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Philip Colebourn MA MSc MIEEM MRTPI
Managing Director
Phil is an extremely accomplished ecologist and town planner with over 30 years experience of the interface between nature conservation and planning human environments. After spells with the Nature Conservancy and in medical film, he joined Hampshire County Planning Department in 1975 and subsequently qualified as a Chartered Town Planner. During eight years as County Ecologist for Hampshire his many initiatives, including major habitat survey programmes, the ‘Countryside Heritage’ publications, and policy initiatives for the Coast and Ancient Woodlands helped to found Hampshire’s reputation as the leading shire authority in ecological planning and countryside management.
In 1989 Phil established Ecological Planning & Research, building on his reputation for the highest quality ecological advice, and his unique blend of professional skills in planning and nature conservation.
Phil’s sure footing in both ecology and strategic and local planning enables his rounded approach to dealing with ecological issues in any planning context. He has extensive experience in Ecological Impact Assessment of major infrastructure, large scale residential developments, and conservation projects. He has presented expert evidence at over 40 Public Inquiries/EiPs for commercial clients, conservation organisations, and Local Authorities. His evidence on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA has recently been upheld in the High Court.
His ecological expertise includes ancient woodlands, historical ecology and Common Land, habitat restoration, and environmental policy; and he has authored many publications including ‘Britain’s Natural Heritage’. Phil was a Founder Member of Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management (MIEEM) and currently sits on their External Affairs committee.
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Karen Colebourn BSc CBiol MIEEM
Director
Karen is a highly experienced ecologist, with over 20 years experience. Having run surveys of ancient woodland, grassland and rivers throughout Gloucestershire, she was made conservation officer of the Wildlife Trust in 1989. She subsequently worked with CPM, an environmental planning consultancy, building the ecology team from one and a half in 1994, to eight when she left in 2000.
Karen has extensive experience in ecological planning, providing realistic advice aimed at achieving a positive outcome as efficiently as possible. She led the team of experts which wrote the Ecological Impact Assessment Guidelines for the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM). This is now the method approved by all national and local ecology consultees. She has managed and written many Ecological Impact Assessments and Appropriate Assessments. In recent years she has taken a particular interest in the evolution of mitigation requirements for development near the Thames Basin Heaths SPA. She has presented evidence as an expert witness at over 30 public inquiries/EiPs. Karen currently sits on the Council of IEEM.
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Dr Matthew Clarke BSc (Hons) PhD CEnv MIEEM
Associate Director
Matt is a highly experienced ecologist with over ten years professional experience in both the private and academic sectors, as well as working within Government Agencies. Matt studied Zoology at the University of Nottingham and gained a Conservation Ecology PhD from Bristol University, where he built up his expertise in entomology. Having joined EPR in 2001, Matt now leads on protected species and, through his experience of interpretation of legislation, policy, best practice survey techniques and practical experience, ensures the highest quality advice on nature conservation.
Matt’s diverse project experience includes the management of large, complex, often high profile projects, Ecological Impact Assessment, appropriate assessment and design and implementation of mitigation measures. He has expertise in the survey, evaluation and management of rare and protected species, habitats and sites and holds English Nature licences for surveying great crested newts and bats. Matt’s particular expertise in bats has given EPR the edge in ensuring that EPR’s bat surveys meet the recently published BCT best practice guidelines for bat surveys, and that our designs for bat mitigation enable successful EPS licence applications.
Matt has presented evidence as an expert witness at Public Inquiry and currently sits on the IEEM Membership committee.
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Dr Nick Giles BSc (Hons) PhD MIEEM
Associate Director
Nick studied Zoology and Botany at the University of London and gained a freshwater ecology PhD from Glasgow University. He then lectured at University for seven years, ran wetlands research for The Game and Conservation Trust for 10 years and then developed his own freelance ecological consultancy for twelve years. He has written a large number of scientific papers, research and consultancy reports and books. Nick served for eight years as an Environment Agency Committee Chairman and was a member of the Government Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Legislative Review Group.
Since joining EPR, Nick has maintained his interest in aquatic ecology with special expertise on fisheries, waterfowl ecology, wetland ecosystem ecology and wetland habitat management & creation. Currently, Nick is developing his expertise on bats, ecological clerk of works on construction sites, EIA and helping to market EPR Ltd.
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James Richards BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM
Associate Director
James is responsible for finance, operations and day-to-day management of the business. He is currently studying for a management accountancy qualification, but his background lies in EIA having gained an MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management from Oxford Brookes University in 1997. Since joining EPR in 1998 James has more than 10 years experience of project management and EIA, and has particular experience in appropriate assessment on coastal sites.
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Dr Rob Souter BSc (Hons) PhD MIEEM
Senior Consultant
Rob is an experienced ecologist who was awarded his PhD by the University of Hertfordshire in 2000 after studying butterfly ecology for five years. On a voluntary basis he has been involved in bird, butterfly and moth recording for many years.
