Brett Lewis BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM
Living in the heart of Kent and near to the historic city of Canterbury, I enjoy photography as a hobby and interest alongside my professional career as a Consultant Ecologist. Having only achieved moderate results at school, I wanted to pursue a career with wildlife and so I set about achieving my goal by returning to college some six years later to undertake a course in Animal Management.
Having completed a National Diploma I tried my hand for several years as a Veterinary Nurse specialising in preventative medicine and wildlife triage. However, this did not quench my thirst for wanting know more about the subject I was most interested in and that was the 'Natural World'. So, in 2000 I began reading Biodiversity and Environmental Management at the world famous Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent and later obtained my Bachelors Degree (BSc Hons) in this subject. Whilst undertaking the degree I had the opportunity to travel to some wonderful places including the rich Amazonian Rainforest of Peru where I spent time researching the diversity of small mammals, birds and reptiles in the Largo Preto Reserve.
Soon after completing my first degree I was offered a contract by the department to undertake research that would look into wildlife conflict issues surrounding European Protected Species and Development here in the UK. I snapped up the opportunity and together with my supervisor secured enough funding to use the research to pave the way for my second degree which is a Master of Science (MSc) in Biodiversity Management. The research was based on the issues surrounding Great crested newts (Triturus cristatus), development and mitigation. The contract together with the results of the masters degree secured two reviewed publications and led to further funding to advance the project.
I am now continuing in academia and reading for my doctorate in Biodiversity Management (PhD) and my research interest is the ecological and economic cost-effectiveness of mitigation actions for protected species on sites scheduled for development. I am now writing up my research ready for publication.
Alongside my life at university, I also run a successful Ecological Consultancy company (Lewis Ecology) undertaking assessments, surveys and mitigation activities relating to wildlife and development. Through my work as a consultant and researcher I am a full member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, the leading UK organisation supporting and certifying qualified professionals in this field.
So you can see that photography, for me, really is a hobby and interest that sits very well with the career I have chosen to undertake. By studying wildlife first hand it provides with me with some wonderful opportunities to capture and record what I see during my 'everyday' activities. I then use these experiences to bring wildlife closer to people through photographic sales, workshops, lectures and publications so that we can all enjoy them together.