Melissa Spiers works as an Environmental Researcher for CREST at the University of Chester. She has a first-class BSc in Zoology, from the University of Exeter, and 11 years of experience working in the third sector for both conservation and sustainability charities. She most enjoys working on the interface between environmental conservation and people, working on stakeholder engagement projects, ensuring sustainability is delivered comprehensively and effectively for all partners, approaching solutions from a place-based perspective (SMART), and modelling or monitoring environmental improvements.