About Isabella…

Isabella Broomfield studied BA Geography and graduated from The University of Manchester in 2022. She has since built an impressive array of experience in the environmental field, from research and consulting to nature conservation.

She is now a Visitor Support Officer at The Royal Parks, a charity that manages over 5,000 acres of historic London parkland.

The present – how is Isabella putting Geography into practice in her career?

What does being a Visitor Support Officer for The Royal Parks involve?

I manage our CRM system, responding to visitor enquiries for all eight Royal Parks. I also handle questions and complaints. The role requires a detailed knowledge of the Parks’ landscapes, wildlife, processes, and regulations. You also need to develop strong internal relationships, so you can provide accurate information to visitors.

How did your degree help prepare you? Where does Geography fit into working for The Royal Parks?

Studying Geography introduced me to topics such as sustainability, wildlife geographies, and conservation. This sparked both a personal passion for the environment, and a professional interest in roles involving human-wildlife interactions and environmental management.

I also developed analytical, research and communication skills that I use daily to engage stakeholders and resolve issues.

The past – the journey from BA Geography to working for The Royal Parks…

What was your career journey like? What were the steps from BA Geography graduate to working for The Royal Parks, a charity with tens of millions of visitors each year?

After graduating, I completed an internship at the Royal Geographical Society in 2022. There, we created and hosted an academic conference at the University of Birmingham.

The following year, I completed an internship in environmental consultancy at Lucion Delta Simons.

I then returned to the Royal Geographical Society in multiple roles, including in Research and Higher Education, and on Front of House.

In 2025, I worked as the Small Ponds Lead on the London Blue Chain project with nature conservation charity Froglife. That project involved creating wildlife ponds and conserving woodlands across South London.

Are there any skills from BA Geography that have proved helpful across this varied career? Things that you have used in every role, or that have made you stand out as a candidate while job-hunting?

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of Geography, I now hold a unique and widespread skill set. I have strong analytical, writing and communication skills developed through human geography modules. And I have quantitative and scientific skills gained from physical geography modules.

Did you take advantage of the University’s Careers service to help you take your first steps in that impressive career? If so, how did they help?

Yes, post-university I accessed the Career Connect service. I found the aptitude test practice questions particularly useful in preparing for the assessments for graduate schemes.

You’ve had a varied career already, working in research, front of house, and conservation. Do any of your experiences stand out? As a Geography graduate, what are you most proud of?

My role as Habitats and Conservation Lead for Froglife’s London Blue Chain Project was unique. I organised the delivery of 40 new wildlife ponds across six London boroughs, working closely with communities often overlooked in conservation.

As part of that project:

• I carried out biodiversity research;
• I planned events;
• I engaged stakeholders to secure permissions from local councils, landowners, community organisations and corporate partners;
• I led carbon accounting for the organisation;
• I completed training, including in geospatial software QGIS.

I also had the opportunity to present my research on ponds as carbon sinks at the Urban Nature Conference at the Natural History Museum.

The future – what’s the goal for this Geography alum?

What are the next steps for your career? What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

I would like to continue in my current role and build and learn from colleagues and the organisation.

In the future, I hope to continue in the green sector and eventually focus on a sustainability role.

Now that you’ve taken the first few steps in you post-Geography career, do you have any advice? What’s your top tip for current and aspiring students?

Apply for everything and put yourself out there, no matter if you meet the requirements for a job or not.

Make an effort to connect with like-minded people at university and reach out to your lecturers and peers for advice.

You can find out more about what it’s like to be a Geography student (and read more profiles from students and alumni) on the Geography Student Stories page.

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