Rob joined EPR in 2002 and has built up considerable experience in managing numerous infrastructure and housing projects, including those involving European nature conservation sites. Rob has particular experience and expertise in Ecological Impact Assessments, and has written many chapters on ecology for Environmental Statements, provided information for Appropriate Assessments and assisted with preparing evidence for a Public Inquiry.
Rob is a highly competent field surveyor with broad knowledge and experience in all aspects of ecological survey, but with specialist knowledge of birds and invertebrates. As a holder of a Great Crested Newt survey licence he has devised mitigation strategies and applied for development licences. Rob is currently developing his experience in bat mitigation and applying for development licences.
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Alison Hogan BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM
Senior Consultant
Alison studied Environmental Biology at University College Swansea and continued her studies at Napier Polytechnic where she gained an MSc in Biology of Water Resource Management. This led her into an 11years with the Environment Agency and its predecessor where she progressed through the Biology team from assistant biologist to team leader. While at the Environment Agency she was involved in a number of aspects of fresh water ecology, including routine monitoring and pollution investigations using aquatic invertebrates, aquatic macrophyte and diatom surveys. While at the Environment Agency her particular interests were studies in connection with the Urban Waste Water Directive and the Habitats Directive.
Since joining EPR in 2003 Alison has broadened her knowledge from a purely aquatic background to include protected species work and EcIA. She has now gained considerable experience of project management of a wide range of projects, implementation of ecological mitigation for large scale infrastructure projects, the provision of advice in relation and large-scale residential developments and the preparation of evidence for public inquiry.
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Liam Russell BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Liam is a Senior Ecologist with over five years professional experience, joining EPR in 2005, and he now has built up considerable experience in managing numerous development and conservation projects. Liam is a highly competent field surveyor with broad knowledge and experience in all aspects of ecological survey, but with specialist knowledge and expertise in herpetology. He is regularly involved in reptile and newt surveys, mitigation design, implementation and translocation, and has successfully applied for a number of EPS Great Crested Newt development licences. Liam also provides training to other professional ecologists having run IEEM workshops on Great Crested Newt Survey and Evaluation. His project experience includes initial site appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessment and appropriate assessment, and other survey experience includes bats, badgers, water voles and dormice.
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Emma Armitage BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Emma is a Senior Ecologist with over five years experience in consultancy. She has degrees in Environmental Biology and Vegetation Survey and Assessment. She has a broad ecological grounding, with experience of most terrestrial habitats and protected species and has worked with a range of clients involved in development, regeneration and conservation schemes, both in Scotland and south-east England. Emma specialises in botany, providing Phase 1 and 2 vegetation surveys for a variety of sites. She is experienced in the use of the National Vegetation Classification and other vegetation survey and analysis techniques, with particular expertise in woodland, heathland and hedgerow habitats. Emma is also experienced in surveys and mitigation for badger, dormouse, otter and water vole. She has been involved in the design of numerous habitat enhancement schemes, as mitigation, for BREEAM assessments and as an integral component of proposals, to deliver wider ecological benefits.
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Neil Clennell BSc (Hons) MSc
Senior Ecologist
Neil Clennell studied Biological Sciences at the University of Exeter and subsequently held the position of Head of Herpetology at Bristol Zoo for six years, where he co-ordinated captive breeding initiatives for several critically endangered reptile species and was a member of the UK Herptile Taxon Advisory Group. He also worked independently as a specialist consultant for Local Authorities, as an expert witness for the RSPCA, and lectured in reptile biology to veterinary students at Bristol University’s Langford College. He then worked for the University of the West Indies managing field operations and undertaking research for their Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Program.
Neil later worked as a freelance ecological consultant, and also gained a MSc with Distinction in Environmental Assessment and Management from Oxford Brookes University. Since joining EPR, he has continued to use his expertise with reptiles and amphibians, and also works with other protected species such as Dormice and Water Voles. Neil is also experienced in the initial ecological assessment of proposed development sites and is currently becoming increasingly involved in specialist bat work.
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Dr Lynsey Robinson BSc (Hons) MSc PhD CEnv MIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Lynsey is an ecologist specialising in bird and mammal survey and mitigation, including for EcIA and Appropriate Assessment. Her experience includes upland and lowland site evaluation, assessment, management and site supervision and she has a particular interest in landscape ecology and integration of wildlife conservation with agriculture. She also has experience in windfarm assessment and Thames Basin Heaths SPA.
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Elaine Down
Company Secretary / Administration Manager
Elaine is responsible for the management of the Administration Department, and together with the support of her team, provides the day-to-day administrative and accounting functions required of the business. Elaine joined EPR in 1992, very shortly after the company was established, supporting Phil Colebourn in the early years and therefore has extensive knowledge of the business as a whole. As the company has flourished and expanded over the years she has taken responsibility for the roles of Health and Safety Officer, Employment and ISO Quality Assurance Management.
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