Will Hayes

Currently I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Fire Governance in the Department of Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London. My work focuses on how land-use change, agricultural policy and governance shape wildfire risk, biodiversity and rural livelihoods, particularly in Ireland and Guyana. A few years back I completed a PhD in Biodiversity Management at University of Kent, where I examined the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity and rural communities.

I come from a farming background and originally trained in conservation ecology, later working in bird conservation and community engagement across Ireland and South America. Although I love working on the mountains or in the forest, I’ve always been equally interested in people, especially how communities live within, manage and shape landscapes over time. My work now focuses on socio-ecological systems and sustainable land management, with the aim of supporting landscapes that work for both biodiversity and the people who depend on them