Sustainability Press Room
Through Adela’s work she inspires and empowers her clients, wherever they are in the world, to build the confidence to grow their business, develop a strong inner compass, and take grounded action.
Bio
Adela Mei
With her wealth of experience in ecology and conservation, environmental management, and sustainability, Adela has been working with the environmental sector for over 20 years.
Recently working with 100s of businesses across the South West, she has a reputation for finding innovate solutions, and inspiring her clients to align with a deeper purpose, and to take action towards achieving sustainability.
Adela first featured in the Press in 2007 while working in the corporate world on land management and biodiversity projects, partnering with The Wildlife Trusts. She found herself drawn to international conservation, cofounding two wildlife research organisations, and leading on marketing for several projects in Peru and Guatemala.
Her most profound personal achievement is learning to ride a motorbike at 50 which has given her a highly focused mind, positive attitude, and massive confidence.
Adela set up her own company Jackdaw in 2020 to support small businesses grow sustainably, through digital strategy, and sustainability consultancy.
Originally from London, Adela followed a heart calling to the West Country, where she lives in Somerset.
When I want / need someone to understand the “ME” side of business. Someone to get that I’m not gonna do the same old bs, and that I need someone who can understand me, what is right for me, and how that extends to my biz.
I love that you get that! That it’s not about expert advice and what everyone else is doing. It’s about authenticity. When it sometimes feel like the world is pushing towards “you need to do this….” you offer up an approach more aligned with “what do you want?
My Story
How it all started…
1997
First Jungle Trip to Indonesia
Backpacking in the jungles of Indonesia, in Sumatra to work at an Orang Utan Sanctuary. First appearance in the local press, pictured next to.. an Oran Utan. You can imagine the comments… due to last minute political unrest in Sumatra, ended up in Java, Bukit Barasan National Park. Had my first come to God moment and realised there was an almighty presence in the rainforest that there is more to life ‘than just this’.
2000
Research in Peruvian Amazon
I graduated from my Masters Degree at the University of York and headed to the lowland tropical rainforests of Tambopata, Peru where I spent the next few years researching, and travelling between there and the cloud forests of Manu National Park. Was offered a job managing a Rainforest Lodge but decided to return to the UK and join the Corporate World.
2004
Environmental Management Systems & Biodiversity
The next 5 years were spent working on biodiversity projects, land management, and becoming the poster girl for biodiversity at a Water Company. Thoroughly enjoying working with the Wildlife Trusts, the Environment Agency, Natural England and becoming more involved in Press, communications and digital marketing.
2008
International Conservation
For the next 10 years I set up international conservation projects, in Peru and Guatemala, and became more involved in web design, and social media, and focusing more time on digital strategy, and less time on international travel and field research. And in 2014 set up my own Web Design Business becoming ‘the mother ship’ UK hub for international projects.
2020
Finally – I Founded my own Company!
Having found my niche I founded Jackdaw Digital in 2000, blending my skills and experience from over 25 years in the environmental sector, and over 10 years in the digital zone. You could say I found my ‘sweet spot’. And in 2025 I launch my re-brand Jackdaw Sustainability Consulting and have never felt more positive about nature, the planet, and what we’re going to do about protecting it for future generations.