Rebecca Sweet

9 months ago

Hello! My name is Rebecca and I have a bit of a varied background. First and foremost, I am a university lecturer based at East Durham College in the north east, UK. I am also a primatologist and conservationist, lending my expertise to a range of primate focused projects including Project Wild Gambia as Primate Species Lead, The Long-Tailed Macaque Project as Scientific Writer, and Mountain Marmoset Conservation Programme as a Database Specialist. I enjoy scientific writing and regularly participate in small-scale research projects. I also review for multiple journals. I am also a dog-mam and enjoy pampering my pooch Luna as much as I can. I will be commencing a PhD focusing on red colobus community engagement in the near future. This course will undoubtedly provide me with some much needed skills and knowledge to take into the field. Thank you for having me! 

Kelly Bull

9 months ago

Hello Everyone! 

My name is Kelly. I am from San Diego, California. My background is a lot of zookeeping/training and conservation work (mostly for stipend/ room and board) in South Africa, Namibia and Costa Rica. My family is moving to Costa Rica where I will have tons of opportunities in conservation. I feel like this course will give me further insight into the running of conservation programs. One day, I would love to start my own project in Costa Rica dealing specifically with birds. (parrots, macaws, raptors, vultures and sea birds are a passion of mine) 

I am so excited to learn as much as possible and make wonderful connections around the world! 

Larissa Sousa

9 months ago

Hello 🤗! My name is Larissa Sousa, im Mozambican born and raised here but move to Finland when I was 18 years old to study International Business Management and then got a double degree in Germany in Controlling. After 5 years I decided to move back home to contribute with what I had learnt overseas. I worked a few years in Management and then education until 8 years ago when I was invited to join a renowned NP here in Mozambique called Gorongosa (www.gorongosa.org), to start and manage a girls and women empowerment project. Where I work until today, but with a little more on communication and storytelling about what and why we do conservation differently. I was introduced to WildHub by some partners who came around to visit and give a few trainings. As I grow in the conservation world even though im training in Management I feel that this course can help me a lot and that is why I applied. It is very nice to meet you all and I hope we have lots of fun and lessons learnt here to apply into our jobs/research etc. 

My hobbies are traveling, hiking and diving, I am part of an awesome African community called NEWF that is a great space and tool to enter into wildlife storytelling and filming to raise awareness about our world and the need to protect and coexist. Thanks for your attention, and have a great day!! 🥳  My instagram handle is @luvsousa18 if anyone wants to connect!

Nervours Daka

9 months ago

 This is great START introduction for PMWC

Nervours Daka

9 months ago

MY name is Nervours Daka I am a donor relations specialist for African health volunteers for emergency response rescue and referrals partnerships a public benefit organization legally registered and operating in Zambia at its community office in Ngombe compound Lusaka district, implementing community health projects aimed at making quality primary healthcare services more accessible and affordable to marginalized communities

JENIFER CHEPKOECH

9 months ago

Hello everyone!

I am Jennifer Chepkoech, Kenyan- born working in Kenya with Kenya Wildlife Conservation Association (KWCA)  as a Grants officer. KWCA is the national representative body and voice for conservancies in Kenya. At KWCA we work to position the conservancy model as a holistic strategy that not only delivers impact beyond conservation, but as a community institution that promotes good governance at the local levels, strengthens land and resource rights and as a tested strategy for better land management creating benefits to communities.

As a grants officer with keen interest in conservation this course will enhance my project management skills to better managed the organization projects . I look forward to more learning and interacting with everyone.

NKOITOI ERIC

9 months ago

Hello! My name is Nkoitoi Eric and I'm from Kenya. My background is on Community Wildlife Management and Conservation having honed my skills mostly on research, data collection and Tour guiding. I'm also certified in Nature interpretation and Tour administration leading me to a range of expertise in different fields. I have also worked for 3 years in the conservation space on Community engagement and education..

As a young and passionate conservation this course will not only deepened my understanding of conservation but also enhance my profile on projects ideas, on decision making and also on project implementation. I look forward to learn from each one in the team and also to create networking opportunities. 

Deaoclearancia Lorna Dax

9 months ago

My name is Lorna Dax, I am from Namibia. Currently working for Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT), an organization responsible for the monitoring of free-roaming black rhinos in communal land. I managed a communal conservancy before joining SRT in 2022. My current roles include, grant writing & reporting, community outreach and communications. 

I believe that the PMWC course will help me to manage various projects in a structured manner and better communicate impact. I am also excited to meet fellow conservationist and learn from them.

Ezekiel

9 months ago

Hi all!

