PhD Researcher, Oxford Nature Positive Hub, Edinburgh School of Geosciences

Laura Plant

Background

After 13 years working with businesses to measure their environmental impacts, I realized that meaningful change couldn't happen without clear policy signals.

I'm studying for a PhD on how we can design government policy that conserves nature in the most economically and ecologically effective way.

Previously, I spent 5 years in PwC London and 4 years in PwC Canada helping the team to develop tools and methodologies for measuring and valuing impacts on society and the environment. I was involved with several international initiatives aiming to harmonize impact measurement and valuation methodologies, including supporting the development of the Natural Capital Protocol and Social Capital Protocol. I then spent 5 years with NatureMetrics, a UK nature technology company, working internationally to measure biodiversity on the ground with cutting edge monitoring techniques. I led the business development team, working primarily with industrial clients seeking to understand and track their nature positive transition.

Current Research

What government policy design will best incentivize private finance into nature conservation and restoration. Analysing demand for nature markets- how we stimulate these, and whether in fact it is the current markets that policy should be supporting, or whether something different is needed.

Brief CV

tab-image

2021 – 2026: Strategic Partnerships Director at NatureMetrics (a UK-based nature technology company helping companies measure their nature impact)

2013 – 2021: Assistant Director at PriceWaterhouse Coopers in the Sustainability & Climate Change consulting team.

2012 – 2013: MPhil in Environmental Policy, University of Cambridge.

2009 – 2012: First class degree in Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge (BA Hons).