Meet our Nature-positive Difference Makers: Bryn Jones

Sweco is Sweco thanks to its #DifferenceMakers. Our people bring the expertise, passion and diversity of thought that shape better outcomes for clients, communities and the environment. Below, we meet Bryn Jones, one of our Nature‑positive Difference Makers, and explore how he’s helping embed nature‑based solutions at the heart of what we do.

Tell us a bit about yourself, Bryn

I’ve been a Landscape Architect for over 25 years, starting my career working for local authorities in Nottingham and Stoke‑on‑Trent before moving into multi‑disciplinary consultancy. I also spent a couple of years as Environmental Manager for the motorway network in the north west of England, which really shaped how I think about long‑term stewardship and the importance of designing with maintenance in mind.

From early on in my career, I also worked as an Environmental Coordinator, managing teams of specialists delivering environmental assessment and environmental design, as well as acting as a bridge between engineering and environmental disciplines. That experience has given me a broader understanding of the different environmental specialisms involved in delivering successful infrastructure projects, and how they need to work together.

What first sparked your interest in nature, landscapes and the environment?

I’ve always felt connected to the landscape. My mum’s family are farmers, so I spent a lot of my childhood outdoors helping on my uncle’s dairy farm. While studying my A‑levels, I worked part‑time in a garden centre before heading to university to study town planning. During my first semester, we had a landscape architecture module, which was a real light‑bulb moment for me. I switched degrees soon after and have never looked back.

You stepped into a new role at Sweco last year. Can you tell us what it’s all about?

That’s right. I took on the role of Nature‑based Solutions Lead, which is focused on embedding nature‑positive thinking across Sweco’s service ecosystem. The aim is to ensure that climate resilience, biodiversity and wellbeing are considered as a core part of how we plan, design and deliver projects. A particular focus of the role is the water sector, where there is a real opportunity to drive meaningful change at scale.

What does ‘nature‑based solutions’ mean to you personally?

Well, in many ways it’s simply a name for the default approach I’ve followed throughout my career. Nature‑based solutions bring together climate resilience, biodiversity and human wellbeing and embed them into decision‑making from the outset. As a Landscape Architect and environmental ‘dot‑joiner’, it reflects how I’ve always tried to work.

Some people still see nature and engineering as competing priorities. How do you respond to that?

I don’t see them as competing at all. Nature and cost‑effective engineering can and should go hand in hand. It’s not about compromise, but about embracing the ‘and’ – nature and climate resilience, and clean air, and great places, and efficient infrastructure. Ultimately, it’s about doing the right thing for both people and the planet.

What are the benefits for clients who take a nature‑positive approach?

There are clear, tangible benefits. Nature‑based solutions can deliver long‑term cost savings compared to more traditional, non‑natural approaches. They also help create healthier, greener places, which supports community wellbeing and strengthens social value. It’s not about ticking boxes, but about creating genuine, lasting transformation.

You mentioned the water sector. Why is this such an exciting area right now?

Quite simply, the timing is right. With £3.3 billion identified in AMP8 funding for catchment and nature‑based solutions, the water sector is perfectly placed to lead the way. There is huge potential to combine grey and green infrastructure and develop blue‑green solutions that reduce long‑term energy use while improving resilience and ecological value. The decisions being made now will have an impact for decades, and bringing nature into those decisions is as urgent as it is important.

Beyond water, where else do you see major opportunities?

Placemaking is a big one. There is significant potential in the public realm to better integrate nature, movement and community wellbeing. When nature is considered from the outset, rather than added on later, we can enhance biodiversity, create healthier environments and still deliver solutions that work from an engineering perspective.

But whatever the project, this is all about trying to harness nature‑positive mindset embedded across the business, so that people instinctively ask how sustainable, natural design can improve outcomes. With Sweco’s multi‑disciplinary expertise across planning, design and asset management – and a close correlation between infrastructure and the environment in terms – of how our teams are set up, we are well placed to help clients understand what’s possible and to support delivery and long‑term management.

What gets you out of bed in the morning when it comes to nature‑based solutions?

It’s always about the people — colleagues, clients and the communities who use the infrastructure we design. We have the opportunity to influence everyday lives, which brings both responsibility and motivation. The key is making sure that impact is as positive as possible, including being positive for nature.

And what makes Sweco a great place to do what you do?

It comes down to the people. I work with colleagues who are experts in their fields and genuinely want to make a positive impact on the world around them. When that’s combined with receptive clients and engaged communities, it creates the right conditions to deliver meaningful change.

Finally, what does being a Nature‑positive ‘Difference Maker’ mean to you?

It starts with the relatively small evolution in thinking – recognising that infrastructure doesn’t have to be a choice between nature or concrete – most solutions need both, and we should always ask whether there’s a way to make them more nature‑positive. The answer is usually a resounding ‘yes’.

Bigger picture, being a #DifferenceMaker at Sweco is about playing my part in nurturing a broader mindset shift across Sweco and the wider industry. Nature‑based solutions are a core part of the green transition, helping to reduce climate impacts, enhance biodiversity and build resilience to challenges such as flooding, heatwaves and water scarcity. The aim is to make nature‑positive outcomes the norm rather than the exception.