Alumni Voices: 'Start small. Making a difference doesn't always demand big actions'

Heather Needham (Geography, 2021), winner of our Emerging Leader Award 2024, is a making a mark in the environmentalism space. Here she reflects on her time at King’s, her career so far and receiving praise from the legendary Sir David Attenborough.

Heather Needham is the Biodiversity Manager at the University of Oxford. Her environmental expertise has taken her to Botswana and Chile, where she monitored aquatic birds in the Okavango Delta and directed a three-part documentary. Heather reflects on her time at King’s, her career so far and receiving praise from the legendary Sir David Attenborough.

Why King's?

I decided to study at King’s because of its comprehensive and interdisciplinary geography course, the opportunities to develop new skills, engage in fieldwork in the UK and overseas, and to live in central London.

Whilst I was studying for my A-Levels, I was selected for the Sutton Trust programme. The Sutton Trust supports students from underrepresented backgrounds to access universities. As part of this initiative, I did a one-week residential programme at King’s. I enjoyed the geography taster sessions, living in student halls, the insight into student life and living in London.

What's your favourite memory of your time at King's?

I have many great memories from my time at King’s. One memory that stands out was exploring Morocco during the second-year fieldtrip. It was a unique opportunity to experience the country’s diverse landscapes and conduct research abroad, including assessing the health of the endemic Atlas cedar forest in the Atlas Mountains and studying the movement of sand dunes in the Sahara Desert.

Another favourite memory was my summer abroad, where I installed low-cost climatic sensors in the cloud forests of the Colombian Andes. During this month-long experience, I lived with a Colombian family amidst the cloud forests. Here, I worked on my project and supported researchers from the Department of Geography. My participation in this project was funded by the RGS Fieldwork Apprentice Grant and the Department of Geography.

What's the key lesson you learnt at King's?

I learned to seize to every opportunity, try new things and get involved as much as possible. Studying at King’s and the support from the Department of Geography gave me the opportunities to pursue my passion and projects.

As part of my role in the Geography Society, I mentored first-year students. Going to university can be daunting, so it was great to be able to support new students with university life.

You’ve won our Emerging Leader Award for your work in biodiversity and sustainability. When did you first develop an interest in this area?

During my first year at university, I investigated aquatic bird diversity in the UNESCO Okavango Delta, a unique wetland in Botswana. Seasonal and annual flooding are crucial for maintaining the wetland’s health and functionality. In the Okavango Delta, I observed how climate change and water abstraction are depleting water availability in the region. This reduction in water significantly impacts the aquatic bird populations that depend on the delta. I also had the opportunity to hear from local stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges involved in managing the transboundary Okavango River Basin. This experience was supported by the King’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

What does your job as Biodiversity Manager at the University of Oxford involve?

My role involves implementing the university’s biodiversity strategy and driving nature-positive practices throughout the institution. The university aims to achieve a net gain in biodiversity by 2035. This includes reducing negative impacts of the university’s activities on nature and increasing positive impacts through enhancing biodiversity on the university estate.

You've been involved with several United Nations initiatives. Can you tell us about those?

I led a team of fellow students from my master’s programme at the University of Oxford, to establish the project, ‘Think Wilder’. The project was selected for the World Federations of the United Nations Association global youth initiative, ‘Under the Starry Sky.’ We received mentorship and training to put our plans into action. We also designed teaching materials and taught nature education classes in schools in England.

At the 28th UN Climate Change Conference, I presented my work on measuring the impacts the University of Oxford’s activities on nature. It was a great opportunity to represent the work undertaken by the university and encourage other institutions on their nature-positive journey.

You won the Wellington Medal in 2021. What is that and how it felt to win this award?

The Wellington Medal is awarded to one graduating student each year and I was deeply honoured to receive it. The medal recognises high academic achievements and other contributions the student has made during their time at university to acknowledge their impressive future potential.

I received the award at my graduation ceremony, which was an incredible way to conclude my time at King’s. Winning such a prestigious award would not have been possible without the inspiration, support and encouragement from the Geography Department. The support and guidance from my Head of Department and academic supervisor were instrumental in helping me achieve this medal and my goals.

You gained national attention for receiving a letter of praise from Sir David Attenborough. Can you talk through how that happened?

After finishing my dissertation on the link between conflict and deforestation in Colombia, I decided to write a hand written letter to Sir David, enclosing my dissertation. Given our common goal of addressing tropical deforestation, I thought he would be interested to read about my research. I didn’t expect to hear back from him and I was ecstatic to find his hand written letter in my post.

Are you working on any new projects?

I’m editing three short documentaries I directed as part of the Darwin200 Project. I’m part of this global conservation initiative, established in memory of Charles Darwin, that is training 200 young conservationists from around the world. I was fortunate to be chosen as a Darwin200 Leader, where I directed a documentary on the conservation of waterbirds in Cape Horn, Chile.

What advice would you give to fellow alumni hoping to make the world a better place?

Start small. Making a difference doesn’t always demand big actions. You could consider volunteering with local organisations, participating in community projects, setting up an initiative, or supporting ethical and sustainable businesses. Every action counts and paves the way for larger opportunities.

Inspired by Heather’s story?

Visit the King’s Distinguished Alumni Awards webpage to read our full list of winners find out more about the awards. Nominates for the 2025 awards will open in October.