She holds a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from the University of Roehampton, studying a range of topics, and completing a dissertation on the effect of habitat manipulation on invertebrate fauna of an urban wetland grazing marsh and the subsequent impact on avian diets.

During her professional career, Amirah has lived and worked in both the UK and New Zealand (2007-2020), in a wide variety of sectors: from working as an assistant conservator at the Hunterian Museum, to being a scenic artist in repertory theatre, to working as a forensic practitioner in the Metropolitan and New Zealand Police services, to breeding the bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) for commercial pollination and to administrative work in HM Land Registry.

Now as member of the advisory entomology team at Alice Holt Research Station, Forest Research, Amirah applies her plethora of experience to support tree health diagnostics of insect pest species and undertakes associated laboratory and field work. Her responsibilities include:

• Responding to tree health enquiries (from TreeAlert).
• Processing and identifying samples of insect pests from THDAS, surveys, findings and border interceptions.
• Undertaking site visits to private properties (chargeable) and Forestry Commission arboreta.
• Attending Observatree training days and trade events.
• Promotion of good biosecurity practices.