Meet the team: Julie Chrisp - Office Manager

For anyone that knows Julie, knows her level of detail is second to none and she is always there to show her care, support and dedication to the team, while giving that friendly smile to each and every visitor she encounters. In this month's Q&A we learn more about Julie's role and her as a person. Her sense of humour shines through here and we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did!

So Julie, hello! Let's start by asking how long have you been part of the WWT Washington Wetland Centre team, and can you share a bit about how your journey here began and how your role has evolved over time?

I first became involved with WWT Washington way back in 2006, when I spent a few months volunteering once a week with the grounds team. This mainly involved helping with the maintenance of various enclosures but due to work commitments I was only able to do this for a few months. In that short time, WWT Washington had me hooked! I made some lifelong friends during those few short months and really enjoyed my time volunteering here, so much so that I was back volunteering on and off from 2007.

From late 2009, following several years as Educational Information Officer with the Northern Kites Project, I had a spell working with WWT Washington’s Learning team as a casual warden. This was whilst working towards a diploma in Countryside Management at Northumberland College. Unfortunately, due to an ankle injury, I was forced to hang up my walking boots for a while, which led me to working at a business centre in Newcastle. This job involved overseeing the day-to-day running of reception and facilities (which would come in useful later!), line managing the cleaning team, caretaker team plus customer service team. However, I really missed working in conservation…

In 2015, the role of Office Manager at WWT Washington came up. It was the perfect opportunity to work in conservation and nature once again, though in a more behind the scenes capacity, which I quickly applied for! The role was initially a 12-month contract, but I was lucky enough to be taken on permanently and here I still am 10 years later!

Can you describe your role as Office Manager and what a typical day looks like for you?

There’s rarely a typical day at WWT Washington, as the job involves being fairly reactive to the needs of the visitor centre, but my core duties include: fielding queries via the telephone and main WWT Washington email account; managing the central filing system for the centre to make sure all legal and important records are up to date and stored accordingly; overseeing facilities contracts and their renewal (waste disposal, recycling, security and fire alarm contracts to name but a few!); circulating updates and info to staff and volunteers; sorting payroll (making sure all staff get paid!); dealing with invoices (making sure suppliers get paid!) and ordering various items for the site from cleaning supplies to events materials. 

What’s the most important aspect of your job in keeping the centre running smoothly?

Having a general overview of operational goings on, so I can support the team as and when necessary. Most importantly though? Making sure I’ve ordered sufficient toilet roll for the visitor centre I would say…! (We laugh, but where would we be without it!)

What do you find most rewarding about being the Office Manager here?

I am in the very lucky and fortunate position that I get to work alongside and support the most collaborative, friendly, positive and helpful bunch of people you could ever have the pleasure to work with, honestly! The fact that this is the job I’ve worked in longer than any other throughout my working life is testament to that! Knowing that what I’m doing behind the scenes is helping in some small way to ensure our visitors have a fantastic experience, make those connections with nature and wetlands, and get to enjoy this unique and special place is an absolute privilege!

I still can’t get my head around the fact that WWT Washington is essentially in the middle of an industrial estate, but once you walk through the doors and head outside you find yourself immersed in around 45 hectares of the most peaceful and tranquil setting, birds and wildlife all around, as if you’re miles away from the urban hustle and bustle – it’s very precious!

What skills are essential for someone in your position, and how do you apply them daily?

Being organised and able to multi-task are essential! This involves having a number of lists on the go to stay on track, plus being able to react to various situations within the visitor centre - especially during the busy summer months. As well as my regular duties, tasks might include car park duty, helping to meet and greet visitors, pot washing in the kitchen or clearing tables, helping with events, checking the toilets (clean up in aisle 5…) to name but a few. This job is nothing if not varied!

Personal Journey

What inspired you to work in a setting focused on conservation and nature?

Growing up on Tyneside during the 70s and 80s (showing my age now…) there was never really the opportunity to engage with conservation and nature (which is why WWT’s Generation Wild project is so important!). However, living not far from the coastal towns of Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, I would always look forward to family trips to the coast.

