Chris York: Detailed Curriculum Vitae

If you would like independent verification of my experience please email me and I will send you contact details of selected referees from previous employment (Dr Richard Birnie, Macaulay Institute and Murray Ferguson, Cairngorms National Park Authority) and education (Prof Frank Burnett, UWE). This avoids their contact details being “data mined” by automated web crawlers for email spam etc.

Education

University of the West of England: MSc Science Communication (part time). Distinction.
Dissertation: “An evaluation of SCIENCESNAPS” for The BA, Aberdeen branch.

Kingston Polytechnic: BSc (Hons) Geology. Second Class, Lower Division.

Employment History (pre-consultancy)

Communications and Outreach Officer, The Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen. (2½ years)
Developed a Communication and Outreach Strategy to proactively engage with “end-users” and facilitate Knowledge Transfer activities. Responsible for translation of scientific outputs of the Institute's research programme to external audiences, including politicians, public bodies, NGOs, land managers and the wider public (including schools). Managed PR activities for the institute and project managed a fundamental redevelopment of the corporate website.

Area Advisory Officer, Scottish Natural Heritage, Aberdeen. (2.5 years)
Provided specialist advice and managed grants for projects that facilitated countryside access in the Grampian Area (c£400,000 per annum). Wrote technical and non-technical reports to support funding cases. Liased with local Countryside Ranger Services to deliver an agreed programme of activities with the public. SNH representative for Community Planning Partnership in Aberdeenshire. Local co-ordinator for SNH operational planning and reporting.

Management Planner, The National Trust for Scotland, Inverness. (1 year)
Researched and wrote estate management plans for two West Highland estates owned by the Trust (Balmacara and Torridon). Included devising and running public participation process.

Field Studies Specialist, North Ayrshire Council, Lamlash, Isle of Arran. (short term contracts)
Devised, wrote and recorded video based support materials for Higher Still Geography: “The Hydrosphere” and “The Biosphere” in conjunction with Learning and Teaching Scotland.

Ranger/Naturalist, The National Trust for Scotland, Inverewe Garden, Poolewe, Ross-shire. (4 years seasonal contracts)
Responsible for running the Ranger Service on a seasonal basis. All aspects of countryside management relevant to West Highland Estate, including heritage conservation, education & interpretation, and administration.

Volunteer Ranger/Naturalist, The National Trust for Scotland, Brodick, Isle of Arran. (6 months - full time, voluntary)
Worked as part of a team to learn the skills of a countryside ranger.

Field Studies Researcher, PGL Study Europe, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. (short term contract)
Responsible for the implementation of a project to expand the field study programme for PGL Study Europe in the UK, Switzerland and France, including writing new course materials.

Field Tutor and Course Co-ordinator, Loch Ranza Field Studies Centre, Isle of Arran. (2 years)
Taught field techniques to students aged 10 to 18, up to A level standard, in the subjects of Geology, Geography & Marine Ecology.

Technical Assistant, GECO PRAKLA, Interpretation Department, Woking, Surrey. (2 years)
Responsible for digitisation of geophysical data and production of the resultant interpretative maps and proprietary reports.

Training, Skills and Vocational Qualifications

Project Management (BBSRC, 2005)
Interviewing Techniques (SNH , 2003)
Managing Upland Footpaths (NTS, 2002)
Facilitation Skills (Industrial Society, 2000)
Interpretive Master Planning (John Veverka, 1999)
Building High Quality Paths (The Footpath Trust, 1998)
Summer Mountain Leader Training (Plas-y-Brenin, 1994)

I am fluent in Microsoft Office and competent with OpenOffice 2, FrontPage, DreamWeaver and Photoshop. I have also used LINUX and UNIX systems.

I hold a full, clean UK driving licence, the Red Cross Public First Aid Certificate (2005) and a certificate of competence in chainsaw operation (felling) (NTPC, 1996).

I am "semi-fluent" in Spanish, having spent 5 months in Spain improving my language skills in 2005/06.