Let's Work Together?

When working with me you can expect:

• Scientific rigour and accuracy whilst delivering clear, engaging and compelling outputs. 
• A 'big picture' approach adapted for each audience but always reflecting the deep interconnections between our climate, nature, health and wider society. 
• Environmentally- and ethically-aware practice, as described here.
• Communication of processes and progress, for example via sharing of plans, draft work, working hours and availability, timelines, itemised invoices etc.

Operating outside of more-conventional employment structures as a freelancer allows me to work flexibly with people and organisations committed to pursuing positive transformations, and to collaborate on multiple purpose-driven projects aligned with my values. However, freelance work also comes with significant precarity and risk, much of which might not be immediately obvious to potential clients and collaborators. Essentially freelancers can end up taking on a lot of cost and responsibility* on behalf of a client, without having the power and protection within that relationship to appropriately compensate. 

In light of this, practices I value from clients and collaborators include:

• Clear communication, with key expectations agreed and confirmed in writing. Regular written feedback - positive and negative - is also appreciated, as are opportunities to review how the relationship operates and early warnings of any concerns. 
• Fair, prompt and transparent payment. Project-based (as opposed to time-based) fees are generally preferred. Where day rates are used, such rates should reflect both the value of the work I provide and the hidden costs I take on as a freelancer. I recommend reviewing the Creators Rights Alliance’s guidance, including their 2025 day rate guide. 
• Awareness of and willingness to accommodate for both the insecurity of freelance work and the emotional/psychological impacts of environmental communication work. Such accommodations include practical actions such as offering retainer arrangements as well as broader behaviours that cultivate a compassionate, regenerative and inclusive workplace culture. 
• Nice-to-haves also include access to shared resources such as workspace, software and training, as well as opportunities to meet and interact with teams and wider networks where appropriate. 

I see the following practices from clients and collaborators as “red flags”:

• “Mission creep” or shifts in demands and expectations. This includes accumulating additional roles or responsibilities beyond what was initially agreed without that being reflected/updated in our agreements. It also includes pressures to selectively modify work in ways that are potentially misleading or tantamount to ‘greenwashing’. 
• Under-valuing freelancers (or any other kinds of workers). I regularly see clients inaccurately comparing freelance rates with that of salaried employees (see here for more information) or worse, intentionally casualising parts of their businesses’ operations using freelance workers to save money.  
• Delays and barriers to accessing materials, information or people necessary to start or progress agreed work, and/or to receiving payment for it. For freelancers this can have significant financial implications and presents difficulties when coordinating multiple projects.  
• Expectations to engage in unsustainable or unethical practices, such as high-carbon travel, or uncritical/routine use of generative AI tools. 

Every working relationship is different and am happy to make accommodations appropriate to different settings, but if these broad principles seem unworkable to you then we probably wouldn't be a good fit for one another. If they look good to you then please do get in touch via my contact form.

*Once you factor in all the costs, time and accountability clients pass on by not employing someone formally - think holiday and sickness allowances, pensions, insurance, equipment, software, workspace etc - paying a freelancer equivalent to an annual salary at UK living wage would mean offering a day rate of at least £300 - something that is incredibly rare to come across in climate communication