The environment is facing increasingly complex challenges. Sally Hayns, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), has dedicated 14 years to strengthening the professional body so its members and their work will be taken seriously.
“As a profession it is generally under-valued by the public and by politicians. There is a perception that it is a career option for those who love nature but whose hearts rule their heads,” Sally Hayns (MSc Voluntary Sector Management, 2007) says, referring to professional ecological and environmental management.
Sally, the CEO of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), is expertly placed to comment. CIEEM’s mission is to raise the standards and profile of the profession for the benefit of nature and society.
“The professionalism, complexity and importance of the work is not recognised. Consequently, salaries, especially at entry-level, are too low, and it can be a difficult profession to access. These issues contribute to the lack of diversity within the sector, which we, together with many other organisations, are trying to address.”
Sally’s own interest in ecology started from a young age, with one foot in the city and the other in the woods.
“I grew up in Walthamstow in Northeast London, so quite an urban area, but Epping Forest was on my doorstep and was my playground as a teenager. Through exploring the forest with friends, I grew to love the natural environment. My grandfather, who was a keen gardener but also interested in birds and wildlife, was also a big influence.”
Sally did A-level Biology and went on to study a BSc in Biology and Maths at Goldsmiths, University of London, and an MSc in Ecology at Bangor University. With two relevant degrees under her belt, Sally worked in the environmental sector for twenty years before deciding it was time to further expand her knowledge for the next part of her career.
“I had applied for a couple of CEO jobs with bigger environmental charities and been a runner-up to someone with an MBA, but as someone who had primarily worked in the NGO sector, I wasn’t really interested in following that route,” Sally says.
“Someone suggested the MSc in Voluntary Sector Management [at Bayes Business School] to me, and it looked perfect for my needs. It was a big commitment as I was self-funded and had a very busy full-time job, but the course was both interesting and stretching.”
Sally has kept pushing herself. In 2010, as the new CEO of CIEEM, she knew there was a lot of work to be done and that she had to show leadership.
“When I joined the organisation, we had seven staff, financial and HR challenges, and a low profile within the sector. I needed to sort out the problems, give colleagues the confidence to shine, grow the income and lead by example. We now have 30 staff and have been accredited as a Great Place to Work. Our membership has tripled, and we are recognised as the leading professional body for the sector. You cannot deliver that without harnessing the commitment and energy of the people you lead.”
Sally’s dedication is being recognised by the industry. She was included in The END Report‘s inaugural Power List in 2022, which featured “The UK’s 100 most influential environmental professionals”, and has subsequently been included in the 2023 and 2024 lists as well. Sally is highly appreciative of the recognition and those who have nominated her over the years, but she also wants to acknowledge her hardworking colleagues.
“… it is really a reflection of the dedication and commitment of your team. As a CEO, your role is to create the environment and opportunities for them to give their best, and CIEEM’s success is down to that team effort.”
When asked what Sally sees as her biggest achievement so far, she looks towards the progress CIEEM has made over the past 14 years.
“Professionally, I think it is where the organisation is now in terms of its profile, influence and reputation. Most young people entering the profession would be steered towards joining CIEEM for the support we provide and the standards we set. Our input is regularly sought by all UK governments in terms of policy and practice development. Gaining our Royal Charter in 2013 was a huge achievement.“
Personally, I think it is the fact that I have been fortunate to genuinely enjoy every job I have had on my career path and have learnt new knowledge and skills in every different role. Ecology has given me a lot to be grateful for.”
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the changes the natural environment is going through, but Sally still finds a dangerous lack of urgency.
“We are starkly facing the twin threats of a changing climate and biodiversity loss, but the perceived lack of immediacy of the threat (even though it is coming closer and needs time to resolve) means that it constantly falls to the bottom of the priority list in terms of government policy, funding and public concern. In practical terms, the loss and fragmentation of natural habitat are leading to potentially catastrophic declines in many plant and animal species.”
However, positive steps have been made, and Sally is hopeful there will be further momentum.
“You have to be optimistic, otherwise these 30 years [in the environmental sector], and those of countless other ecologists and environmental managers, will have counted for nothing. I think one of the most positive steps is that many businesses have now realised that their commercial success depends on a healthy natural environment, and they are often the ones leading change. That, in turn, captures the attention of politicians who are keen to see businesses succeed. I think the other key difference is that we do have more environmental legislation and regulation to protect and restore the environment. It is by no means perfect, but that is largely due to under-investment rather than flawed policy or ambition.”
If City St George’s students or alumni were considering a career in the environmental sector, what would Sally Hayns’ advice be?
“I would tell them to a) look at our Green Jobs for Nature website and see the breadth of roles available across the public, private and environmental NGO sectors to find one that seems the right fit for them, and b) do your research regarding potential employers. A good employer can make your career, just as a bad one can break it, and unfortunately, we have our fair share of poor employers who will take advantage of a young person’s passion for the environment. But I would also say ‘go for it’. It is incredibly rewarding, the roles are diverse, and you can definitely make a difference to the environment, the economy and society.”
Having spent the past 30 years caring for and worrying about the environment, can Sally still enjoy her natural surroundings on her time off?
“One of the downsides of my job is that I spend most of the time in meetings or at a desk. Connecting with nature is really important to me, so when walking the dog every day, I forego the earphones and music or podcasts and just take time to listen to the sights and sounds of nature. Holidays are also a great time to get the binoculars out and take time to enjoy the natural environment. In my spare time, I try and give something back as a trustee for an environmental charity.
A big thank you to Sally Hayns for talking to us about her work as an ecologist and CEO of a professional body. Learn more about CIEEM.