Our Team

Jon Hartley

What made you choose Arbtech?

When I arrived back in the UK after spending six years in Australia, I contacted a couple of consultancies for work.

I had an interview with a respected multidisciplinary in Canterbury, and I spoke with Matt Middle at Arbtech. I got on immediately with Matt. His vibe was a lot more chilled with the Arbtech chat, we talked in a much more personal, conversational way, and I was sold on that as a better fit, as opposed to the more ‘traditional’ office-based and corporate feel of the alternative option.

Matt fed back to Rob, and I received a call with a job offer almost immediately. Rob trusted Matt’s recommendation enough to give me a job without any further interviews! A company owner having such trust in the delegated responsibilities of his team that he acted on their opinion without question – That was when I was sold on Arbtech.

What do you love most about the company?

I love my colleagues. And I mean that genuinely.

I have friends at work. Not work friends – friends.

Everyone has your back, and that alone makes for a really fantastic working environment.

What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?

I have two young children (and a grown one).

We moved back to Cornwall from Kent in January 2022, and since then, I’ve been co-opted into the scout movement and run the local 1st Bude scout section. That’s not just two hours a week either! It’s incredibly rewarding but takes up a lot of my time.

I also train at Brazilian jiu-jitsu at least twice a week and help teach the kids classes at the weekend.

We are a family of skaters. We roller skate as often as we can between other family activities.

Weekends are filled with teaching the kids to surf and snorkel in the warmer months and getting the dog running around the beach all year round.

What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?

Leave work at work and focus on your life goals.

I like to take one step at a time and work on that before moving on to the next one. I don’t like to muddy the waters by running several goals at once. Having said that, sometimes they align.

Every aspect of my life has improved with getting physically fitter. Look after your body and it will look after you.

Take risks and fall often. It’s the best way to learn not to fall again!

What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?

I’ve been to loads over the years: track days in Porches and Peugeots; spa retreats; shooting; quad bikes; climbing.

The trips away are my favourite – Prague and Madrid were amazing city breaks. That said, I do like to have an activity on hand. As they say, ’the devil makes work for idle hands’.

This year’s Austria trip was absolutely awesome! Spending a full week with a bunch of friends on the slopes was truly epic.

Up at 06:30 am to be first on the gondola every day after evenings spent eating, drinking and forging new friendships is definitely my bag.

Where do you want to travel to next?

I’m keen to get the family out on the mountains and hope to visit the alps again in 2024.

I am also looking forward to camping in France this summer. Heading down to just north of Biarritz will allow some family surfing in the sun. I can’t wait to see the kids riding more waves.

France is a personal favourite, as I have enough French to get by. One of the best things about being abroad, in my opinion, is trying to fit in with the culture. The pride that the kids have when ordering breakfast from the boulangerie in the mornings is priceless.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Crap – I’ll be 52 by then!

If I’m not still at Arbtech, I’d be surprised.

I’m sure I’ll be struggling to deal with surly teenagers out of work.

I will still be in Cornwall, and hopefully, we will have the new home sorted, leaving me to concentrate on BJJ and regularly surfing.

What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?

I’d very much like to progress my BJJ so that it is fluid, but that’s just a function of time and effort.

If I can get a hang ten in before I’m 50, that would be amazing! I’m working towards becoming a climbing Instructor – all small but rewarding goals.

Jon joined Arbtech in January 2014.

Robert Oates, managing director says:

I didn’t interview Jon. In fact, I hadn’t even spoken to him before I decided to offer him a job. Both Matt and Alan raved about him so much during the couple or three months that he worked for us as a sub-contractor, that when we realised we had the sustained demand required to expand the in-house team again, he seemed like the perfect fit. To date, he’s shown himself to be nothing short of exceptional.

Job Title

Principal Arboriculturist & Employee Development Lead

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Arboriculture, University of Central Lancashire
  • Forestry, Plumpton Agricultural College
  • Technical Member, Arboricultural Association

Professional Experience

  • Arboriculture

Specialist Areas

  • BS5837
  • Trees and Development
  • BS5837
  • Tree Risk Management

Hobbies

    Surfing, Running and Trees

More Arbtechers

Meet the other members of our leading ecology and arboriculture team.