My name is Ezekiel and I'm an MSc graduate based in Manchester. My background experience so far has been with large mammals through volunteering, specially large carnivores across Africa. I also have ex-situ exposure with work at Chester zoo. I'm not too sure what I want my career to look like but all I do know is that it involves conservation. As for what I want from this course is to equip myself with the skills/knowledge to create and set up projects as well as lead others. 

Paul chinyama

9 months ago

Hi, my name is Paul Chinyama born and raised is Liuwa Plain National Park, where am doing my work as a conservation intern for the past two years. My passion for wildlife and conservation. Growing up, I was always fascinated by nature, and over time, that curiosity turned into a deep commitment to protecting wildlife and ecosystems.

 Being here allows me to learn from experienced conservationists, contribute to real-world conservation efforts, and gain practical skills that will help me in my future career. I also believe that protecting wildlife goes beyond just research—it involves working with local communities, understanding ecosystems, and finding sustainable solutions."

my hobbies, I love traveling, photographing and filming. I'm excited to learn more from wildhub and connect with other conservationist.

Kenalekgosi Gontse

9 months ago

Hello! My name is Kenalekgosi Gontse, but you can call me KG. I am a highly driven Conservation Anthropologist. My contribution to conservation is through both social science and natural science, with few academic journals focusing much on Biodiversity conservation and rural livelihood Development nexus. I am also a certified Environmental Assessment Practitioner in Botswana. Currently i am doing my PhD with the University of Botswana, I am also working as a Graduate teaching assistant at University of Botswana. I have a proven track record of coordinating conservation projects for several conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs), where I gained valuable experience in natural resource management. 

Thank you for having me! 

Rae Newbery

9 months ago

Hello everyone! I’m Rae and I'm really happy to be here. I currently work in purchasing at WWF, but I'm hoping to move into a conservation role soon. My background has involved mostly in working in care roles, but I decided to pursue a career in conservation as this has always been my long-term dream to work with and protect wildlife. I have completed my BSc in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation,  and now I'm currently doing master's in Wildlife Biology & Conservation. I've been involved in some really interesting and great experiences so far, including a marine biology field course in South Africa (where I also got my Open Water Diver certification), volunteering, internships, and courses. My goal is to get as much experience as possible to help me secure my first paid role.

In my spare time my hobbies mostly revolve around wildlife too; I love visiting national parks in England and elsewhere, love bird watching in my local area and love to get involved with the community to get involved with wildlife friendly project. I love all animals, but would say I have a special interest in entomology, fun fact: I have several praying mantises at my house.

Looking forward to getting into the course and would love to hear about other people’s experience in the field, I hope it’s me soon!

Wiem Boussellaa

9 months ago

Wiem Boussellaa is a dedicated marine biologist researcher from Tunisia, specializing in marine conservation and the management of marine ecosystems. With a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences, Wiem has contributed significantly to projects aimed at preserving marine life. Currently, as a postdoctoral researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples, Italy, their work focuses on the energy expenditure and ecology of sea turtles during swimming. Wiem has held key roles in various marine conservation projects, including the Life MedTurtles project at the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax and the Deep Blue project with OGS. As a member of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) and a project manager for the Tunisian Taxonomy Association (ATUTAX), Wiem has actively participated in the fight against ghost fishing and has been instrumental in developing a National Code of Conduct for Ghost Gear Management in Tunisia. Throughout their career, Wiem has authored several publications on marine ecosystems and conservation and has been recognized for several innovative contributions to the field. With extensive experience in project management, scientific research, and international collaboration, they continue to drive impactful conservation efforts within the Mediterranean region.

Maria Johnstone

9 months ago

Hi everyone, my name is Maria and I am a Higher Level Teaching Assistant at a Primary School in Cornwall, United kingdom.  I have a Degree in Biology from Derby University were I studied Sea Anemones.  I have always had a keen interest in nature and conservation and regularly share my knowledge  through teaching.  Recently I joined the Cornwall  Butterfly Conservation where I set up a transect and found it inspiring.  So I decided to get more of an understanding of how these projects work and found this course through my daughters college.  I can't wait to get started.

Dagmar Sawistowsky

9 months ago

Hello Everyone, 

My name is Dagmar, I am from Frankfurt, Germany. I am a dedicated anthropologist and wildlife enthusiast holding a Master's degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology. After working for years in global companies in marketing, I decided to dedicate myself to anthropology and conservation which has been my passion since I was very young. My particular interest is the question of how conservation education can contribute to harmonizing the interests of nature conservation and people, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts and enabling sustainable resource use. During several field researches in Uganda I had the privilege to work with different local organisations and dedicated local conservationists in various regions. My hobbies are traveling, hiking and swimming. Currently I am working with some organisations in Uganda on the implementation of conservation education programs. I was introduced to that course by a friend from Kenya.  I hope this course will help me to put my project into practice successfully and I am excited to meet passionate conservationists.

