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Exploring the World of Ecology with Dr. Sally Fraser

Category: Gender (Equality & Identity)

Gender Focus

Wasps, Water Voles, Wetsuits and Flying Discs.

 

They may seem unrelated, but the common denominator is the talented Dr. Sally Fraser — a senior ecological consultant who dedicates her time to both protecting nature and reveling in its beauty.

 

Sally Fraser

 

Dr. Fraser has been applying her scientific and ecological expertise to deliver technical solutions for nearly 20 years. With a strong foundation in ecological sciences from her undergraduate degree and a Ph.D. that explored the diversity and structure of parasitoid wasp communities, her career has been rich in diverse fieldwork experiences. These include mark-capture release studies of water voles in Scotland, research on oak gall wasp communities in Hungary, and woodland plant surveys in England to support her PhD. 

As an ecological consultant, Sally has worked on a wide range of infrastructure projects including roads, wind farms, pipelines and power stations. She has developed a specialization in ecological assessment, where she excels in analyzing baseline ecological data and collaborating with multidisciplinary design teams to embed environmental considerations into project designs, resulting in better outcomes for nature. 

Over the last five years, Sally has focused on achieving net gain outcomes for biodiversity, including the recently adopted Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation in England. 

“Net gain is a paradigm shift in the approach to biodiversity and wider environmental considerations for development. It offers the opportunity to move beyond a mitigatee- and -compensate mindset toward one of nature recovery and environmental improvement.”

Sally plays a pivotal role in advancing Jacobs’ expertise in this evolving field. She supports in-house skills development, fosters integration across technical disciplines, and serves as a member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) Training Team, delivering professional training on the Statutory Biodiversity Metric in England—a key tool for mandatory BNG. She is also vice-chair of the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) Nature and Biodiversity Task Force, advocating for nature-focused progress in the U.K.

Recently, Sally published a key paper for the Institution of Civil Engineers on incorporating nature into infrastructure through BNG, further cementing her influence in the industry. 

Get to know Sally Fraser

  • 9 years working with Jacobs

  • 8 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in the U.K. where Sally has provided ecological assessment support

  • 3 universities attended, University of Edinburgh (Scotland), University of California Davis (U.S.) and University of York (England

  • 60 species of parasitoid wasp identified for her PhD

  • 7 international Ultimate Frisbee medals won for club and county

  • 15 triathlons events completed

What sparked your passion for working in this industry?

A love of nature and being outdoors led me to pursue ecological sciences as an undergraduate degree. When it came time to find a career, environmental consultancy was the perfect match- it allowed me to combine my love of fieldwork, scientific expertise, passion for nature conservation, and a desire for variety and impact in my work.

What motivates you in your work?

It’s a combination of working with incredible people, continuous learning opportunities, and being part of collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams. I’m also motivated by the ability to positively influence environmental outcomes on projects. Lately, I’ve found it especially rewarding to work strategically with clients to deliver scalable solutions using new policies, legislation and other drivers.

When you aren’t working, what are we most likely to find you doing? 

I enjoy spending time with my family, including my two children. We love getting outdoors to walk, cycle and camp- British weather permitting. I also stay active enough to complete a few triathlons each year.

 

Find out more about working at Jacobs

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