Krzysztof Dabrowski

About Krzysztof's career

Describe your current role

A Biodiversity Technical Officer is a technical officer who is regarded as an expert within their field and as such plays a vital role in providing expert advice, consultation services and ecological surveys.

I provide specialist advice and support to internal teams, external partners and other officers. Two key aspects to my role are: Expert advice and guidance internally and as statutory consultee for local planning applications in areas at risk of flooding.

Explain how you got this job after studying Geography at Newcastle

I researched the types of jobs frequently advertised and noticed that ecologist regularly came up. I researched the role and realised that many of the skills obtained through a geography degree could be applied to the role and I was very fond of wildlife and nature.

I went on to study Ecological Consultancy MSc at Newcastle, then volunteered with the Environmental Records Information Centre and the Northumberland Wildlife Trust. I then got an internship though the consultancy arm of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust that progressed into a permeant ecologist role.

Following this I went on to be an Environmental Consultant for a small company focussed on the construction phase before obtaining my current role at the Environment Agency. 

Studying at Newcastle

In what ways was studying Geography at Newcastle important for getting this job?

Within Geography BSc I often tailored my modules towards environmental topics. In consultancy, I often assessed the impacts of developments on watercourses and associated ecology and as such, could apply knowledge gained to understand those impacts greater.

This is especially important on construction sites where risks to watercourses can be high. Now, working at the Environment Agency, where the majority of work centres around watercourses and water dependant habitats/species I feel very much at home as I also have the opportunity to utilise the geomorphology knowledge I gained through my degree.

How do you employ skills learnt during your degree, in your current job?

Through understanding river processes and potential for environmental impacts on watercourse through development and flood management work, I can advise internally or externally, such as to our flood teams or local planning authorities.

Skills from modules such as ‘Intro to Earth Science’ ‘Aquatic Pollution’ ‘Research Methods in Environmental Pollution’, ‘Sustainable Water Management’, ‘Field and Lab Techniques’ and a dissertation around the ecological impacts on mine water on freshwater systems have helped.

What was the best thing about studying Geography at Newcastle?

Interesting and varied study options, great lecturers, tutors (big up Simon Tate!) and a really interesting local geography to study e.g. the River Coquet.