This month marks one year since I joined the WildHub community - first as a Community Advocate, then as a Conservation Catalyst, and now as Community Advocates Coordinator - and while a year may seem like a short span, the journey has been anything but small.

It began with a simple desire: to connect, to contribute, to feel part of something that aligned with my values. What I didn’t expect was how deeply this experience would shape me, both professionally and personally.

At the time, I was seeking a shift. I wasn’t unhappy in my academic role, but I was craving a different kind of space. One that felt more inclusive, more supportive, and more authentic. I wanted to be part of something where ideas could be shared openly, where all voices were heard, and where change didn’t feel like a distant hope but a collective effort.

🌱 A space to reconnect, with purpose and people

When I joined WildHub as a Community Advocate, I wasn’t entirely sure where I would fit in. The conservation space is wide and, at times, hard to navigate. But WildHub offered something unique: a genuinely welcoming community where perfection wasn’t the goal, authenticity and intention were.

WildHub offered me something academia rarely does: 🧭 A space for reflection. A community rooted in empathy. An invitation to explore not just how I work, but why.

Through my role, I had the opportunity to support and uplift others by organising events, showcasing emerging research, and encouraging new voices to contribute. I was advocating for our members, but in doing so, I was also redefining what advocacy meant to me: being present, listening deeply, and making space for others to grow.

🔗 The impact of giving back: how volunteering changes you

Volunteering for WildHub was never “just” a side project. Giving my time to an organisation working toward collective good created a shift in how I saw my own work, my values, and my future.

It opened up my network across borders, cultures and fields of expertise. It introduced me to people with bold ideas and quiet strength. It gave me a platform where I could show up not as “the expert,” but as someone eager to learn, connect, and contribute. And over time, those small moments of giving added up to confidence, clarity, and growth I couldn’t have anticipated.

👩‍🏫 A new perspective on academia

This experience also deeply shaped the way I now approach my role in academia, both as a lecturer and mentor. It reminded me that students, just like community members, need a space where they can be heard, where they feel safe to explore ideas, and where collaboration is valued over competition.

WildHub gave me new tools for creating that kind of space, not just through content or curriculum, but through presence, empathy, and open dialogue.

At the same time, it made me reflect more critically on the environment I’ve been part of. Academia can sometimes be isolating, rigid, and slow to embrace change. Through my work with WildHub, I’ve seen what’s possible when openness and collaboration are at the centre. This has reignited a desire in me to move toward work that feels more directly aligned with those values - not out of frustration, but out of hope; with the belief that change is possible, and that I want to be part of it in a more hands-on, community-driven way.

🌿 Conservation isn’t just one thing - and that’s the beauty of it

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve taken from this year is that conservation isn't one job, one path, or one kind of expertise. It’s an evolving, interdisciplinary effort - one that includes policy, education, digital innovation, art, storytelling, community, and much more.

At WildHub, I’ve had the privilege of helping expand that narrative, showing others (and reminding myself) that you don’t have to follow a traditional path to make a meaningful impact. We all bring something valuable, and our collective diversity is what makes the conservation movement stronger.

🧡 A full circle moment, and deep gratitude

Stepping into the role of Community Advocates Coordinator has been a full-circle moment for me. I now get to support others as they begin their own journeys, helping them find their voice, define their “why,” and feel confident sharing it.

As I embraced this new role, I also began to see how the work I had done in the community was resonating beyond it - leading to new collaborations, invitations to contribute elsewhere, and conversations that opened unexpected professional doors. WildHub became a springboard for the next chapter of my career.

But none of this would have happened without the support and leadership of someone who truly embodies the spirit of WildHub: @Thirza Loffeld, our Community Manager.

Thirza, thank you! 🙏 Not just for inviting me into this space, but for creating it. You’ve built more than a community; you’ve built a culture of trust, kindness, and quiet impact. Through your vision, WildHub has become a place where people from all walks of life connect, where opinions are respected, and where ideas are nurtured.

Your work has enabled so many of us to grow, contribute, and believe again in the power of collective action. I am endlessly grateful to be part of something you’ve helped shape so intentionally. 

🌟 Final Thoughts: a year of small actions, big shifts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that growth doesn’t always come from big moments. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, consistent commitment to something you care about. A comment on someone’s post. An event you help organise. A conversation you spark.

It all adds up.

So to anyone considering getting involved, I’d say this:

• Don’t wait to feel ready
• Start with what you have
• Let your purpose guide you
• And trust that your contribution, no matter how small it may feel, matters

Volunteering isn’t a side note to your career or your personal growth. It can be the catalyst.

Volunteering isn’t just giving your time, it’s giving yourself a chance to grow in ways you can’t always predict. It’s about showing up for others, yes, but also discovering what you stand for, and where you thrive.

WildHub reminded me that conservation is as much about people as it is about the planet; and that by showing up, we don’t just participate in change, we help drive it.

Here’s to many more years of learning, connecting, and growing together. 💚