Dr Jen Smart will be taking on the role of Head of Conservation Science, Scotland & Northern Ireland, leading the exceptional conservation science team working in these countries.
Before coming to the RSPB, Jen had a career in conservation management which began in Scotland but saw her eventually move south of the Border. A keen ringer and bird surveyor, she eventually found science and did an Ecology degree and PhD at the University of East Anglia with RSPB and BTO contracts in between years at university.
Jen has worked for the RSPB full time since 2006, leading a wide range of conservation science to directly inform policy and practice, especially for breeding waders. Most recently, as Head of Species, England, she has led the prioritisation of our species conservation work in England, and its embedding in area and priority landscape plans.
Jen is also Chair of the International Wader Study Group, holds an Honorary lectureship at the University of East Anglia, and has offered long-term service to the British Ornithologists’ Union, currently serving as a Council member and Chair of the Ibis Journal Management Committee.
With a strong track record in working collaboratively both within and outside the RSPB to ensure that our science has real conservation impact, Jen’s recent experience in a conservation leadership role in the England team gives her a breadth of perspective that will be of huge value in her new role.
Jen said “I am absolutely delighted to be coming back to Conservation Science and to lead the team in Scotland and Northern Ireland. I will be very sad to leave RSPB England who are a fabulous team. I have expanded my knowledge of all sorts of land management, species and RSPB ways of working, whilst honing my science into policy and practice experience.
I am really looking forward to getting to know my new team better and working with everyone to ensure that team does the science that’s needed to inform our conservation work in both countries and building a strong network of external contacts, to help us do that. I am excited to be coming home and can’t wait to explore more of our reserves, landscape and projects, no doubt sometimes on two wheels as I am partial to cycling!”
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