Sacha Dench Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Bringing science and people together to make a world we all want to live in.We do that through high profile conservation expeditions into the lives and journeys of migrating animals, seeing the world as they do, and meeting the incredible people trying to save them.We engage audiences outside of the conservation 'bubble' with a sense of awe and wonder, show the fascinating work of scientists and conservationists in a way they can understand, and encourage ordinary people to imagine 'what must life be like for these animals' and 'what could I do to help?'.

London, United Kingdom

With training and experience in science and communication, and over 20 years working with conservation organisations and media companies and the public across very different cultures, I work as a broad-skilled, practical, adaptable 'multitool' for science communication. I enjoy working with scientists and conservationists that want to use communications for change. From developing strategy, to training staff, to producing materials that tell the stories you need to tell, I'm interested in helping solve your challenges. I am also approachable and collaborative. Very happy to offer an initial phone conversation about your challenges and will be very honest with my advice and suggesting someone else if I am not best-placed to help.

Drawing on tales from the groundbreaking ‘Flight of the Swans’ expedition and other adventures, I take audiences on a journey across time and comfort zones and get them thinking, laughing, and challenging their own limits. Talks are tailored to the audiences from large corporate events to schools. See my testimonials and contact me for a bio and a conversation about what I could do for your event.

Uk And International Projects

Working with our UK and International teams to develop and deliver strategic communications plans. Film, photography and development of all communications materials to support conservation projects, from campaigns for change, to mass marketing campaign, corporate engagement and fundraising.

Russian Arctic To Gloucestershire

Demonstrating the value of aerial expeditions with migratory birds to give insights into the lives and threats to migrating birds and their habitats, but also for engaging people, both in communities along their route but also globally, through the mass media.I flew a paramotor to remote sites, photographed and filmed critical sites form above, and engaged with people along the way through physical drop-ins, invitations to meet politician, 1700 media engagements along the way. I continue to give talks and workshops based around this.

Wwt Headquarters, Slimbridge, Uk

Running the PR and Communications Department whilst setting up the new Media Production department within the organisation. Pitched the new strategy to the organisation and successfully overhauled our approach to visual communications including training key staff in using cameras to produce TV quality material for news and magazine shows with minimal effort, started and online series (that continues today), created regular fundraising and inspirational videos that lead to millions of pounds in donations, developing an enormous photo library. The majority of photography and video to support the marketing of our visitor attractions was produced by myself and a small internal team. To keep budgets low all overseas conservation work I covered, doing filming, photography, drone photography and 360 filming as a sole operator. This included the entire process involved in reintroducing the crane - from egg collection in Germany, to raising the birds in special facilities, to their release and early years. I worked closely with the national and local media to provide access to footage and filming opportunities that were reliable and inline with the expert bird-rearing team's high standards of care for the animals.

Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, Uk

Responsible for all the charity's marketing, PR and online presence covering both our UK and international conservation work and leading our network of Marketing and comms staff at the 9 UK visitor centres.I developed the public engagement campaigns for high profile partnership conservation projects such as the Great Crane Project (reintroducing the Eurasian crane to the UK after 400 years of extinction) and 'Saving the spoon-billed sandpiper (then the most endangered bird in the world) and 'Saving the Madagascar Pochard' (a bird thought extinct for 20 years then refound).Projects such as the Great Crane Project included the engagement of the media in the entire process, visitor engagement opportunities at our visitor sites, as well as ongoing PR in support of fundraising.

Consultant in PR and communications working on a variety of projects.Notable work includes the Ice Bear Project - UN Climate Conference, Copenhagen 2009. In association with WWF, artist and sculptor Mark Coreth, and Panasonic we brought an enormous block of ice to the Centre of Copenhagen, carved it into a polar bear, and encouraged people to come and touch this beautiful creature. The stunning feature was a backdrop to many of the news reports from the conference, and it changed over the week as the many individuals touching the bear slowly melted it to reveal a bronze skeleton - a dramatic metaphor for the impact we are all having on the climate. The sculpture was streamed live around the globe and watched as people engaged in the daytime, but at night people gave it roses, rode it, proposed to a loved one in front of it, and other antics that all added to its appeal.The work reached an audience of many millions globally and it went on to be repeated on Trafalgar Square, in front of the Sydney Opera House, and other locations around the world

Responsible for all communications and marketing to support a vast Australian volunteer and community project network with marketing support, corporate funding and awareness raising campaigns. This included: developing national campaigns, scripting and creating TV and billboard ads, developing communication projects with corporate partners, delivering on national media coverage targets, managing web and design teams, running quarterly magazine, writing speeches, project launches, biannual awards event at houses of parliament. Delivered 10 % increase in public awareness in one year, (greatest moment was getting Aussie legend Jack Thompson playing the harmonica with the Whitlams, at Parliament House, for the 6,000 Landcare and Coastcare volunteers watching on webcams around the country... only Australians will get this ;-) ).

Set up a group of divers to champion the marine life of Sydney. Used my profile as Australian freediving champion with a marine science background, and media skills to engage the public. Dive surveys and underwater filming (shark nets, sea grass, marine plastics, discarded tackle clean-ups etc), hosted weekly inspirational talks to bring new ideas and broaden our network, raised project funds.

Sydney, Australia

Writing small editorial pieces and a couple of features including writing and photography for a piece on swimming with whales in Tonga. SImultaneously I co-ran the Australian Geographic Society's Grants for science and adventure projects. I developed the in-store fundraising campaigns in association with the company's 52 retail stores around the country, ran the Australian Geographic Society Lecture series and produced the Annual Awards Ceremony.

London, United Kingdom

Work involved attending pollution events and investigations, suspect and witness interviews (trained by the Metropolitan Police), Water quality testing in rivers, inspecting landfill sites, farm waste treatment systems, transfer stations and major waste to energy facilities. Went on to roles looking at environmental planning using GIS, life cycle assessment of the product and waste streams, and drafting policy documents as well as public consultations in a variety of formats.