Jennifer Guy
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Galapagos Conservation Trust
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
I went straight into a research internship with Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) for a couple of months. After which I took a break to work in the mountains in France. I returned to carry out another research internship with GCT before moving into a full time role with them as Operations Officer. I have now been working there for more than two years in my capacity as Finance & Operations Officer. I facilitate the day to day operations of the charity which has been incredibly insightful on the inner workings of a small but rapidly growing charity. With development comes change and it has been very rewarding supporting GCT through this period of growth. I have overseen department development and improvements to certain financial and administrative systems.
Outside of my work I have recently acquired my day skipper certificate with the hopes of doing more sailing outside of it just being a hobby. I would love to link my passion for sailing and the sea with more practical marine & climate science.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I chose to work for a conservation charity because of the real & lasting impact that can be seen from the programmes we work on and alongside. Additionally, a lot of the work done in Galapagos provides lessons that can be translated across different contexts on an international scale. Whilst driving change in the Galapagos is the primary objective, it is quite a niche context, and it is truly wonderful to see the profound impact it can have in other areas. A primary example of which is the support of the plastics treaty negotiations at the INC conferences (among many other things).
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I thoroughly enjoyed the hands on approach from the staff, they were incredibly helpful, active listeners, engaging, and not to mention inspiring experts in their field. A true highlight and the reason for initially selecting the Masters programme was the multi-disciplinary approach to the course. I loved that we could select from a wide variety of different fields, accessing different departments, supporting personal development with real-world applications. I felt incredibly prepared for entering the world post university. The best part of the degree has to be the Internship Dissertation module option. Without it I wouldn’t have been in touch with GCT and I wouldn’t be where I am today!
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
I like being close to the coast! The campus is truly beautiful to walk around and study on. I also really enjoyed working with researchers & professors at the forefront of climate research.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
It was ranked very highly, has great facilities and sports & extracurricular clubs. I love living in Devon and being in such close proximity to the sea.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Learning about policy & influencing/driving change. A multi-disciplinary approach to learning and a systems thinking approach to problem solving.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
If you would like to work in the conservation sector or a charity, volunteer and get to know the people and environment you want to work in. It makes it much easier and helps you decide if it is right for you. Volunteering is so valuable to smaller charities and knowing the team can provide helpful insights into trying to work with them in future.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to continue with research and do a PhD at some point. Having such direct on the ground impact is so wonderful to witness and I would like to continue to see how things develop for GCT and for Galapagos.
