Dónall Cross

Dónall is an ecologist and GIS consultant; he has wide experience of aerial photography interpretation in Wales and is also skilled in the use of GIS. He is continually building on both of these skills in his work for Environment Systems. He also has an excellent understanding of statistical analysis and this statistical expertise has been applied to recent analyses of the efficacy of Tir Cynnal and Tir Gofal agri-environment schemes. Dónall is currently data co-ordinator for the monitoring of agri-environment schemes across Wales.

Having joined Environment Systems in the summer of 2009 whilst studying in Aberystwyth University, Dónall now works full-time for the company. He holds an MSc (with distinction) in Managing the Environment, specialising in Conservation and Habitat Restoration, and a BSc Hons (First class) in Zoology, both gained here in Aberystwyth. It was his MSc dissertation –investigating some effects of feeding stations on the red kite Milvus milvus –that first illustrated to him the great potential of GIS.

Outside of Environment Systems, Dónall is a keen ornithologist and he is currently training to be a bird ringer. He speaks fluent Kiswahili at home with his family, having spent a year engaged in practical conservation and ornithological research in Kenya. He is particularly interested in the benefits that GIS could offer the region and is actively seeking opportunities for Environment Systems to become involved in potential projects there.