Edward Kamara

9 months ago

Hello Everyone

My name is Edward Kamara, i am from Sierra Leone and i am a biodiversity research assistant at Gola Rainforest National National Park. I am a wildlife conservationist and my area of interest is mammals especially primates. i enjoy being in the field, and my best hobbies is athletics especially sprinting. I am happy to be participating in this course which will help me further my conservation career.

Beatriz Alves

9 months ago

Hi everyone!

Apologies for joining a bit late, I will do my best to catch up!

It’s been lovely reading your introductions and getting to "meet" you all! I was so pleasantly surprised to realise that I already know one of you - @Larissa Sousa! :D I met Larissa a couple of years ago during a period I spent at Gorongosa National Park, which was such a fantastic experience.

My name is Beatriz Alves (you can call me Bia) and I am a veterinary surgeon turned conservationist :) For over a decade, I worked in small animal clinical practice, mainly with cats. My passion for felids and conservation led me to work at the Iberian Lynx Ex-situ Conservation Programme, in Portugal, where I focused primarily on ethology. In 2020, I completed my MVetSci in Conservation Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, with my thesis exploring infectious disease and hybridisation at the European wildcat-domestic cat interface. I am now in the fourth year of my PhD, continuing to study this topic. I am based in Portugal, but frequently travel to Scotland as I collaborate with the EU LIFE Saving Wildcats project.

I joined this course because I believe it will give me valuable skills to apply once I complete my PhD, and I am really looking forward to learning from all of you!

Gordon Madamombe

9 months ago

Hello everyone. I am Gordon Madamombe from Zimbabwe. I have just completed my MRes studies at Coventry University which looked at how people view urban blue-green spaces ecological restoration. 

Jorbedom, Ziggy Alexander

9 months ago

Hello Everyone.

I am Jorbedom, Ziggy Alexander from Rivers State, Nigeria and I am a dedicated nature enthusiast and I specialize in bird and mammal conservation. I hold a BSc in Animal and Environmental Biology and I am currently pursuing an MSc in Ecology and Environmental Biology at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. I am Passionate about environmental sustainability, and I am actively contributing as a staff member and volunteer at Sustainable Actions for Nature (SAN), where I am working on impactful conservation initiatives.

Thank you.

.

Ryan

9 months ago

Hello everyone,

Firstly apologies for joining a bit late, but nevertheless very excited to be here! 

My name is Ryan Hattingh. I grew up in Botswana and I am currently based in Cape Town, South Africa. I was exposed to the beauty of nature and wildlife from a very young age and my appreciation has only grown larger over the years and ultimately have always seen myself contributing to conservation any way possible. I’ve been in the conservation sector for just over a year, focusing mainly on software development as my background. I work for a small conservation organisation called Resolve Wildlife. We advise, assist and train on various scales. We are a deployment Partner for EarthRanger and that is mainly where I am utilised with aiding our clients on teachings and implementations of the software into their respective protected parks stretching from South Africa to as far up as Kenya.

It is my hope that this course will provide me with some much needed skills and knowledge  and provide more in-depth assistance and know-how  to take into the field.

Outside of work I enjoy hiking, wildlife photography, videography and visiting reserves/ being out in nature as often as possible.

I look forward to learning from all of you and sharing experiences within conservation.

SERGE ANGALI BAWABA

9 months ago

Serge Angali is a Congolese (DRC) researcher and wildlife conservationist with two years of experience in protected area management, first as a volunteer Ambassador for One Tree Planted, then as an assistant to the  Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Identification Project, As an intern and then since November 2024  Biomonitoring Assistant in Ecological Monitoring at the Lomako-Yokokala Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Grey Fernandez

9 months ago

Hello everyone! My name is Grey and I work as the Services Coordinator at Wild Animal Initiative. Wild Animal Initiative is a non-profit dedicated to building the field of wild animal welfare science through grants, research, and providing services to researchers. In the past, I've worked as a dog trainer, zoo keeper, naturalist, and academic advisor. While my work isn't specifically within conservation, I am eager to learn more about project management, especially when applied to a more closely related area than other project management courses. I live in Florida (USA) and enjoy training my dog and cats, hiking, reading, and being cozy.

Brenda Kamara

9 months ago

hello!

