About Us
Our Ecology Team
We employ a large team, ranging from skilled office staff through to qualified field surveyors. Below are our key members of staff, all of whom are fully employed within our business. Together they are experienced across a wide variety of ecological scenarios and they possess a range of protected species licences. All of our permanent staff hold valid certification for First Aid, are trained in offroad 4×4 driving and have CSCS cards.
Laura Carter-Davis CEcol MCIEEM
Laura Carter-Davis CEcol MCIEEM
Laura Carter-Davis is the Managing Director of Echoes Ecology and has worked with the company since 2007. She holds a NatureScot licence for bats (including harp trapping), badgers and otters, a Bat Low Impact licence and is a Level One Registered Badger Worker (Scottish Badgers). In addition, Laura is a qualified tree climber (NPTC) and Lantra-certified Conservation Detection Dog Handler. Her interests relate to mammal surveying, including for otter, water vole and pine marten. Her role involves the management of customer deliverables and team resources, as well as the project management of more complex casework. Laura has substantial experience with applying for protected species licences and developing associated mitigation and compensation strategies.
In her spare time Laura enjoys getting out with her four dogs (the muddier the trails, the better, according to Poppy, Hendricks, Bree and Holly) and hiking up munros. Most of her outdoor activities are generally followed up with coffee and cake!
Heather Simpson CEnv MCIEEM
Heather Simpson CEnv MCIEEM
Heather Simpson joined Echoes Ecology in 2013 and is now the Principal Ecologist. Heather is an experienced botanist, carrying out Phase 1, NVC and invasive species surveys, as well as mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian surveys. She holds a NatureScot Great Crested Newt licence, a Schedule 1 bird licence and is a qualified tree climber. Her roles within Echoes Ecology include case management, field surveying and report writing, and staff development and mentoring.
Heather is a keen hill runner and spends most weekends attempting to run up hills whilst wishing her cocker spaniel Meg didn’t make it look so easy.
Heather Campbell MCIEEM
Heather Campbell MCIEEM
Heather Campbell joined the Echoes Ecology team full time in 2018 and now acts as Senior Ecologist. Prior to this she worked as a Seasonal Ecologist at Echoes from 2014-2015 and then as an ecologist at an engineering company. She holds a NatureScot Roost Visitor and Harp Trapping Licence for bats, a NatureScot Bat Low Impact Licence and a NatureScot disturbance licence for badgers. She’s also a qualified tree climber (NPTC). Heather has undertaken a wide range of protected species surveys for bats, badger, otter, water vole, red squirrels, great crested newts and reptiles. She has undertaken Ecological Clerk of Work duties on various schemes including large-scale railway infrastructure projects and develops licensable mitigation and compensation strategies for bats, badger and water vole. Her other core strengths relate to BatSound and Anabat Insight bat echolocation analysis. In her spare time, Heather regularly explores the wilderness of Scotland with her crazy collie Whiskey and short-legged sausage dog Cheech.
Rosanna Hignett ACIEEM
Rosanna Hignett ACIEEM
Rosanna joined the Echoes Ecology team in 2018 and has since been involved in a wide range of consultancy cases in sectors such as renewable energy, civil engineering and housing construction. Rosanna holds a NatureScot Roost Visitor Licence for bats, a BLIMP licence and a Schedule 1 bird licence. She undertakes most of the ornithological surveys within the company, as well as PEAs, invasive species surveys and mammal surveys. Rosanna is also a qualified tree climber (NPTC) and an experienced Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW). She regularly applies for protected species licences and develops mitigation and compensation strategies as well as ecological enhancements. Outside of work Rosanna can be found exploring with her dog Nala on foot or by boat, and knitting up something cosy to keep herself warm.
Kay Paul ACIEEM
Kay Paul ACIEEM
Kay joined the Echoes Ecology team full time in 2022 as an Assistant Ecologist, having worked for the summer as a seasonal staff member, and was soon promoted to Ecologist. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife and Conservation Management from Scotland’s Rural College. Prior to joining Echoes, Kay has worked as a countryside ranger with both Clackmannanshire Council and Forestry and Land Scotland. Since joining Echoes Kay has undertaken a wide range of protected species surveys for mammals and amphibians, ornithological surveys and habitat surveys. She has experience applying for protected species licences and working as an Ecological Clerk of Works. Kay holds a NatureScot bat licence and is a qualified tree climber (NPTC). Kay volunteers with British Trust for Ornithology, Bat Conservation Trust, Central Scotland Amphibian and Reptile Group, Central Scotland Raptor Study Group and Scottish Badgers. In what spare time she has left she can either be found outdoors walking with her dogs Nixie and Milo, hill walking, running races or when stationary, knitting or crafting.
Siobhan Cantwell
Siobhan Cantwell
Heather Campbell joined the Echoes Ecology team full time in 2018 and now acts as Senior Ecologist. Prior to this she worked as a Seasonal Ecologist at Echoes from 2014-2015 and then as an ecologist at an engineering company. She holds a NatureScot Roost Visitor and Harp Trapping Licence for bats, a NatureScot Bat Low Impact Licence and a NatureScot disturbance licence for badgers. She’s also a qualified tree climber (NPTC).
Heather has undertaken a wide range of protected species surveys for bats, badger, otter, water vole, red squirrels, great crested newts and reptiles. She has undertaken Ecological Clerk of Work duties on various schemes including large-scale railway infrastructure projects and develops licensable mitigation and compensation strategies for bats, badger and water vole. Her other core strengths relate to BatSound and Anabat Insight bat echolocation analysis.
In her spare time, Heather regularly explores the wilderness of Scotland with her crazy collie Whiskey and short-legged sausage dog Cheech.
Selena Maria Russo
Selena Maria Russo
Rosanna joined the Echoes Ecology team in 2018 and has since been involved in a wide range of consultancy cases in sectors such as renewable energy, civil engineering and housing construction. Rosanna holds a NatureScot Roost Visitor Licence for bats, a BLIMP licence and a Schedule 1 bird licence. She undertakes most of the ornithological surveys within the company, as well as PEAs, invasive species surveys and mammal surveys. Rosanna is also a qualified tree climber (NPTC) and an experienced Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW). She regularly applies for protected species licences and develops mitigation and compensation strategies as well as ecological enhancements. Outside of work Rosanna can be found exploring with her dog Nala on foot or by boat, and knitting up something cosy to keep herself warm.