Summary
Work history
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic

Alison Maher

Penarth

Summary

I am a dedicated and passionate practitioner with over 8 years of experience in environmental research, conservation, and ecosystem management. Proven track record in conducting field studies, analysing ecological data, and implementing sustainable practices to preserve biodiversity. Adept at collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and engaging with stakeholders to promote environmental awareness and policy development. Committed to advancing ecological science through innovative research and practical applications.

Work history

Associate Project Manager –Sustainability and Social Value

Vale of Glamorgan Council
Vale
  • To investigate and manage the delivery of a more sustainable education estate in the Vale, ensuring all programme milestones are met and that all maintained schools in the Vale engage with ecosystems management and decarbonisation through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme and the wider learning and skills directorate
  • Analysed ecological data to assess environmental health and biodiversity
  • Developed and implemented conservation strategies to protect priority species and habitats
  • Collaborated with Welsh Government and NGOs on environmental projects
  • Researched and presented options for a more sustainable education estate in the Vale of Glamorgan, considered multiple facets of finance, maintenance, carbon, energy, and natural and social resources
  • Supported the development and implementation of a strategy that supports the Council’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions to net zero and support the local and national Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP)
  • Created, implemented and maintained learning resources to enable school stakeholders and the wider community to engage with enhancing and protecting biodiversity and decarbonisation
  • Engaging with the School Investment Operation Board to devise and support the management of a sustainable educational estate programme of works to ensure all project milestones are met
  • Liaised with the Welsh Government Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, Head Teachers, School Governors, and NGOs to ensure all aspects of the sustainable educational estate programme are aligned and delivered to plan
  • Prepared and delivered presentations to a wide range of stakeholders, including Elected Members, governors, headteachers.

Facilities and Open Spaces Officer

Penarth Town Council
Penarth
  • Maintain and improve, the Town Council’s venues and open spaces
  • Worked alongside members of the community, communicating positively and sympathetically with members of the public
  • Maintaining the graves, headstones, grounds, and buildings
  • Helping to facilitate burials
  • Supervise community events
  • Maintaining and improving Penarth Town Council's Open spaces
  • Assisting in the planning and implementing of environmentally friendly horticultural projects
  • Maintenance of existing gardens, herbaceous borders, and open spaces.

Landscape Operative Team Leader

Nurture Landscapes, South Wales
  • Maintaining the grounds of all contracts across South Wales including Aston Martin Lagonda, DWP sites, Green King pubs and Iceland supermarkets
  • General maintenance tasks including designing, producing, renewing and preserving outside spaces
  • Grass cutting, weed control and leaf raking
  • Planting new trees, plants and shrubs
  • Driving plant vehicles, small diggers etc
  • Maintenance of plants, tubs and baskets
  • Making sure that all garden equipment is correctly maintained and serviced
  • Seeding plants and watering them at the correct times
  • Clearing rubbish and litter away from the garden and grounds
  • Ensuring a safe working environment for everyone working in the garden.

Tree Surgeon, Landscaper, and business owner

Alpes Arborist, Chamonix Mont Blanc, France
Chamonix Mont Blanc
  • Cultivate, manage, prune, fell, crown lift/reduction, preserving, protecting and removing hedges, shrubs, bushes and trees
  • Working in a variety of locations from open parks to large mature trees overhanging properties and roads
  • Using heavy duty machinery, such as chainsaws, woodchippers and stump grinders
  • Utilise expert knowledge of trees to conduct inspections, undertake risk assessments, plan practical work, and provide advice to clients that are looking to develop certain areas of land where trees may be affected
  • Overseeing a small team of groundsmen to effectively manage a portfolio of gardens
  • Management and maintenance of large gardens on behalf of customers to their specific needs and expectations throughout the year in all seasons that includes grass cutting, planting shrubs and bedding plants, grass cutting, weed control, leaf raking and planting new trees
  • General maintenance tasks including designing, producing, renewing and preserving outside spaces
  • Driving plant vehicles, small diggers etc
  • Provision of specialist advice to customers on the type of shrubs/plants to keep in their gardens as well as design plan and undertake large scale landscaping for clients as required
  • Production of invoices and engaging in negotiations with potential clients and training junior members of staff
  • Ensuring a safe working environment for everyone working outdoors.

Education

Master of Science - Environmental Conservation and Management

University of Wales Trinity St David
Swansea, City and County of Swansea
10.2022 - 05.2025

Bachelor of Science - Sociology

University of South Wales
Cardiff
09.2001 - 06.2004

NPTC - Level 3 Award in Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

NPTC - Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Pruning

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

NPTC - Level 3 Award in Felling and Processing Trees Over 380mm

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 01.2016

NPTC - Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Manually Fed wood chipper

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

NPTC - Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of a Mobile Elevated Work Platform

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

NPTC - Level 2 Award Tree Climbing and Rescue

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

PA1 and PA6 Safe application of herbicides

City & Guilds
03.2018 -

Level 2 Principles of Horticulture

Royal Horticultural Society
01.2015 - 03.2015

Skills

  • Ecological Research & Data Analysis
  • Biodiversity Conservation
  • Review and scrutinise Environmental Impact Assessments
  • GIS
  • Project Management
  • Writing & Reporting on ecological policy, legislation and BNG
  • Public Outreach & Education
  • Climbing proficiency

References

  • Alissa Flatley, University Wales Trinity St David, Wales Institute of Science and Art, Swansea, SA1 8EW, 07949871795, a.flatley@uwtsd.ac.uk
  • Erica Painter, Delivery Officer Cardiff Council, Room 401, County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, CF10 4UW, 07543 920669, Erica.painter2@cardiff.gov.uk

Timeline

Master of Science - Environmental Conservation and Management

University of Wales Trinity St David
10.2022 - 05.2025

PA1 and PA6 Safe application of herbicides

City & Guilds
03.2018 -

NPTC - Level 3 Award in Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

NPTC - Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Pruning

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

NPTC - Level 3 Award in Felling and Processing Trees Over 380mm

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 01.2016

NPTC - Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Manually Fed wood chipper

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

NPTC - Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of a Mobile Elevated Work Platform

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

NPTC - Level 2 Award Tree Climbing and Rescue

City & Guilds
01.2016 - 03.2016

Level 2 Principles of Horticulture

Royal Horticultural Society
01.2015 - 03.2015

Bachelor of Science - Sociology

University of South Wales
09.2001 - 06.2004

Associate Project Manager –Sustainability and Social Value

Vale of Glamorgan Council

Facilities and Open Spaces Officer

Penarth Town Council

Landscape Operative Team Leader

Nurture Landscapes, South Wales

Tree Surgeon, Landscaper, and business owner

Alpes Arborist, Chamonix Mont Blanc, France
Alison Maher