Simon Dicks – Operations Assistant

Simon's role as an Operations Assistant includes helping with client enquiries, taking and processing bookings, sending out pre-departure information, producing invoices, amending and transferring bookings, and processing refunds. He also assists with making hotel and vehicle reservations, writing and sending out final joining instructions, as well as looking after a small portfolio of tours in the UK and Finland himself. Simon has also co-led tours in the Forest of Dean, Hampshire and Ardnamurchan in Scotland.

Prior to joining Naturetrek in December 2013, Simon studied for a degree in Zoology with Marine Zoology at the University of Wales in Bangor, in the stunning surroundings of Snowdonia. After graduating, he worked on several volunteer projects. The first, spending five months as a fieldwork assistant for the US National Park Service recording and monitoring the breeding success of Peregrine Falcons in the canyons of north-west Colorado. The second, spending six weeks with the Hungarian Barn Owl Foundation helping to build a large rehabilitation aviary as well as helping set up a Barn Owl radio tracking project. Finally, Simon spent four months in Mexico as a field assistant helping collect data on the feeding and behavioural ecology of Black Howler Monkeys in the mangroves. Closer to home, Simon spent a summer carrying out ecological surveys for reptiles, amphibians and bats and before joining Naturetrek, worked at Marwell Zoo for seven years in a customer facing role. During this time, he was also able to work as a volunteer with the keeping staff.