"We have built our reputation on our experienced and qualified multi-disciplined ecologists. We produce high quality and sustainable ecological solutions to a wide client base. "
marcus kohler jane kohler sue parsons ian ellis peter stronach iain bray william oconnor beth ludlow
 

ABOUT US

Mission

• to help clients navigate the world of ecological compliance
• to give a cost effective and professional service
• to invest in the ongoing training, personal development and quality of our people
• to provide sustainable solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of development

If you are interested in joining us then please contact us by emailing your CV in the first instance to jane@mkaecology.co.uk. Your interest in us will be kept strictly confidential.

Profiles

Marcus Kohler BA (Hons) MIEEM
Managing Director
Marcus has over 20 years experience as an ecologist and has owned and managed the award-winning business of MKA Ecology since 1998. He brings to the business his excellent and broad knowledge of British habitats and protected species, his expertise and skill in working alongside professionals of all disciplines on complex projects and a determination to deliver service of the highest quality as efficiently as possible. Marcus has extensive overseas ecological experience, having worked and traveled extensively in South East Asia, Australasia and Africa. He has over ten years’ experience as a wildlife tour leader, specializing in Madagascar, but also taking groups to many other destinations across four continents including leading the first extended wildlife tour into Rwanda since the 1994 genocide. Marcus has helped develop wildlife tour itineraries for several clients and has a great understanding of international eco-tourism.

Providing professional ecological services on projects as diverse as long-term gravel extraction, landfill and recreational landscaping, through pipelines and motorway widening to habitat creation for the grounds of a new hotel development has helped him build a portfolio of skills. He is client focused and committed to finding workable solutions and, where possible, to adding value.



Ian Ellis BSc (Hons) MRes MIEEM
Senior Ecologist

A Masters graduate in Ecology and Environmental Management from the University of York, Ian has many years’ experience as a professional ecologist within the environmental consultancy sector and joined MKA Ecology as Senior Ecologist in 2007. He is committed to providing an excellent service to clients.

As well as a thorough grounding in surveys and data analysis in relation to British protected species, particularly Water Voles and Birds, Ian has overseen ecological components of many Environmental Impact Assessments with extensive experience in managing high - profile wind farm developments, both onshore and offshore.

Ian is a committed ornithologist with a knowledge base incorporating legislation, mitigation, conservation and habitat management. A Schedule One licence holder for Black Redstart and Barn owl, he has carried out in-depth study into Crossbill ecology in Speyside for the RSPB and is experienced in most survey methods.

Ian has obtained extensive experience in overseas ecology, especially through his particular interest in neo-tropical and oriental wildlife. Ian has traveled extensively throughout Europe, North America, Central and South America and South-east Asia. This has allowed him to co-lead natural history tours to Costa Rica and Brazil. Ian has most recently returned from organising an expedition to remote areas of the Philippine archipelago.

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Peter Stronach BSc (Hons) MIEEM
Senior Field Ecologist

Peter is an experienced field ecologist. Having developed a childhood interest in all things natural, professionally he has over 6 years experience in ecological consultancy, previously working at consultancies in Stirlingshire and Cambridgeshire before joining MKA in July 2007.

Peter has extensive experience of baseline surveys for Birds, Bats, protected mammals including Otter, Badger, Water Vole, Red Squirrel and Pine Marten, and all native amphibians and reptiles. He has a Natural England GCN licence and is a LANTRA accredited tree-climber for inspecting trees for bat roost potential.

His ornithological experience has included species specific surveys and all the standard survey methods such as CBC, BBS, Vantage Point Methodology and WEBS. Experience also includes nocturnal ornithological surveys, including a study of the behavioural ecology of the wintering Greater Flamingos at the Akrotiri Salt Lake IBA, Cyprus. He has also travelled widely on birding trips to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, Iceland, Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Mongolia, Russia, China, Cambodia and peninsula Malaysia.

As well as baseline surveys Peter has experience of undertaking EcIA’s for a variety of developments including wind farms, hydro-electric schemes, military developments, roads, housing schemes and mixed-use developments. This has also included preparing Environmental Statements for developments that fall under Schedules 1 and 2 of the EIA Regulations 1999, including large scale housing developments.

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Iain Bray BSc (Hons) MSc AIEEM
Ecologist

Iain graduated with a master’s degree in Applied Ecology and Conservation in 2006. He has worked on ecological projects across Britain and has extensive field expertise, notably in ornithological and botanical surveys. He has undertaken farmland bird surveys in Scotland as well as breeding, wintering and vantage point bird surveys in the South of England. He has also carried out phase one habitat surveys, hedgerow surveys and other vegetation sampling. More recently, Iain has also become experienced in great crested newt and reptile surveys. He also has a detailed knowledge of butterfly ecology and has worked in conservation in Central America, studying neo-tropical cloud forest butterflies as well as organising many personal expeditions to Europe. Iain brings to ecological consultancy the excellent organisational and management skills he developed working in tourism in France for eight years, as well as a good working knowledge of French. He enjoys using his considerable IT to skills to enable efficient working and presentation of data, including production of digitised maps.

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William O’Connor BSc (Hons) MSc
Ecologist

Will graduated with a Master’s degree in Conservation from University College London where his dissertation examined the relationship between farming practices and corn bunting abundance. Will has since developed an excellent understanding of British wildlife and ecology whilst working for a local Wildlife Trust and MKA Ecology. Will has taken part in a wide range of surveys for several taxonomic groups including amphibians, bats, birds, protected mammals, reptiles and vascular plants. Will’s undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol involved detailed research into bat echolocation and behaviour and this has fostered a deep interest in the ecology of British Bats, which he has been able to pursue through close involvement with the local bat group. Will also has an interest in invertebrates and has taken part in numerous courses and workshops to develop his skills in this field.

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Beth Ludlow BSc (Hons) MSc
Ecologist

Since 2003 Beth has gained broad experience working in and studying ecology. Beth has worked within consultancy, surveying a range of protected species and habitats for trunk road, business park, river corridor and residential developments. Field surveys included bats, water vole, reptile, amphibian, badger and deer. With a special interest in bats Beth has been involved in a number of bat projects varied in scale from private home owner EPS licences to large scale impact assessment and mitigation design for a widening scheme of a major trunk road. In 2006 Beth graduated with a Masters in Applied Ecology and Conservation from UEA, focusing her dissertation on bats within coppiced woodland within the UK. In 2007 prior to joining MKA Ecology Ltd, Beth worked as a research assistant on bat research projects in New Zealand and Mexico using a range of field techniques. Since joining MKA Ecology Ltd, Beth continues to develop field skills for a range of protected species and habitats whilst working towards gaining her protected species licences.

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Jane Kohler LLB (Hons)
Admistration Director
Jane Kohler was a practicing commercial solicitor in a major international law firm, managing a team of junior lawyers until 2004, when she joined MKA Ecology as a practice manager. She brings the skills she developed working at a high level in a successful and professional organization to the management of the business. She is responsible for aspects of the business as diverse as the accounting function, personnel, operational procedures, regulatory compliance and quality control.

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Sue Parsons

Office Manager
Sue is a key player in the business with responsibility for the smooth running of the office and administrative function. She brings to MKA Ecology the organizational and planning skills she learned as the assistant manager of a driving school and as a legal PA.

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