Jack Barnard - Director

As the founder of Origin Environmental, Jack leads the consultancy with a clear mission: to provide pragmatic, commercially-aware solutions for the built environment. With years of experience navigating the complexities of the UK planning system, Jack specialises in bridging the gap between development goals and environmental requirements.

While leading a multi-disciplinary team, Jack’s background is Arboriculture. He is known for his "solution-based" philosophy, ensuring that every project—from residential surveys to large-scale developments—is handled with the speed and professional clarity needed to secure approvals and keep timelines on track.

Chloe Walker - Ecologist

Chloe is a highly experienced Ecologist with over a decade of dedicated experience in ecological consultancy. Holding a BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Conservation, Chloe specialises in navigating the complex regulatory landscape of the UK planning system. She is an expert in conducting Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA) and managing specialised surveys for Bats, Great Crested Newts, and Badgers. With a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach, Chloe ensures that every project—from small-scale developments to major infrastructure—achieves full compliance while meeting the latest Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.

Henry Warren-Hastings - Arboricultural Consultant

Henry combines over 15 years of industry experience with two years of professional consultancy expertise. Since earning his degree in Arboriculture in 2021, he has successfully transitioned from hands-on work to delivering high-level technical advice for a variety of development and management projects. A Professional Member of the Arboricultural Association and LANTRA certified in Professional Tree Inspection (PTI), Henry specialises in identifying tree-related risks and providing pragmatic solutions for site constraints. His background in the field gives him a unique "boots-on-the-ground" perspective that ensures his reports are as practical as they are compliant.

Arno van heygen - senior Arboricultural Consultant

Arno brings over 14 years of industry experience to the team, specialising in everything from large-scale infrastructure projects to residential developments. With an MSc in Environmental Forestry and a Level 6 Certificate in Arboriculture, he combines high-level academic theory with a pragmatic, hands-on background as a former tree surgeon. A Professional Member of the Arboricultural Association and an Associate Member of the ICF, Arno is dedicated to delivering expert tree risk management and BS5837 surveys with a focus on sustainable, solution-based results.

Maple - Origin Mental Health Officer

Very little experience, but a lot of enthusiasm. Maple is working hard to improve her skills, but is often found napping on the job.

Wilmie van rooyen - principal ecologist Consultant

Wilmie leads Origin’s ecology team, bringing a high level of technical expertise in biodiversity assessment and environmental planning. While she prides herself on being a versatile "all-rounder" with a broad ecological knowledge base, she has become a dedicated specialist in the statutory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) framework.

Beyond her technical skills, she is committed to project management and exceptional customer service. As a team lead, she focuses on successful stakeholder negotiation and delivering pragmatic, nature-based solutions that ensure projects—from large-scale infrastructure to private developments—remain on track and within budget.