My ‘awakening’ if you like, didn’t happen until 2001 when at the age of 29, having been a laboratory technician on and off for around 10 years, I was ready for a new challenge. I was looking through the jobs supplement in the local newspaper (in the ‘olden days’ before LinkedIn, social media and everything being on the internet…) when I spotted a job as a Roving Membership Recruiter with National Trust. The advert said: ‘Would you like to work on the Northumberland Coast?’ to which I thought, yes, yes, I would! I applied for the job on the off chance and was lucky enough to get it. I worked for National Trust for 5 years, during which time my love of nature and conservation grew having spent time working at National Trust sites including: the Farne Islands, Lindisfarne Castle, Wallington and Cragside - plus of course along the magnificent Northumberland Coast! Whilst working for National Trust I began studying towards a degree in Environmental Studies with Open University, starting in 2004, and I’ve been hooked on conservation and nature ever since!

What’s one of the biggest challenges you’ve tackled in your role?

Being from Tyneside, and a Newcastle United supporter, working in the borough of the City of Sunderland can prove to be a big challenge…I’m kidding of course! (Or am I…?!) No, seriously, one of the biggest challenges is time - having enough of it to achieve what you want to achieve whilst juggling the demands of a busy visitor centre, especially during the summer months. Having said that, one of the joys of the job is getting those opportunities to get out of the office and connect with our visitors during busy spells - whether people are visiting for the first time and you’re chatting about all the amazing things they’ll get to see and do on their visit, or catching them on the way back after their day and hearing how much they’ve enjoyed their time here - I love that!

Do you have a favourite memory or milestone from your time working here?

Oof, that’s a tricky one, and impossible to narrow down to just one thing! There’s not many (if any!) Office Managers who get the opportunity to plant some trees (as part of the woodland management across the site). Or watch avocet fledglings being ringed (which helps identify individuals - providing valuable data on migration routes, wintering grounds and breeding locations). Or helping with events like Nature Fright Nights, greeting families when they arrive (who’d be wearing some fab Halloween costumes!) and heading into the grounds to watch bats flitting about in Hollowood and kids creating potions – I mean, what a treat! (Or should that be trick or treat?! Sorry, I’ll get me coat…). I chaperoned Dusty Duck several years ago, during one of our half-term events, and seeing the kids’ reactions plus one girl in particular who kept coming back to wave and say hello to Dusty was magic! (Though to be fair, my time mainly involved making sure Dusty didn’t take out any small children with his large tail as kids excitedly gathered around to meet him…!).

I’ve especially loved helping at pond dipping sessions - honestly, if you get the chance, get yourself along to a drop-in session which are generally available during school holidays in the warmer months (check out our website for details!). You get to see all kinds of weird and wonderful creatures that lurk beneath the water, a personal favourite of mine is the great diving beetle - a voracious predator of the pond! The larvae can be around 6cm long, with big pincer-like jaws and it’s often referred to as a ‘water tiger’ – dramatic! The adults (around 3cm long) can be spotted regularly sticking their bums out of the water (ok, the correct term is abdomen…) as they need to surface to replenish the air supply, which they store beneath their wing cases. Their prey, amongst other things, includes small fish – what an impressive beast!

A standout from several years ago was when the Collection team needed help whilst carrying out health checks on the cubs of Asian short-clawed otter pair Mimi and Musa. I stepped into the breach (it’s a hard job…!) and got to hold one of the cubs which was a real privilege (and they were so cuuute!).

Also, a big milestone for me happened this year when as of 1^st September 2025 I’d officially been Office Manager here at WWT Washington for a whole decade, the longest I’ve stayed in any role - which should give you an indication as to how much I enjoy working here!

Fun fact...

What’s one thing visitors might not realise about the behind-the-scenes work at the centre?

That I order over 110 kms of toilet roll a year for the centre – that’s the distance from WWT Washington to Carlisle! (See, we told you it was important!)

Connection to the Wetland Centre:

What’s your favourite part of Washington Wetland Centre? Is there a place or feature you love most?

