It is so useful, no powerful, to have recognition of the work that we do as experts, which I found in my career (even now) other professions may belittle. We study longer than many professionals from A-levels, through university and into a career it remains hard work to do field and monitoring, as well as maintain such a diverse set of skills. We should be recognised in our own profession in a manner that is comparable with others.
Tanya Ferry CEnv
Panthalassa Ltd, Managing Director
What does an average day look like in your career?
I don’t think I have ever done a job in this sector with an ‘average’ day. With the seasonal working of field work to monitor estuaries, and freshwater environments being mostly in the spring to summer and consenting and report writing work throughout the year, it is never the same.
How did you get to where you are now?
I was luckily enough to get a placement for three months in the EA monitoring freshwater rivers for fish, invertebrates and plants, straight out of university that I fitted well with the team and they needed longer so it became 9 months. I was lucky. It taught me how to plan work, coordinate teams and gave me access to permanent jobs within the EA which allowed me to move into estuarine and marine fisheries work. I had to leave because of a restructure but the role I took allowed me to continue to expand my knowledge of marine environments with a maritime context.
Today I now combine all the experiences and skills into the services I provide clients.
In what way does your role consider and protect the environment?
We do a lot of environmental assessments for activities including construction where we are always considering the protection and health of the environment. I also monitor for the health of the environment whether that is fish populations or water quality.
However just because we are doing these pieces of work I don’t see that we should not consider our overall impact on the environment, so we calculate our carbon for activities, and provide these to clients, we reduce our printing, and use PHEVs or Electric Vehicles, and when we are on site we take the most precautionary approach possible for wildlife.
It's always good fun on a small fast boat, when the weather is good. But now I prefer a larger vessel so I see the water around me to spot the amazing UK wildlife.
What are the top three key knowledge areas that are crucial to your role?
I do believe I wouldn’t have achieved safe surveys in the marine and estuarine environments if I hadn’t got a knowledge of boating, and the practicality of the maritime environment, even just getting the tides right! Planning is a key knowledge area, knowing that tasks take a lot longer than you think and preparation is the key. Being organised wouldn’t traditionally be a knowledge area but it has got us out of a lot of issues in the past.
Identification and ecology knowledge is critical, as if you don’t understand that you might monitor at the wrong time and the data becomes invalid, for me knowledge of estuarine fish and fisheries has been important to develop as there are now very few working in this field in the UK.
Knowledge and awareness of other sectors and needs is the most powerful area I have found in my work, it has meant that I can bridge the needs of a developer, policy maker, or conservationist to come to a mutually agreeable way forward that all including nature and the environment.
How has your focus on environmental impacts changed over the course of your career?
I had to learn a lot more aspects of environmental impacts while working out of ports, outside of my aquatic knowledge such as sustainability, air quality, decarbonisation and climate change. But this gives me a very holistic view in all the work I now deliver for clients.
What part of your job do you find the most exciting?
The most rewarding job is being out on the field, it is good for your wellbeing to be out and about and because we are often waiting for the tide, pausing for reflection and outcome. It’s always good fun on a small fast boat, when the weather is good. But now I prefer a larger vessel so I see the water around me to spot the amazing UK wildlife.
What are your 3 top tips for those applying for CEnv?
- Take your time to prepare, don’t rush the application
- Be genuine in your application and interviews, and acknowledge the work you have done
- Go for it, if you have the experience but perhaps confidence has stopped you going for roles, this is a great step to showing yourself that you can do it.
Why would you encourage others in your sector to aspire to become a CEnv?
It is so useful, no powerful, to have recognition of the work that we do as experts, which I found in my career (even now) other professions may belittle. We study longer than many professionals from A-levels, through university and into a career it remains hard work to do field and monitoring, as well as maintain such a diverse set of skills. We should be recognised in our own profession in a manner that is comparable with others.
Profile correct as of July 2026
Tanya Ferry’s CEnv registration:
Tanya is registered as a CEnv via membership of Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
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