Dr Ian Simpson
Project Manager: Saving Wildcats
- Email isimpson@rzss.org.uk
- Location Highland Wildlife Park
Role
Ian is our Project Manager for the EU LIFE funded “Saving Wildcats” project, being led by the RZSS on behalf of a partnership of collaborators and co-funders. He is based at the Highland Wildlife Park and responsible for the day-to-day management of the project. He feels passionately about his role and aims to build a world class team that will ensure this iconic species has an opportunity to thrive again in the Scottish Highlands.
Background
Ian trained and practiced as a freshwater ecologist in his early career and then held several operational and management positions on route to specialising in environmental project management. He spent 2.5 years in the Philippines conducting research at the International Rice Research Institute and then 20 years working for the Natural Environment Research Council which included managing UK Government and EU funded consortium projects. Before joining the RZSS he spent 4 years managing community-based Climate Challenge Fund projects in Perthshire.
Education
MBA (Lancaster University) Business Administration
PhD (University of Wales) Environmental impacts of agrochemical use in rice cultivation
MSc (University of Wales) Applied Hydrobiology
BSc (University of Stirling) Environmental Science and Biology
Latest News
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News
27/10/2023
RZSS response to the UK Government’s intention to deprioritise species restoration
I was surprised and dismayed to read about the UK Government’s intention to deprioritise species restoration, which fails to recognise the importance of that vital pillar of biodiversity recovery, as well as flying in the face of recent guidance from the world authority for conservation, the IUCN.
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News
13/10/2023
Critically endangered wildcats now call the Cairngorms National Park home
The first round of wildcat releases in Scotland has been completed by Saving Wildcats, led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) in partnership with NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), The Cairngorms National Park Authority, Nordens Ark and Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul de la Junta de Andalucía.