Alexandra Le Seelleur's career path to becoming a consultant, chair of her local environmental group and PhD candidate. Alexandra talks about switching to environmental work mid-career, volunteering in her local green space and transferring her skills to her job and further study. Current Job Tell us about your current role By day, I'm a freelance research & engagement consultant providing organisations across sectors the evidence, strategies, and hands-on support they need to connect with their audiences and drive meaningful change. I do research and data analysis, design campaigns using behavioural science and measure and evaluate impact using science and storytelling.In my spare time, I'm chair of a small conservation charity working with the local authority to manage and promote a local nature reserve, volunteer with my local library of things, and mentor for students at a local university.In September, I'm starting a PhD in Psychology to investigate behaviour change interventions for driving climate action. Career Beginnings When you were 15, what job did you want and who did you ask for advice?I had no idea! I did my work experience at a local vet's practice. I don't remember asking anyone for advice. We did do a careers test at school, but I can't remember what it suggested. I don't think there was any further advice provided and my parents didn't guide me in any way.Did you have an interest in the environment at this time?Biology had almost been my favourite subject at school and I studied it throughout. I was going to study French and European Studies at university because I spoke French and didn't know what to do. Then the university cancelled the course and offered me to choose something else, and I chose Human Sciences because it sounded fascinating. I did an ERASMUS term abroad in Iceland where I met environmental activists and studied environmental ethics. From there, I tailored my last year of studies towards nature, e.g. medicial plants and tropical rainforests. What were your first steps in starting your career? I wanted to volunteer with lemurs in Madagascar, but I developed panic disorder and agoraphobia as a teenager so flying was problematic. I applied for a job at the RSPB but was unsuccessful. I then just took whatever job I could and just carried on that way for 10+ years even though I wasn't happy. Career path and skills What does your career path look like? I had been working in marketing, data analytics & market research within the tech and consumer goods industries but it didn't match my values. I wanted to move into more pro-social/pro-environmental causes and hone my research skills, so I took a Masters in Behavioural Decision Science when I was in my mid thirties. I carried on working throughout the MSc but my contract finished towards the end of my course, so I had spare time on my hands. I saw the local Library of Things was looking for volunteers, so I offered my help. At the same time, a local nature reserve was clear felled due to Ash Dieback and I somehow became the main liaison between the angry community and the council (landowner). Local councillors persuaded me to form a group and I became chair. Since then, we've had 135 volunteers, raised £30k for conservation and community initiatives, discovered rare hazel dormice onsite, and won several awards. I'm now about to start a funded PhD at the University of Bath to test field interventions that drive pro-environmental behaviour change. So I've maintained the focus on communications & research skills, just now within the environmental sector. What skills were important for you to develop in your career? Most importantly, I demonstrated passion. My willingness to learn and recognised impact were enough for people within the industry to take a chance on me, despite not having a great deal of conservation knowledge. A great network within the industry has also been very beneficial, to fill any gaps in my knowledge and open doors to new opportunities. My marketing and research skills are also easily transferrable, but I would say that research skills within the sector are mainly reserved for academics and a comms/marketing role would be far easier to obtain for those without post-graduate qualifications. If I could create any job in the environmental sector it would be...Environmental law enforcement. It is far too easy to destroy nature and as the world slowly realises how fundamental it is to our existence, I hope there will be greater monitoring and convictions for criminal activity. This article was published on Monday 19 October 2026