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Scott Warren

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Andy Ward

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Craig Williams

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Natalie Evans

Natalie Evans

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Katy Perry

Katy Perry

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Jonathan Stuttard

Jonathan Stuttard

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Nicole Gullan

Nicole Gullan

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Mel Reid

Mel Reid

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Josephine McCarthy

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Fay Brotherhood

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Elen Griffin

Elen Griffin

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Merry Anderson

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Beth Ellison-Perrett

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James Fielding

James Fielding

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George Collier-Smith

George Collier-Smith

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Matthew Middle

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Aran Nearn

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Alan Thompson

Alan Thompson

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Matt Edwards

Matt Edwards

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Emily Kempson

Emily Kempson

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Jim Green

Jim Green

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Charlie Moore

Charlie Moore

Consultant Arboriculturist
Chris Wren

Chris Wren

Consultant Arboriculturist
Thomas Parkinson

Thomas Parkinson

CAD Technician
Clare Swinburn

Clare Swinburn

Office Manager
Sally Parry

Sally Parry

Administrator
Emma Gray

Emma Gray

Administrator
Donna Swinburn

Donna Swinburn

Administrator
Charlotte Calvert

Charlotte Calvert

Administrator
Ann Balshaw

Ann Balshaw

Administrator
Chris Jarvis

Chris Jarvis

Finance Administrator
Rob Lambert

Rob Lambert

Editor
Gill Broad

Gill Broad

Editor
Morgan Bold

Morgan Bold

Social Media Executive
Harriet Paul

Harriet Paul

Finance Administrator
Hannah Bramley

Hannah Bramley

PA to Robert Oates
Alan Smith

Alan Smith

Consultant Arboriculturist
Michelle Huang

Michelle Huang

Consultant Ecologist
Josie Cooper

Josie Cooper

Consultant Ecologist
Ben Newbery

Ben Newbery

Consultant Ecologist
Annabel Sharpe

Annabel Sharpe

Consultant Ecologist
Dean Meadows

Dean Meadows

Principal Arboriculturist & Tree Risk Lead
Sally Hall

Sally Hall

Consultant Ecologist
Jessica Sibley

Jessica Sibley

Consultant Ecologist
Rhiannon Jensen-O’Brien

Rhiannon Jensen-O’Brien

Consultant Ecologist
Romany Poole

Romany Poole

Graduate Ecologist
Tom Ramm

Tom Ramm

Arboricultural Surveyor
Marlies Brenninkmeyer

Marlies Brenninkmeyer

Administrator
Abby Smith

Abby Smith

Administrator
Giorgina Shaw

Giorgina Shaw

Graduate Ecologist
Shaun Rowe

Shaun Rowe

Graduate Arboriculturist
Charlie Drapala

Charlie Drapala

Graduate Ecologist
Phil Gower

Phil Gower

Consultant Arboriculturist
Rob Dennis

Rob Dennis

Arboricultural Surveyor
Olga Hermann

Olga Hermann

Ecological Surveyor
Jamie-Lee Anderson

Jamie-Lee Anderson

Graduate Ecologist
Chris Poplett

Chris Poplett

Arboricultural Surveyor
Anthony Jones

Anthony Jones

Consultant Arboriculturist
Fearghus Gage

Fearghus Gage

Senior Arboriculturist
Chantae Wells

Chantae Wells

Consultant Ecologist
Alexie Jenkins

Alexie Jenkins

Graduate Ecologist
Hannah Upshall

Hannah Upshall

Graduate Ecologist
Emma Platts

Emma Platts

Graduate Ecologist
Millie Holland

Millie Holland

Graduate Ecologist
Nick Smith

Nick Smith

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Georgia Knight

Georgia Knight

Graduate Ecologist
Jeremy Grout

Jeremy Grout

Consultant Ecologist
Maddy Carter

Maddy Carter

Graduate Ecologist
Kayleigh Davies

Kayleigh Davies

Graduate Ecologist
Anna Dolby

Anna Dolby

Graduate Ecologist
Georgina Rennie

Georgina Rennie

Graduate Ecologist
Tom Baron

Tom Baron

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Harley Stone

Harley Stone

Consultant Ecologist
Leah Cook

Leah Cook

Consultant Ecologist
Jade Lemm

Jade Lemm

Consultant Ecologist
Oliver Bevilacqua

Oliver Bevilacqua

Consultant Ecologist
Robbie MacKenzie

Robbie MacKenzie

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Jamie Bolton

Jamie Bolton

Finance Administrator
Annalea Moulton

Annalea Moulton

Administrator
Codie Schofield

Codie Schofield

Administrator

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