Dr. Mat Cottam is an experienced conservation professional with two decades in ecological management, business development, and communications across the environmental sector, both in the UK and internationally.
His passion for conservation was ignited during his B.Sc. in Marine Biology and Zoology, during a week of volunteering on Skomer Island in Wales, surveying seabirds and observing the remarkable breeding colony of Manx Shearwaters. Following this, he volunteered with various organizations, including the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, and Nature Scot, contributing to nature reserves across England, Ireland, and Scotland.
During his Ph.D. at the University of Glasgow, Mat expanded his horizons, surveying marine turtles in Cyprus, and bats in Madagascar. His first professional role was Assistant Warden on the Farne Islands (National Trust), caring for seabird conlonies (notably puffins), and the resident seal population.
His love of the sea and dedication to marine conservation led him to work in several island locations, culminating in a ten-year tenure in the Cayman Islands. Here, he initially served the National Trust for the Cayman Islands before joining the Cayman Islands Department of Environment as the first government staff member responsible for the terrestrial environment. During this period, he established the Terrestrial Ecology Unit, led authoring of the NBAP for the Cayman Islands, and contributed to new legislation aligning the territory with international commitments under CITES and the CBD. His work often took place without any supportive legislative framework, necessitating innovative communications strategies, stakeholder management, and cross-sectoral collaboration. Notable projects included a shark conservation beer (White Tip), and MaxeyLash, an eyelash-enhancing eyeliner aimed at promoting the sustainable use of hard-pan reef habitats.
Now back in the UK, Mat focuses on Business Development, innovative project design, and conservation fundraising, striving to connect diverse communities with the benefits of engaging with nature.
Mat enjoys promoting creativity and new approaches in conservation. Conservation is the second least diverse sector in the UK, and this is something which needs to change for the benefit of more different sorts of people. We need a more integrated, accessible and connected view of what conservation could be, what a meaningful connection with nature looks like and what it has to offer, and how more people can get involved in bringing it all together.
Mat is a keen creative writer, would-be filmmaker, fantasy surfer, and full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
