A space for everyone – Part 8
Eight female consultants share their diverse stories and encourage more women to join our industry
Stella Bolam
Our industry has historically been male dominated, and undoubtedly there are various factors which have played into this bias.
Despite the evolving cultural and social landscapes beyond our working lives, this gender imbalance is proving to be pretty persistent, with women accounting for 15% of the Arboricultural Association’s membership, according to the latest available data. What’s more, in a diversity report by the London Tree Officers’ Association (LTOA) published in 2022, only 23% of respondents were female.
Since changing my career to join the sector in 2021, I’ve noticed how more women are forming networks and supporting each other to make strides into the world of arb, and, in my experience, the times appear to be gradually changing. Some might say change is happening at the sedate pace of ‘tree time’, but a shift is underway towards arboriculture becoming a more gender-balanced industry.
One powerfully simple method to propel this trend is storytelling – sharing the experiences of women working in the sector to help inspire other women to think ‘Oh! That could be me’ or (if she’s a mum) ‘Maybe that’s a possible career for my daughter.’
The arboricultural team I work in at ADAS – the UK’s largest independent provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy, policy advice and research and development – bucks the industry gender trend, with a predominantly female group of arboricultural consultants.
So, with the aim of encouraging more women into our sector, here are our stories...
Tiara Wijaya
BSc Environmental Science, Arboricultural Consultant
‘Before starting my career in arboriculture, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. As it was my first role in the sector, I approached it with an open mind and a willingness to try something new.
‘I quickly realised the job is far more varied than I anticipated, from working in both urban and rural environments to engaging with different clients and encountering fascinating trees that most people would never see in everyday life. This variety is exactly what I was looking for.
‘After two years in the industry, I am still constantly learning and expanding my knowledge. Trees are far more complex than I first imagined, and I enjoy discovering new aspects of their biology, ecology and management. ‘The support I have received since joining the industry has been incredible. As a young woman entering the field, I was initially apprehensive, but I have been welcomed and supported throughout my journey. Seeing my team grow and welcoming more female arboriculturists into the profession has been inspiring and has further reaffirmed that this is the right path for me.’
‘Seeing my team grow and welcoming more female arboriculturists into the profession has been inspiring and has further reaffirmed that this is the right path for me’
Tiara Wijaya
Find out more
Obviously consultancy is just one of the many paths that can be taken in arboriculture. More inspiration about other options that can be explored – whether you’re just starting out in the sector or are changing careers to join – can be found in the Careers section of the Association’s website - www.trees.org.uk. If you want to find out more about ADAS Arboriculture visit: www.adas.co.uk/get-in-touch.
This article was taken from Issue 213 Summer 2026 of the ARB Magazine, which is available to view free to members by simply logging in to the website and viewing your profile area.