julia Clague-Robinson

Julia Clague-Robinson

Sales Manager
Scott Warren

Scott Warren

Finance Manager
Andy Ward

Andy Ward

Marketing Manager
Craig Williams

Craig Williams

Principal Ecologist & BNG Lead
Natalie Evans

Natalie Evans

Principal Ecologist & Bat Licence Lead
Jonathan Stuttard

Jonathan Stuttard

Principal Ecologist & Herpetofauna Lead
Nicole Gullan

Nicole Gullan

Senior Ecologist
Mel Reid

Mel Reid

Senior Ecologist
Fay Brotherhood

Fay Brotherhood

Senior Ecologist
Elen Griffin

Elen Griffin

Consultant Ecologist
Beth Ellison-Perrett

Beth Ellison-Perrett

Senior Ecologist
James Fielding

James Fielding

Consultant Ecologist
George Collier-Smith

George Collier-Smith

Consultant Ecologist
Matthew Middle

Matthew Middle

Principal Arboriculturist & BS5837 Lead
Jon Hartley

Jon Hartley

Principal Arboriculturist & Employee Development Lead
Aran Nearn

Aran Nearn

Commerical Lead
Alan Thompson

Alan Thompson

Senior Arboriculturist
Matt Edwards

Matt Edwards

Senior Arboriculturist
Emily Kempson

Emily Kempson

Senior Arboriculturist
Jim Green

Jim Green

Consultant Arboriculturist
Charlie Moore

Charlie Moore

Consultant Arboriculturist
Chris Wren

Chris Wren

Consultant Arboriculturist
Clare Swinburn

Clare Swinburn

Office Manager
Sally Parry

Sally Parry

Senior Sales Advisor
Emma Gray

Emma Gray

Finance Administrator
Donna Swinburn

Donna Swinburn

Administrator
Charlotte Calvert

Charlotte Calvert

Administrator
Ann Balshaw

Ann Balshaw

Administrator
Chris Jarvis

Chris Jarvis

Finance Administrator
Rob Lambert

Rob Lambert

Editor
Gill Broad

Gill Broad

Editor
Harriet Paul

Harriet Paul

Finance Administrator
Hannah Bramley

Hannah Bramley

PA to Robert Oates
Alan Smith

Alan Smith

Consultant Arboriculturist
Michelle Huang

Michelle Huang

Consultant Ecologist
Josie Cooper

Josie Cooper

Consultant Ecologist
Annabel Sharpe

Annabel Sharpe

Consultant Ecologist
Dean Meadows

Dean Meadows

Principal Arboriculturist & Tree Risk Lead
Sally Hall

Sally Hall

Consultant Ecologist
Jessica Sibley

Jessica Sibley

Consultant Ecologist
Rhiannon Jensen-O’Brien

Rhiannon Jensen-O’Brien

Consultant Ecologist
Romany Poole

Romany Poole

Graduate Ecologist
Tom Ramm

Tom Ramm

Arboricultural Surveyor
Marlies Brenninkmeyer

Marlies Brenninkmeyer

Administrator
Abby Smith

Abby Smith

Administrator
Lyric Palmer

Lyric Palmer

Bat Survey Coordinator
Shaun Rowe

Shaun Rowe

Consultant Arboriculturist
Charlie Drapala

Charlie Drapala

Consultant Ecologist
Phil Gower

Phil Gower

Senior Arboriculturist
Rob Dennis

Rob Dennis

Arboricultural Surveyor
Olga Hermann

Olga Hermann

Ecological Surveyor
Jamie-Lee Anderson

Jamie-Lee Anderson

Consultant Ecologist
Chris Poplett

Chris Poplett

Arboricultural Surveyor
Anthony Jones

Anthony Jones

Consultant Arboriculturist
Fearghus Gage

Fearghus Gage

Senior Arboriculturist
Chantae Bleakman-Wells

Chantae Bleakman-Wells

Consultant Ecologist
Alexie Jenkins

Alexie Jenkins

Graduate Ecologist
Hannah Upshall

Hannah Upshall

Graduate Ecologist
Emma Platts

Emma Platts

Consultant Ecologist
Millie Holland

Millie Holland

Graduate Ecologist
Nick Smith

Nick Smith

Graduate Ecologist
Georgia Knight

Georgia Knight

Graduate Ecologist
Jeremy Grout

Jeremy Grout

Senior Ecologist
Maddy Carter

Maddy Carter

Consultant Ecologist
Kayleigh Davies

Kayleigh Davies

Graduate Ecologist
Anna Dolby

Anna Dolby

Graduate Ecologist
Georgina Rennie

Georgina Rennie

Consultant Ecologist
Tom Baron

Tom Baron

Senior Arboriculturist
Harley Stone

Harley Stone

Consultant Ecologist
Leah Cook

Leah Cook

Consultant Ecologist
Jade Lemm

Jade Lemm

Consultant Ecologist
Oliver Bevilacqua

Oliver Bevilacqua

Consultant Ecologist
Robbie MacKenzie

Robbie MacKenzie

Principal Ecologist
Jamie Bolton

Jamie Bolton

Finance Administrator
Annalea Moulton

Annalea Moulton

Administrator
Codie Schofield

Codie Schofield

Administrator
Abby Pidgen

Abby Pidgen

Graduate Ecologist
Kelly Clarke

Kelly Clarke

Consultant Ecologist
Matt Halligan

Matt Halligan

Intern and BERS Lead
Isla Beech

Isla Beech

Administrator
Kerris Taylor

Kerris Taylor

Graduate Ecologist
Madison Sellar

Madison Sellar

Graduate Ecologist
David Hill-Chambers

David Hill-Chambers

Graduate Ecologist
Carly Preen

Carly Preen

Graduate Ecologist
Katie Whitfield

Katie Whitfield

Graduate Ecologist & Junior QC Specialist
Harry Brindle

Harry Brindle

Graduate Ecologist
Emma Taylor

Emma Taylor

Graduate Ecologist & Junior QC Specialist
Nic Baxter

Nic Baxter

Graduate Ecologist
Amber Williams

Amber Williams

Graduate Ecologist
Arthur Mytum

Arthur Mytum

Graduate Ecologist
Phillip Wooding

Phillip Wooding

Graduate Ecologist
Vicki Breakell

Vicki Breakell

Graduate Ecologist
Harry Switala

Harry Switala

Graduate Ecologist
Callum Taylor

Callum Taylor

Senior Ecologist
Ben Duursma

Ben Duursma

Graduate Ecologist
Ashleigh Domblides

Ashleigh Domblides

Graduate Ecologist
Trystan Figuères

Trystan Figuères

Graduate Ecologist
Rachel Wick

Rachel Wick

Graduate Ecologist
Katie Belbin

Katie Belbin

Graduate Ecologist
Bethany Swain

Bethany Swain

Graduate Ecologist
Victoria Walters

Victoria Walters

Graduate Ecologist
Michelle Walding-Kelly

Michelle Walding-Kelly

Graduate Ecologist
Elodie Noyes-Gouan

Elodie Noyes-Gouan

Graduate Ecologist
Kat Aburrow

Kat Aburrow

Consultant Ecologist
Rhianna Trim

Rhianna Trim

Graduate Ecologist
Akash Barua

Akash Barua

Graduate Ecologist
Becks Gane

Becks Gane

Graduate Ecologist
Dan Crispin

Dan Crispin

Graduate Ecologist
Inez Daly

Inez Daly

Graduate Ecologist
Hayley Roberts

Hayley Roberts

Senior Ecologist
Anya White

Anya White

Consultant Ecologist
Zenobia Hatch

Zenobia Hatch

Consultant Ecologist

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