Profile
Joe Holmes
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About Me:
I live in Bournemouth near the sea. When I’m not working, I enjoy playing guitar, exercising at the gym and love to be outdoors in nature.
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I’ve always been fascinated by the natural world, how it works and how people impact nature (and the other way round!). I’m a true Geographer at heart!
When I finish work I like to get away from the desk, go the gym and shift some heavy weights. When I come home I play heavy metal on my guitar and teach my 2 year old son to headbang!
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My pronouns are:
Male pronouns
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How I use Geography in my work:
My job is my favourite geography job I’ve had to date! I use my understanding of river processes and river basins to make decisions about how to protect communities from flooding – sometimes in the middle of the night! I often see the effects of urbanisation on increasing runoff and changing flood risks.
During the day I help to plan work to maintain and repair flood defences where it is most needed. I often use flood maps in my work to figure out where best to start work.
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My Work:
My work involves deciding how best to protect communities from river flooding. I help to plan work to maintain, repair and improve flood defences. I also respond in very wet weather!
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My Typical Day:
I wake up around 6.30 and have breakfast with my family. After I drop my son off to nursery I go to the office where I plan projects, respond to customers and go out in to the community to inspect flood defences.
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Education:
I went to school in Winton where I got my GCSEs. I then studied my A levels at a sixth form in Southbourne (Bournemouth). After that I studied for a degree in physical geography at the University of Southampton.
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Qualifications:
10 GCSEs including geography (of course!)
A Levels in Geography, Biology and Chemistry
As Level in Psychology
BSc (Hons) in Geography
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Work History:
Worked on carbon reduction projects at a local council in 2011 (volunteering) for a few months before moving to a paid job in a finance admin team at the same council (no geography links here). This was to start earning some money while looking for more relevant jobs – I worked here for about 2 years.
I then moved to Bournemouth council where I went door to door, educating local residents about recycling and helping to start a new food waste recycling scheme in the town. When I decided it was time for a change I began training to be a geography teacher! But after a few months realised it wasn’t the right career for me.
A few months later I took a job as a park ranger at a country park where I ran lots of fun activities like bug hunting, pond dipping and teaching children about nature as well as carrying out park maintenance like repairing benches and trimming bushes.
When this contract came to an end I took a permanent job working at a waste treatment facility where I monitored the environmental performance of the site to make sure we complied with our permit to operate. I worked here for about 3 years. This job gave me excellent experience for where I had always wanted to work: the Environment Agency!
After many, many applications and interviews (about 10!) i eventually was hired in flood risk management where I now work to manage flood defences and help communities understand flood risk from rivers and the sea. I also work on projects to repair and improve defences as well as respond to flooding incidents at all times of day!
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Current Job:
Flood Risk Management Officer
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Employer:
Environment Agency
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
Some kind of Geographer!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Something outdoors! Maybe a park ranger.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Dream Theater
What's your favourite food?
Coffee
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