MEET THE PLUMPS // BRIAR // SECOND IN CHARGE/SCIENTIST

Meet Briar, she's a little ray of sunshine here at Plump & Co. When she's not talking smack in the office you'll probably find her monitoring newts or finding a new species of weta out in the wild. She also runs her own kids club and helps Jacinta with our amazing workshops roaming around the world, pictured below.

What’s your role at Plump & Co

Workshop assistant plus anything and everything that needs to be done. Research, writing web content, SEO.

Did you have any nicknames growing up? 

My dad used to call me Putsy. These days I mostly answer to Newt, Slug and Bryaphyte (bryophytes are small, non-vascular plants, such as mosses, liverworts and hornworts.... so nerdy, I know). 

List your professions?

All the jobs I've had? Researcher, research technician, tutor/learning assistant/educator, caregiver, production assistant, artist, web content writer, administrator, driver, coordinator, labourer, taxonomist/zoologist/evolutionary biologist/scientist. Whatever you want to call me.

Do you identify more with a creative entity or a scientific entity, or both?

Both. Maths, art and graphics were my best subjects as a kid. I'm a very visual person and that's why I love looking through a microscope all day at insects. Science and art are very similar in that they both require lots of creative thinking.  

What is it about insects that you’re so intrigued by?

I've always been intrigued by the fact that there is so much life going on around us that we don't even notice. We are oblivious to most minibeasts, and they seem to be fairly oblivious to us and are just busy getting on with their insect business. 

How do you find a balance between your all of your passions? 

I turn them into jobs.

What drives you to do what you do?

Adventure. I just love learning, exploring the world, meeting people and getting involved in random projects. You never know where things will lead. Just like that movie 'Yes Man'. 

Biggest accomplishment so far?

I won an award for the best student conference presentation a few years back. You'd never guess it, but at school I was ridiculously shy. I couldn't even stand up in front of the class to do 'show and tell', so delivering a really great presentation in front of loads of people made me feel really proud of how far I'd come. I felt like I'd just won an Oscar.

What would be the greatest accomplishment you hope to achieve in the future?

Dunno. I don't think too far ahead. I'd like to pay off the mortgage one day. Haha. 

What do you love about working for Plump & Co?

Teaching knitting at the workshops. I love meeting all our customers, hearing their stories and seeing how proud they are once they've knitted a blanket.  

1 ply or 2 ply? 

It really depends. I love how snuggly 2 ply blankets are. But if it's for my dogs, I go with 1 ply because it makes amazingly durable pet mats. 

Favourite part of your Plump & Co day?

Lunch. Food always wins. Sorry. 

What slogan do you carry around in your back pocket that inspires you?

"The size of your problems is nothing compared with your ability to solve them. Don't overestimate your problems and underestimate yourself." - someone 

Why is the environment so important to you?

I initially cared because I think that nature is innately amazing. But then from studying and working in science I now know how interconnected we are with our environment. We can thank nature for everything that we are and all that we have.

If there was one issue you wished to solve instantly what would it be?

Climate change.  

Favourite scientific tool?

Spreadsheets. I love data. 

What’s something we might not know about you?

Hmm. I think I'm pretty much an open book. 

Lastly - sweet or savoury?

Alllllllll the food!