Meet our new Principal Ecologist, Aisling Wallace

Based in our Edinburgh studio, and working across the UK, Aisling joins from EnviroCentre and brings more than a decade of experience spanning consultancy, conservation and environmental management, including previous roles with the University of St Andrews and ERM. Throughout her career, she has delivered ecological assessments, led complex environmental projects and helped organisations balance development ambitions with positive outcomes for nature.

As our first dedicated ecologist, Aisling will lead the development of the business' ecology services, supporting clients with environmental impact assessments, protected species surveys, Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) advice, habitat surveys and ecological strategy. Her role will help ensure ecological thinking is embedded into projects from the earliest stages, enabling better outcomes for people, place and planet.

Aisling's appointment reflects the growing importance of biodiversity and ecological resilience in the built environment, as organisations seek solutions that respond to evolving policy requirements while delivering lasting environmental value.

As part of our Earth & Environment team, Aisling will work alongside colleagues across Civic’s services, including built environment engineering, sustainability, archaeology and community engagement, bringing ecological expertise into a system thinking approach that creates healthier, more resilient places for communities while supporting nature and responding to the climate challenge.

Aisling Wallace, Principal Ecologist at Civic, said: "Nature has an incredible ability to shape healthier communities, stronger places and a more resilient future, and that's becoming increasingly recognised across the built environment. That's one of the things that attracted me to Civic – there’s a real opportunity to bring biodiversity and nature into conversations from the outset and help clients see it as something that adds value rather than simply a requirement to be managed.”

Julian Broster, COO and co-founder at Civic, said: "Civic has always championed the role nature plays in creating better places. As we respond to the climate and biodiversity crises, ecology is fundamental to how we plan, design and deliver successful places. Aisling's appointment strengthens our environment services offering and reflects our commitment to taking a system thinking approach to the delivery of our services that delivers enduring value for people, place and planet."

The appointment follows a period of continued growth for Civic in Scotland, with recent senior promotions across the team and the acquisition of Edinburgh-based engineering consultancy Quattro, further strengthening the business' presence and capabilities across the region.

Civic has studios in both Edinburgh and Glasgow and is delivering projects across Scotland, including Mantle Yard in Leith, a mixed-use development with student accommodation, affordable housing and shops, and a digital co-working space; Edinburgh Innovation Hub, the nationally significant centre aiming to support business growth and enterprise; and Glasgow Avenues where the team transformed the city centre streets by adding raingardens, cycle infrastructure and tree planting.

To find out more about Civic's Earth & Environment team and the services they offer...