Joanne Bates: how an unexpected opportunity led to a fulfilling career in ecology

Nature services resource manager Joanne shares how she built a rewarding career, her love of working collaboratively across specialisms and her passion for continuous learning and supporting others.

Give us a brief summary of your role

My job is to make sure the right people with the right skills from our nature services team are exactly where they’re needed across our projects. The skills needed range from habitat or species surveying and site supervision through to marine, freshwater or natural capital expertise. My days are a mixture of resource strategy, recruitment, succession planning, championing career development and jumping in as a problem solver whenever challenges arise. I’m also the Cardiff office principal, helping to ensure that the office operates safely and efficiently and that we all have a supportive and collaborative workplace.

Why did you choose your career path?

My path into this career wasn’t typical; I kind of stumbled into it but it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.

After graduating from Aberdeen University with a degree in zoology with a focus on marine and fisheries ecology, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was keeping my options open, applying for PhDs and doing temp jobs to pay the bills. I was temping as an office assistant at the Bute Avenue construction site, a project linking Cardiff with Cardiff Bay, when I met some people from Mott MacDonald, who were also working on the project. That connection led to me applying for and being offered a full-time job as an office assistant for Mott MacDonald, supporting the team working on the Bute Avenue project.

Before long, my new colleagues discovered what I’d studied at university. That changed everything. My colleagues introduced me to the then Cardiff divisional director and, in 2000, I was able to make the leap from admin into the ecology team, working for what is now National Highways in the Bristol area. So, my career journey in ecology hasn’t been typical but my initial experience on the admin side gave me insights that I might otherwise not have had.

What does it mean to you to be trusted to do brilliant things at Mott MacDonald?

Over the past 26 years, I’ve felt like no idea or spark of inspiration I’ve had has ever been overlooked. Even when an idea sounds unusual or a bit ambitious, there’s always room to explore it and see what possibilities it might unlock. Our teams all share that curiosity, imagination and willingness to test new thinking that might seem like it’s not going anywhere at first, but can lead to something brilliant. We’re trusted to experiment – and even to fail safely – so we can come back stronger with a better idea. That trust creates an environment where people can thrive.

Can you share a project you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of and explain why it stands out to you?

Working on the Dinorwig Grid Connection, the installation of high-voltage electricity cables connecting Dinorwig hydroelectric power station in North Wales to National Grid’s transmission network, has been a real highlight. We’ve spent six years working in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, surrounded by incredible bat roosts, fungi and fish species, all while collaborating with an amazing multidisciplinary team. The project really pushed boundaries in terms of safeguarding habitats. We used eDNA surveys – a scientific method used to detect the presence of species by analysing DNA, such as animal skin, faeces or mucus, shed into the environment – in ancient woodland. Other techniques used included innovative acoustic barriers in cable tunnels to protect bat roosts from construction noise and working with the acousticians using hydrophones to understand impacts on spawning fish.

How do you collaborate with colleagues from different specialisms to achieve common goals?

I love working with other teams – there’s always something new to learn, experience or figure out. One day I’m with our contaminated land team exploring how best to tackle invasive species, the next I’m teaming up with our acoustics colleagues to find innovative, science-led solutions to noise and vibration problems. Then I might be with our landscape specialists, whose deep habitat knowledge never fails to amaze me, or working alongside our engineers to understand how their methods affect our environmental impact. Collaboration and shared learning is, without question, the best part of the job and I try to learn something new every day. Being willing to learn from others is what makes careers grow and projects successful.

What resources or support at Mott MacDonald have been most beneficial to your growth?

For me, it’s all about people, connections and shared learning. The depth of knowledge within our teams is remarkable and Mott MacDonald’s culture genuinely encourages us to support one another, so no one works in isolation. We openly share best practice throughout the team to ensure everyone feels empowered in their roles and understands what “excellence” looks like. This support prevents duplication of effort and builds confidence by giving people access to proven methods and experienced colleagues. My job is to champion my team’s personal and professional development and I’ve always believed that their growth reflects my growth.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start their career at Mott MacDonald?

Be open to any opportunity and embrace it with enthusiasm and energy. Even if it doesn’t immediately sound like your thing, every opportunity gives someone a way to shine and you meet some incredible people on that journey. Many people join Mott MacDonald without a traditional engineering background as we work across so many different sectors and there are always opportunities to acquire new skills whether you’re just getting a foot in the door as I did, or coming in midway through your career. Ultimately, success comes from embracing new experiences and recognising the value you can add to your team, clients and the wider organisation.