Read Louise Matthews' story here
Age: 25-34
Career Journey:
Louise Matthews' career began at Penshurst Place, where she worked as a Visitor Services Assistant in a maize maze. This early role sparked her interest in tourism, leading her to pursue a career in visitor experience. She gained experience at the National Trust in various roles, including Visitor Welcome Assistant, Membership and Visitor Welcome Supervisor, and Visitor Experience Officer, before transitioning to her current role as Supporter Experience Manager at Kent Wildlife Trust. There, she plans and coordinates events across the county’s nature reserves, helping to engage people with nature.
What Louise Enjoys Most About Her Job:
Louise enjoys the creativity her job allows, seeing her ideas come to life through events and programmes. She values how these events connect people to nature and help promote the charitable mission of Kent Wildlife Trust, knowing that her work contributes to engaging and inspiring future supporters.
Career Highlights:
A career highlight for Louise was her involvement in Kent Wildlife Trust's Bison Ranger Experiences and the development of the charity’s first children’s book. She also took pride in planning the first outdoor cinema at Knole and the Bison Ranger event at the Wilder Blean Festival, both of which were immensely successful and reinforced her commitment to creative, impactful experiences.
Key Skills and Expertise:
Louise has honed strong people skills, working with various teams, external partners, and customers. She also developed problem-solving abilities, often working under pressure and finding the best solutions in challenging situations. Her experience in event management, programming, and marketing has enabled her to successfully create and deliver engaging visitor experiences.