Lucy Houliston

Lucy Houliston is a Zoologist, digital content producer, and National Geographic Young Explorer and speaker with a passion for weird wildlife and conservation.

An experienced speaker, Lucy Houliston has delivered school talks internationally; presented at numerous conferences and festivals; and moderated and hosted live and digital events for the likes of Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, the British Ecological Society, and National Geographic.

Lucy loves using her digital and storytelling skills as tools to generate support for conservation efforts, this aspect of her work having taken everywhere from rugged Scottish islands to a Panamanian sloth sanctuary and one of the remotest corners of the Ecuadorian cloud forest. In addition to producing written content for nature-focused magazines and blogs, Lucy has directed and co-produced fundraising event with the RSPB and Rainforest Trust; advocated for sloth conservation and welfare in her role as digital content producer for the Sloth Appreciation Society; and worked as live producer and editor for Skomer LIVE, a digital natural history series created in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

Lucy is passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists, conservationists, and environmentalists to appreciate and protect the world around them. With support from National Geographic, she is currently working to develop a live, digital series for primary school students all about the weirder side of the UK’s wildlife. Lucy is proud to serve as a Media Officer and Youth Director at Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, where she helps to empower young and marginalised people from around the world in conservation.

Speaking Topics

Lucy Houliston is an experienced live speaker, host, and moderator who focuses on the themes of wildlife and conservation, environmentalism, media, and youth engagement. Whether hosting events for renowned conservation organisations, delivering talks to aspiring young scientists, or presenting as part of live digital series, she is a highly adaptable speaker capable of engaging diverse audiences both in person and virtually. Lucy enjoys participating in panels and also has experience delivering talks in schools.

Creative conservation: Using stories and media to save weird wildlife

In a talk peppered with strange and surprising animal facts, Lucy explores how technology, art, music, film, writing, and even sport can help us to protect threatened wildlife and habitats around the globe, as well as make science more engaging and accessible to people of all ages. She shares a few lessons gleaned from her digital career so far, and discusses the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the conservation space.

Wildlife-focused talks: Everything you ever wanted to know about Sloths!

As former Digital Content Producer for the Sloth Appreciation Society, Lucy Houliston is no stranger to the weird life of the world’s slowest mammal. She’s had the opportunity to work closely with sloths and sloth experts overseas, and has produced several popular online videos all about these curious creatures. In this talk, Lucy reveals all about her summer spent caring for orphaned and injured  sloths at a wildlife rescue centre in Panama; busts a few common sloth myths; shares some surprising facts; and explores how sloths might inspire us to lead more fulfilling and sustainable lives, both at home and in the workplace.

The Youth Protecting Our Planet: Insights from a young conservationist and environmentalist

Young people are acting for the planet in myriad ways—but they need a seat at the table where decisions are made that impact their futures, and the futures of all species. How are their passion, skills, and energy driving the conservation of vital habitats?

Gleaning from her unique perspective as a young environmentalist, conservationist, and scientist-in-training, Lucy explores the important role young people have to play in protecting our planet. She reflects on her time spent exploring threatened tropical forests, presenting at climate and conservation conferences, and volunteering to empower fellow young people in conservation and establish the world’s first youth-funded nature reserve.

From Studios to Sloth Sanctuaries: Media and conservation careers advice

Lucy takes inspiration from some of her favourite animals to offer tips and wisdom to aspiring and serving media and conservation professionals. She shares some off the highlights and lowlights of her professional and personal journey so far.

Virtual Events

Panels

• British Ecological Society Young Nature Conference (Moderator)
• National Geographic GenGeo Conversations: The Youth Protecting Our Planet
• Atlas of the Future: Fixing the Future Nature Talks: Creating the world’s first youth-funded nature reserve
• Youth for Our Planet and WWF: Youth Changemakers Conference 2020
• Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants: Dracula Youth Reserve Power Hour
• Rise Up!: Youth Action for Biodiversity

Live Host

• Reserva: The Youth Land Trust: Celebrating Dracula Reserve (Instagram Live)
• Atlas of the Future: Fixing the Future Festival 2022
• Reserva Wild Trivia Night
• Lucy’s WildLIVE (Facebook Live)
• Reserva Youth Live: Interview with wildlife photographer Dani Connor (Instagram Live)

Other

• Skomer LIVE (Voiceover)
• Northumbrian Water: Innovation Festival 2021
• Into the Wild: Sloths with Lucy Houliston (Podcast)
• Back from the Brink: Using Stories and Media to Save Weird Wildlife (YouTube Live with Q&A)
• Earth Live Lessons: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About SLOTHS (YouTube Live with Q&A)
• Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants: All About Sloths (YouTube Live with Q&A)
• Rainforest Trust and Reserva: The Youth Land Trust’s Concert for Conservation Encore (Instagram Live)