The Conservation Leadership Lecture (CLL) series, an integral component of the Masters, recently concluded its opening session for the current cohort. The series is designed to complement academic coursework by offering students practical insights and personal perspectives on effective conservation leadership from distinguished figures across the global conservation community.
We were honoured to welcome Professor Juliet Vickery, Chief Executive Officer of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), as our inaugural speaker. Drawing from her extensive experience in both academia and the highs and lows of leadership in conservation.
A particularly compelling aspect of her presentation focused on the importance of adaptive leadership, especially during challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Vickery shared how different phases of leadership require different approaches, emphasizing the need for flexibility and resilience in conservation leadership roles.
As a prominent female leader in conservation, Professor Vickery also shared her personal journey and perspectives on gender dynamics in the field. She highlighted her ongoing commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in conservation, discussing concrete initiatives and approaches to creating more inclusive spaces in conservation organizations.
Professor Vickery's career path, which began with studying Dippers at Oxford for her DPhil, has included significant roles at various institutions including the University of East Anglia, the University of Edinburgh, and Scottish Natural Heritage. Her current position as CEO of BTO follows eleven impactful years as Head of International Conservation Science at the RSPB, where she led crucial research initiatives across West Africa, the UK's overseas territories, and South East Asia.
Her dedication to connecting science with policy is demonstrated through her nine-years of chairing of the British Ecological Society's Policy Committee. Currently, she has served as President of the British Ornithologists' Union and member of the Government's Darwin Expert Committee, while maintaining strong connections with Cambridge through her position as an Honorary Research Fellow, on the Council of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and the Steering Group of the Cambridge Student Conference in Conservation Science.
The evening concluded with a college dinner, providing students with the opportunity to continue discussions and network with Professor Vickery in a more informal setting. The combination of frank discussion about leadership challenges and practical advice made this an invaluable session for aspiring conservation leaders.
