Jonathan, from West Lothian, works as a Flood Officer with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency but has had a long career in the conservation sector, previously being the Co-Director of Forth Rivers Trust, a conservation charity which aims to restore, protect and enhance rivers that flow into the Firth of Forth for wildlife and communities.
“I’ve always known I wanted to work outdoors and make a difference for the environment. That passion started early. After leaving school in 4th year, I enrolled at Oatridge College, where I completed an NC in Countryside Management, followed by an HNC and HND. From there, I went on to SAC (now SRUC) to gain my degree in Sustainable Environmental Management. Those years gave me the foundation I needed to turn my love for nature into a career.
When I first applied to the Forth Rivers Trust, I didn’t know what to expect. It was my first step into the conservation sector, and I had no prior experience in this field. What drew me in was my lifelong love of rivers and lochs, nurtured through kayaking. That connection to water made the Trust feel like the right place to start and I’ve never looked back.
My first role was as a Project Officer, tackling invasive species. From there, I worked my way up to Development Officer, where I focused on creating multi-stakeholder projects to restore rivers. Later, I became Operations Manager, supporting the organisation’s day-to-day running, managing stakeholders, handling communications, securing funding, and developing new projects. Eventually, I stepped into the role of Co-Director.
The Trust gave me incredible opportunities to grow and innovate. Over 12 years, I helped scale the organisation from a team of just three to a staff of 20. We delivered ambitious projects that made a real difference for nature and communities. Some of the most rewarding work included restoring fish passage in the heart of Livingston through multi-million-pound projects, engaging communities across the Forth basin that includes roughly 25% of Scotland’s population, surveying for freshwater pearl mussels, and developing nature-based solutions for natural flood management. Along the way, I gained specialist qualifications: Fisheries Management with the Institute of Fisheries Management, electrofishing certification, a freshwater pearl mussel license, and an IOSH certificate in Managing Safely. These skills allowed me to lead complex projects and ensure that we delivered them safely and effectively.
I’m particularly proud of how we embraced technology using drones, data mapping systems, and even introducing artificial intelligence into our work. I firmly believe technology is key to improving the quality and scale of environmental data, helping us make better decisions for nature.
As Co-Director, my role became as much about governance and strategy as it was about rivers. I worked closely with trustees to deliver our strategic plans, managed budgets, oversaw audits and OSCR returns, and ensured we had a pipeline of projects aligned with our goals. Building strong relationships with stakeholders was essential. Big projects only succeed when people work together. Working in the third sector isn’t easy. There are constant demands on time and limited funding. Many expect charities to deliver for free, but employing specialists costs money. Communicating that reality to funders and government was a big part of my role. Despite the challenges, the rewards were immense. Seeing the positive impact on rivers and communities made every effort worthwhile. And yes, even as a director, I made time to get out from behind the desk and visit the rivers we were working to protect. Those moments reminded me why I started this journey in the first place.
After 12 incredible years at Forth Rivers Trust, I decided it was time for a new challenge. In August 2025, I joined the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as a Flood Officer. This move wasn’t about leaving rivers behind, it was about building on my experience and applying it to one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: flooding. Flooding affects communities across Scotland, and as climate change accelerates, its impacts will only intensify. This role appealed to me because it combines my passion for nature-based solutions with the opportunity to work at a national level, advising communities, stakeholders, and policymakers on strategies to build resilience by being a part of the development of the next set of Flood Risk Management Plans. Bringing my background in natural flood management and stakeholder engagement into SEPA means I can contribute to a vital cause while developing new skills in flood risk management, policy development and climate adaptation. It’s an exciting step forward in my career, and I’m eager to learn, collaborate, and make a difference in this new context.
If there’s one mantra I’ve lived by, it’s this: if you don’t like a job, move on. It’s also OK to leave a job you love to continue developing your career into the future. Life is too short to spend it doing something that doesn’t inspire you. It might take time to find the right role, but it’s worth the effort. For me, this new chapter at SEPA is about continuing to do work that matters, protecting people, nature, and the places we love from the challenges of a changing climate".