Ellen Irwin, MSc

Ellen Irwin, originally from the USA, works in conservation, and has developed a passion for Aotearoa’s unique flora and fauna. She now calls Wellington home.

What did you study and why did you choose to study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington?

I did a Master of Science (MSc) at Te Herenga Waka in Ecology and Biodiversity. I chose to study here because of awesome conservation research being done at the University, and in Aotearoa in general. I had visited Wellington before and loved the vibe of the city.

How has your studies helped you in your career journey? Did you have any practical work or research experience while at Victoria University of Wellington that helped you in your current position?

My MSc thesis was focused on radio-tracking juvenile kākāriki from Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne to see where they were going after fledging the nest, and if they were surviving outside the sanctuary. I spent most of my time wandering around Zealandia and the surrounding suburbs with a big blue antenna, looking for birds! During my project I was lucky enough to work closely with Zealandia staff, and I learned so much from them. I also tried to give back and volunteer there whenever I could, since at that point I knew the sanctuary well. I gained a huge amount of practical experience that proved invaluable for my roles at Zealandia.

You’re now a Lead Ranger at Zealandia, what is that like? What do you enjoy most about your job?

No two days are the same. On any given day I could be writing a report, monitoring nest boxes, answering emails, setting a trapline, responding to a call about injured wildlife, or checking some suspicious poo (e.g. possibly rat/mustelid) that someone has found in the sanctuary. You never quite know what the day will hold! The things I enjoy most about my job are the opportunities to do meaningful conservation mahi, which is making Pōneke an even more awesome place, and the incredible people that work and volunteer here. I have a wonderful and goofy team and even on hard days there’s always a lot of silly banter and laughter.

What have been your career highlights, and any challenges?

There have been so many wonderful moments working in conservation, and I feel very lucky to be able to see and interact with our taonga species regularly. While many of us get into conservation because we love being outside and working with animals, the longer you work in this field, the more you realise what makes it special is the people and the relationships you build, and the kaupapa you work towards together.

For example,  we recently translocated toitoi or common bully (a native species of fish) to Zealandia, and we got to work with some incredible folks during the whole process, from mana whenua to freshwater ecologists to the rōpū that co-manages the roto we got the toitoi from. Many of them came to the release day, and seeing everyone’s passion and excitement as we released these wee fish into their new home was definitely a career highlight. There are always challenges in conservation: fieldwork not going to plan, weather packing in, an animal doing the opposite of what you want it to, or other unexpected roadblocks popping up. I’ve learnt that even though things don’t always happen as quickly as I want them to, if we are persistent and keep trying different things, eventually they work out. I often have to remind myself that when it comes to conservation, we are playing the long game.

How would you describe Wellington?

Wellington is a very special place. It has both the resources of a capital city and the vibe of a small town, and nature is so accessible. There aren’t many places in the world where in mere minutes you can go from seeing a show to being in the bush! We’re so lucky to have access to an abundance of beautiful forest reserves, walking tracks, and beaches. I also feel grateful to be in a place where nature is so highly valued, and while we still have a way to go, the conservation mahi happening around the region is really inspiring. The fact that we’re one of the few, possibly the only city in the world where urban biodiversity is increasing speaks to the incredible work being done all over the region.

What are your interests/passions outside of work?

I love tramping and try to get out into the bush whenever I can, whether that’s through a trip with the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club (WTMC) or other keen tramper friends. I am also a member of the Wellington Emergency Response Team (NZRT8), a group of awesome trained volunteers who practice weekly to ensure we are prepared to assist the community in Wellington or anywhere in Aotearoa, following emergency events such as an earthquake or flood.

Best piece of advice you’ve been given?

One simple tip from a friend that has really stuck with me is, where possible, replace the word ‘but’ with the word ‘and.’ It makes a huge difference to getting your point across without invalidating, e.g. “You did a good job with this task AND you can improve on X” as opposed to “You did a good job with this task BUT you can improve on X.”

We all know that words matter, and this verbal change is a small part in my efforts to consistently treat people with respect and empathy. I’m constantly gaining wisdom in this space from many amazing people in my life, from whānau to friends to mentors and managers.