Hello everyone,
I’m Leonora (or Leo) and I’m very happy to have recently become a part of CO2balance as a Carbon Projects Officer! I will be contributing to our projects focussed on safe water and improved cookstove in Ethiopia.
I have always been passionate about the natural world and working towards a future which values protecting and enhancing our environment. During my undergraduate years at University of Bristol, where I studied Geography, I conducted research on how different cultivation techniques impact soil quality in allotments – this sparked my interest in how land management can impact the climate.
I went on to study Climate Change Science for my master’s at UCL, where I saw how interconnected the challenges we face are. My thesis work extended to Bilbao, where I collaborated with the Basque Centre for Climate Change for three months. Together, we assessed the climate resilience of soil biodiversity in diverse forests across the world – an eye-opening project that broadened my understanding as a researcher and a scientist.
I am now very excited to be using these skills to effect tangible change in people’s lives and to be part of a company that believes in the power of community-based projects for driving impactful change. During my time in Bristol, I ran a community gardening project, increasing access to nature and enhancing the local ecology and biodiversity. I loved this experience – seeing the positive impact our work, from bulb planting to vegetable growing and apple picking, reinforced my commitment to environmental causes and the influence of collective action.
Following my masters, I travelled around Spain volunteering on permaculture farms and eco projects. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn about ways to live sustainably while meeting new people and trying to improve my Spanish!
Outside of work, I love being outside in nature – camping, cycling, wild swimming, and getting my hands in soil when gardening!
I am looking forward contribute to CO2balance’s work making a meaningful difference to people’s lives and the environment.