It’s not just the place but the people that makes WWT Washington so special!

Of the site itself, how do I pick a favourite spot?! There are so many! I’ve probably spent more time in the grounds than any other part of site, allow me to explain why…I’m in the extremely fortunate position that if I go for a quick walk at lunchtime, to stretch the old legs, I get to step out of the office straight into the grounds - I’ll do a quick circuit and I’m instantly surrounded by a world of wildlife! Can you imagine being in a job where on a 10-15 minute walk at lunchtime you’re met with the sight of bright pink flamingos, you get to chat with visitors and hear about how much they’re enjoying their day, you’re greeted by squeaking otters and get to see (and hear!) a whole host of native and international birds – all of this whilst walking through the most beautiful setting – I mean, howay, no words!

Another favourite I have to say is when the Catering team are whipping up a batch of cheese scones in the kitchen, the smell wafting up the corridor as they’re cooking is irresistible – honestly, you have to try one – I would highly recommend!

Do you have a favourite wetland species at the centre?

Oof, again, how do I pick just one?! You might want to grab a cuppa, as this could take some time…!

Of the wetland species in the collection, I have to say, I do have a soft spot for the Nene - their story was one of the first things I read about on getting involved with WWT. They're the world’s rarest goose, native only to the Hawaiian Islands, and by the 1950s were on the brink of extinction. With only 30 Nene remaining, in stepped WWT founder Sir Peter Scott and so began the great conservation success story of the Nene! They're such friendly and inquisitive birds, with what looks like ruffles on their neck due to the way their feathers lie. On heading into the walk-in exhibit Ganderland, the Nene are generally the first birds to wander over and say hello! (wey, not literally obviously – I’m not Dr. Dolittle unfortunately…).

I also love the white-headed ducks. Though small, what they lack in stature they certainly make up for in personality! During the breeding season the bill of the male turns from dark brown to bright blue, and watching their courtship displays is a sight to behold! The males will bob their head up and down, whilst sticking their tail straight up in the air. Then suddenly, and without warning, they’ll drop their tail and propel themselves through the water like a speedboat before performing what can only be described as a handbrake turn!

Of the native species that visit WWT Washington, I do love a long-tailed tit (pictured below by visitor Alistair Cryer). They have a rotund body (I know how they feel…), that’s not much bigger than a golf ball with what looks like a black ice lolly stick for a tail. Watching them on the centre feeders, flitting about and chattering, does make me smile! They have small black and white bodies - I know, I know, but their Newcastle United colouring is not the reason I love them as they also look like they’ve been dusted with pink - fabulous! Plus, they weigh less than a £1 coin…whaaaat!

What about a favourite seasonal event that happens at WWT Washington?

There are various seasonal highlights for me… At this time of year one bonus of the shorter days is that I’m in the office as the sun sets across the site and the colours of the sky can look amazing! This is also coupled by the loud ‘clack-clack’ noise of jackdaws calling, as they fly over the centre in large numbers.

I’m always heartened when I notice snowdrops emerging across the site in January, followed by crocuses and daffodils, as things slowly start coming back to life after the long dark nights of winter. The carpet of bluebells in Spring Gill Wood early May is a particular favourite and watching bumblebees in the summer as they buzz around the lavender just outside the office - I love a bumblebee me!

Another highlight is when I’m in the thick of it at my desk, juggling a number of things with approaching deadlines, and I’ll suddenly hear the bugling call of the two common cranes we have in the collection (if you’ve never heard a crane, they emit some noise - their call can be heard up to 3.5 miles away!). Their calls have me grinning from ear to ear and I’m immediately reminded of the unique and privileged position in which I find myself - of being one of the cogs behind the scenes, helping to ensure people enjoy their visit, and make those connections with nature and wetlands.

As stated in our new strategy Wetlands Are The Way: Wetlands are weapons of mass creation - superpowered, flood busting, nature boosting, carbon sinking, mood lifting ecosystems and we literally couldn’t live without them! So, go on, get yourself along to WWT Washington for a visit, or support us by becoming a member – you know you want to!

• Share this article