CAREERS IN CONSERVATION – Jo Bert

Jo Bert has joined the EWT’s Communications and Marketing Department as Graphic Designer. Here is a little bit about Jo’s journey to a career in conservation with the EWT.

Job title: Graphic Designer

What do you do in your day-day work? Assist with any graphic needs for the EWT as well as each of the programmes.

Location: Sandton

Where did you grow up? JHB born and bred.

What are your hobbies/things you like to do in your spare time?

I have so many hobbies I lose track. At the moment, I’m pretty into rock climbing (indoor and outdoor). I have also been self-studying ethnobotany for the last couple of years, so I love growing plants as well as seeing what I can make with them (so far, I’ve tried fabric dyes, cordages, bath bombs, teas…). I also love to read (currently rereading the Lord Of The Rings). I could go on forever, so I’ll stop there (:

Any pets? My horse Cerberus, my cat Strawberry, and a stray ginger cat that is trying to convince Strawberry to let me adopt him. I’ve named him Onion.

Favourite animal and why: Uloborus plumipes – As a lover of teeny tiny things, this spider is my best! Maximum 8 mm, looks like a tiny leaf, non-venomous, so easy to find, just super cute overall.

Favourite food? Spicy veg soup with some good toast.

Pet peeve? Small minded people

Why did you want to work for the EWT?

I want to be a part of something bigger than myself, and working at the EWT is a step towards that. We owe everything to this planet we live on, so it makes sense to give back in any way possible.

What excites you about this new position?

The idea that I can use my skills to make a difference in this world is what gets me up in the morning.

What are you passionate about?

This is a hard question; I am passionate about so much. The first things that come to mind are:

•  Equality
• Conservation
• Going back to roots

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who did it come from?

A hard question because advice is situation-specific and often says more about the giver than the receiver. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien: “Elves seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill.”

Though a good friend of mine once said, “You can’t reason with the heart” (Khanya Peacock), and I think about that all the time.

What is your go-to feel-good song? Toaster – Cat Clyde