I am an entomologist and acarologist working in plant health biosecurity.

My lifelong fascination with insects began in childhood, leading me to volunteer at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, followed by a Bachelors in Zoology and a Masters in Entomology.

Currently, I work as a diagnostician at Fera Science, providing specialist insect and mite identification and training for the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI) and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). I also offer scientific advice to DEFRA, support biosecurity diagnostics for UK Overseas Territories, and contribute to the Observatree project.

While my foundational expertise is in Coleoptera, I have increasingly specialised in acarology, driven by the ecological significance of mites and the urgent need for taxonomic specialists in the UK. I trained under some of the world-leading experts over two consecutive summer courses in the USA, where I really got hooked on this group.

I am passionate about making entomological science more accessible, as many enthusiasts remain unaware of professional pathways into the field. As the number of taxonomic experts continues to decline, I believe that sharing specialist knowledge of arthropods is more critical than ever.