Eleanor brings a wealth of academic expertise in sustainable agriculture, including her PhD research in agroforestry. In this Q&A, she shares her journey, first impressions, and passion for both her work and life outside the office.
Q. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Cool Farm?
I have over six years of academic experience in sustainable agriculture, recently completing my PhD research in agroforestry—integrating trees into farming systems. I’ve joined Cool Farm as part of the Engagement Hub, contributing to the Land Use to Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Accounting (LUNZ-footprint) project.
LUNZ-footprint is a three-year project led by the University of Gloucestershire and Cranfield University. Its goal is to drive effective and informed use of greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting tools to shape policy and help achieve a net-zero transition. The project focuses on building capacity, improving net-zero literacy, testing sequestration predictions, assessing validation methods, and exploring the governance and equitability of scaling GHG assessments in the UK.
Q. What attracted you to Cool Farm initially?
I first came across Cool Farm during my work in sustainable agriculture and was impressed by their project with Cooperative Coffees and partners to measure the carbon performance of smallholder producers in Latin America. Since most of my work has been with smallholder farmers, I admired how Cool Farm’s tools could support and improve their farming systems. I knew I wanted to work for an organization that prioritizes the interests of farmers.
Q. Why did you decide to join Cool Farm over other companies?
While I loved my work in Tanzania, Cool Farm’s mix of UK focus, global impact, and diverse membership drew me in. The LUNZ-footprint project offered me the chance to transition out of academia into a role where scientific research could have real-world impact—a shift I find incredibly exciting.
- Q. What were your first impressions of Cool Farm when you started?
I was lucky to join just before our annual staff retreat, where I experienced firsthand how welcoming and dedicated the team is. I was struck by their openness to new ideas and their willingness to explore different ways of working.
Q. How has your perception of the company evolved since you joined?
My appreciation and respect and awe for the work that goes into our software has grown significantly Before joining, I had a general understanding of the accounting process and had done a few assessments. But now, I see how much expertise, complexity, and effort go into developing our models. I’m constantly amazed by my colleagues’ deep knowledge and their dedication to helping users.
Company Culture:
- How would you describe the company culture at Cool Farm?
It’s a culture of learning and collaboration. We’re always looking for ways to improve both as a team and as a company. Everyone is supportive and willing to share knowledge.
- What aspects of Cool Farm’s culture do you appreciate the most?
I value the diversity of perspectives within the team. Coming from academia, I was used to people thinking in similar ways, but here, different approaches offer fresh learning opportunities. I also appreciate the independence and responsibility I’ve been given—my ideas were welcomed from day one.
- How does Cool Farm support work-life balance for its employees?
As a fully remote company, Cool Farm offers great flexibility. For instance, I can take a break to walk my dog during daylight hours in winter and make up for it later. There’s no expectation to work outside contracted hours, and regular check-ins with my manager ensure my workload is manageable.
Job Satisfaction:
- What do you enjoy most about your job at Cool Farm?
I love collaborating with my colleagues—it’s helped me learn so much and achieve great outcomes as a team. Being part of the capacity-building side of a collaborative research project is particularly exciting. I have input into the research process but can leave the actual research to others!
- What has been the most rewarding project or experience you’ve had so far?
Working on the LUNZ-footprint project has been incredibly rewarding. Collaborating with academics, industry leaders, and colleagues in an environment where everyone is eager to learn and support one another has been inspiring.
Team and Collaboration:
- How do you and your colleagues collaborate to achieve goals?
Communication is important with remote teams as you can’t just walk over to someone’s desk or chat with them at lunch. We have regular meetings to decide upon objectives and tasks and often work on collaborative documents where we can all contribute, review and give feedback. We also divide tasks by people’s strengths, interests and workload.
- Can you share a memorable team moment or achievement?
The annual staff retreat was a highlight for me. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues, learn about their roles, and get excited about Cool Farm’s future plans.
Personal Interests:
- What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love being active, walking my dog or going to the gym with friends. I also love anything to do with food – I am always looking at new recipes and ingredients to cook or restaurants to try.
Welcome aboard, Eleanor! We are excited to see the great impact you will make with us at Cool Farm!
For more information, contact us recruitment@coolfarmtool.org.
