Sally Phillips

Background

About Sally Phillips

I started my career with Perth and Kinross Council in 2012, working as a Technical Assistant in the Flooding Team. An opportunity which arose after spending a very valuable summer working there as an intern in 2010. I wanted to move north to the Highlands and the opportunity to join SEPA as a Trainee Flood Risk Scientist was too good to turn down, especially as it was based in Dingwall. This role included time in the planning team, flood risk and hydrometry teams. The latter being my favourite and giving me a taste of working outside in a practical role across the highlands. In January 2015 I joined Forestry and Land Scotland, working as a Civil Engineer, in what was then the Inverness, Ross and Skye area. I was lucky enough to cover Skye and Wester Ross as well as Fort Augustus and the Great Glen. My role involved extending and upgrading the forest road network across these areas, as well as paths, bridges and yearly maintenance. I also managed the installation and maintenance of several sections of catch fencing on the A82, working closely with geotechnical contractors to ensure that felling works could be completed safely above the main trunk road between Inverness and Fort William. I enjoyed this aspect of the role very much. In 2022 it was time for a change, reflecting on my personal values and direction for the future - I applied and was successfully appointed as Peatland Project Manager at RSPB Abernethy. Primarily I am responsible for the restoration of around 1400ha of blanket bog on the high ground of the reserve! Definitely my biggest and best challenge to date :)