Oliver grew up on a hill farm in the Yorkshire Dales, where his family raised a herd of Highland cattle. His mother’s passion for nature regeneration transformed their farm from a sheep-grazed site into a thriving mosaic of new woodlands, wildflower meadows and wetlands. The return of rare birds and other wildlife sparked Oliver’s lifelong curiosity about ecosystems and the belief that to care for nature, we must live among it.

He earned a BA and MA in natural sciences from the University of Cambridge, where he focused on ecology and evolutionary biology, and an MSc in environmental policy from the University of Edinburgh, graduating top of his class in both programs.

Oliver’s early career centered on ecological field research, including studying climate-driven evolutionary change in Trinidad’s mountain streams and exploring the evolutionary history of songbirds across Oceania. He later worked with the Scottish Wildlife Trust leading youth programs that encouraged hands-on conservation, and more recently has worked in sustainable finance, helping organizations invest in nature-positive solutions. He has guided for Nat Hab in the Scottish Highlands and Islands since 2025.

Oliver is passionate about exploring how geology, climate and species interactions shape ecosystems and continues to deepen his knowledge of Scotland’s smaller flora and insect communities. Based in Edinburgh, he spends his free time in the Highlands paragliding over remote mountain ranges and writing a book on the natural history of the Scottish Highlands.