Welcome to Our New Team Members: Gavin Tyrell and Tilda Hadley!
We are thrilled to introduce two new members to our team: Gavin and Tilda.
Both bring a wealth of experience, a passion for sustainability, and unique backgrounds that we are excited to share with you. To get to know them better, we sat down with Tilda and Gavin for a Q&A session.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background?
Gavin: I’m originally from Kildare, but moved to Dublin to complete a degree in Economics, Politics and Law. I then completed an MSC in Business Strategy, before spending some time in Paris. Now, I’m based in London, bringing my diverse experiences from these vibrant cities to the team.
Tilda: I grew up in Yorkshire, and later moved to Bristol for university, driven by a strong desire to travel and explore new places. My academic journey took me to Trinity College in Dublin for a year, which was an incredible experience. My masters dissertation focused on spiritual relationships with water in Ireland, and ecocriticism of contemporary Irish literature.
Q: What sparked your passion for sustainability?
Tilda: I feel like sustainability is our generation’s version of the internet boom of the ’90s: we’ve grown up in an era marked by significant technological and environmental changes, and I want to be part of the new wave. I’ve also found that I love being able to work with different industries, and finding ways to act with purpose in each one.
Gavin: I agree with you there, sustainability is my beacon of light. It allows me to blend my university degree with my motivations for social impact. I suppose what ‘sparked’ my passion for it was probably participating in the IPBS Sustainability Challenge in Dublin and various forms of activism throughout university- they were pivotal moments for me. I also enjoyed a three-month freelance stint with the sustainable Irish brand Pure Clothing.
Q: What are some of your proudest moments or achievements?
Gavin: One of my proudest achievements was being a finalist in the Aim to Flourish awards and raising €2,500 for Parkinson’s Ireland. I’ve also worked on a university project with Tony’s Chocolonely, which was a fantastic experience. On a lighter note, explaining the intricacies of Gaelic football (GAA) and hurling to Will during my interview was a fun highlight.
Tilda: I thrive in academic settings, and writing my masters dissertation on a topic I was deeply passionate about was incredibly fulfilling. I was so invested in it until the last day, and continued learning about it afterwards. I have to say, getting this internship with Future Shift was a pretty high point for me too. For my lighter note, I finally learnt how to pronounce Eichhörnchen in German! A real tongue twister…
Q: Which places do you recommend visiting in the UK?
Tilda: I have a soft spot for the northern parts of the UK, especially the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. These areas are absolutely stunning and worth a visit. (*Cough Cough* Will, who has never been north of Manchester…)
Gavin: While I enjoy my new home in Camberwell, London, I have to give a shout-out to Ireland. Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal is a personal favourite and a must-see for anyone visiting.
We are delighted to have Tilda and Gavin on board and look forward to the incredible contributions they will bring to our team. Stay tuned for more updates and insights from these talented individuals!
As it is world ocean day (and also a great excuse to delve into my marine biology nerdy side), I thought I’d share three stories of the ways that marine species interact and have a symbiotic relationship that benefits both.
In a wider sense we believe that a few lessons can be learned from our marine friends, that a symbiotic relationship that is kinder to mother nature can reap rewards for the human species.Co-existing with our natural ecosystem is at the heart of what we do at Future Shift and is at the core of our ideals for the future of business.
Symbiosis in the sea – what can we learn?
As it is world ocean day (and also a great excuse to delve into my marine biology nerdy side), I thought I’d share three stories of the ways that marine species interact and have a symbiotic relationship that benefits both.
In a wider sense we believe that a few lessons can be learned from our marine friends, that a symbiotic relationship that is kinder to mother nature can reap rewards for the human species.Co-existing with our natural ecosystem is at the heart of what we do at Future Shift and is at the core of our ideals for the future of business.
1. Salmon and Lumpsucker Fish
Industrial farming of Atlantic salmon has led to an array of problems. The most significant of which has been caused by little pests called salmon lice, or Lepeophtheirus salmonis. These pesky lice cause significant wounds in the skin of the salmon which are then deemed unsellable to the consumer. It has led to a huge rise in chemotherapeutic contamination to control the lice, this in turn has its obvious negative effects.
Luckily it chemotherapeutics aren’t the only answer, this is where the marvellous Lumpsucker fish are introduced as natural predators of the salmon lice when introduced and render the need for chemicals obsolete.
2. Goby Fish and Pistol Shrimp
Another beautiful example of mutualism is how these two species intertwine. The pistol shrimp is an excellent excavator, burrowing holes deep in the sediment, foraging for food, however its one deficiency is it is blind and often exposed to predators. The goby fish acts as a bodyguard, protecting the hind of the shrimp as it burrows away in return for free use of the facilities.
3. Firefly Squid and Bioluminescent bacteria
Firefly squid are some of the most amazing creatures of the ocean, producing beautiful light shows when the sun sets on the sea. However they don’t emit this light themselves but actually house bioluminescent bacteria within their skin that chemically reacts with the oxygen in the water to produce light. This light is used as a counter-illumination that gives the impression that predators beneath are looking up at the stars and not the squid themselves.
Industrial farming of Atlantic salmon has led to an array of problems. The most significant of which has been caused by little pests called salmon lice, or Lepeophtheirus salmonis. These pesky lice cause significant wounds in the skin of the salmon which are then deemed unsellable to the consumer. It has led to a huge rise in chemotherapeutic contamination to control the lice, this in turn has its obvious negative effects.
Luckily it chemotherapeutics aren’t the only answer, this is where the marvellous Lumpsucker fish are introduced as natural predators of the salmon lice when introduced and render the need for chemicals obsolete.
2. Goby Fish and Pistol Shrimp
Another beautiful example of mutualism is how these two species intertwine. The pistol shrimp is an excellent excavator, burrowing holes deep in the sediment, foraging for food, however its one deficiency is it is blind and often exposed to predators. The goby fish acts as a bodyguard, protecting the hind of the shrimp as it burrows away in return for free use of the facilities.
3. Firefly Squid and Bioluminescent bacteria
Firefly squid are some of the most amazing creatures of the ocean, producing beautiful light shows when the sun sets on the sea. However they don’t emit this light themselves but actually house bioluminescent bacteria within their skin that chemically reacts with the oxygen in the water to produce light. This light is used as a counter-illumination that gives the impression that predators beneath are looking up at the stars and not the squid themselves.
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