I am Brenda Kamara from Nairobi, Kenya. I have been in the pharmaceutical industry for over a decade and I have decided to come back to my first love which is conservation. I grew up surrounded by national parks, both natural and man-made forests, hills and the ever elusive Mt. Kenya. one could say that this is where the journey started for me.

my hobbies include zip lining, biking, decoration of interior spaces, volunteering for annual game counts, going for long drives and exploring new spaces

Gabriella Lorincz

9 months ago

Hello Everyone.
I'm on an adventure here, sparked by my love for elephants. While I am not currently part of the Conservation community, working in the field, or holding a Master's/PhD, I have a deep respect for the work that is being done. I am eager to learn and understand the challenges and problems in Elephant Protection, and I am committed to finding my way to play an active role. 

Munalula Akayombokwa

8 months ago

Hello, my name is Munalula Akayombokwa, and I am based in Zambia. I have extensive experience in forest conservation, with a strong focus on wildlife habitats. Currently, I am working on a project dedicated to protecting headwaters through forest conservation. I am confident that this course will equip me with valuable skills and knowledge to enhance my work in the field. Thank you for having me!

Summer LaRose

8 months ago

Hi classmates and teachers! My name is Summer LaRose and I am based in central Missouri, United States. I work as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist at the US Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region Office of Conservation Investment. I manage grants and cooperative agreements through a variety of programs, including State Wildlife Grants and Endangered Species Act Section 6 grants. 

I also serve in a voluntary capacity as Treasurer at the Biocultural Conservation Institute, a non-profit organization that empowers local communities to connect to and protect their native wildlife through education, research, and livelihood enhancement. We currently work with communities in Kenya and Uganda.

My background is in mammalian ecology and behavior and regenerative agriculture, specifically agroforestry. I worked on a variety of species in different capacities, including coyotes, bobcats, black bears, Asian elephants, snowshoe hares, northern flying squirrels, white-tailed deer, and my all time favorite - plains spotted skunk. I am passionate about working lands for wildlife and about creating positive impact for people and wildlife.

Fun fact: I am also a yoga teacher and believe that care of and connection to self and nature are the foundation for the outward impact we all strive to have for conservation. I am so excited to meet everyone and learn how to be more efficient through this program!

GALINI Samlidou

8 months ago

Hello everyone!

My name is Galini, and I have a degree in Conservation Biology. I am originally from Greece, where I first volunteered and later worked as a project manager for a sea turtle protection society called ARCHELON. Greece is home to the most important nesting beaches for loggerhead sea turtles and feeding grounds for both loggerhead and green turtles in the Mediterranean. I managed several field projects, including European LIFE projects, all of which were operated within Natura 2000 network sites and/or MPAs.

For the last two years, I have lived in the UK and worked in the fisheries sector, coordinating data collection for a Defra-funded project. This project aimed to estimate the impact of sea angling on fish stocks in England and Wales and the benefits sea angling brings to the UK economy and coastal communities.

Currently, I am on a career break and have embarked on the adventure of motherhood for the first time, which is exciting! However, I remain passionate about wildlife and am looking forward to finding another conservation role soon.

I am grateful to have been accepted into this course, and I look forward to meeting fellow conservationists.

Best wishes to everyone,

Galini

María Susana Barreto

8 months ago

Hello! I am Susi Barreto from Venezuela. I'm jumping in a bit late because I was finishing another course on Conservation Standards. I am a biologist and the fundraising officer at an NGO. We have many conservation projects going on and I want to be of more service to the team. I have already taken 2 previous courses with Wild Team and I am excited to do this one. Now in this self-paced format.

Glad to be here!

Lauren Larsen

8 months ago

Hi Everyone. Got a late start on the class but am here now. I am a zookeeper at the North Carolina Zoo working with arctic animals. I work closely with our conservation department who uses a conservation technology called SMART. I've helped deploy the technology in the Canadian arctic and will be going to Namibia at the end of the month to deploy another data model with MEFT. I am hoping to move into a conservation role as I progress my career.

Solène Williams

8 months ago

Hello everyone,

My name is Solène and I have been working in the field of caribou research for the last 6 years. I work for a small non-profit research company in Hinton, Alberta. I started working here right out of university and have not left since! My job has involved managing several field crews on different projects over the years, and I often get to go out in the field as well for training. I am taking this course so that I can learn new skills on how to manage diverse field projects and staff. 

Since I live in the Rocky Mountains, for fun I like to hike, bike, rock climb, ice climb, ski, trail run, bird watch, and photograph wildlife. I like to do anything outside!

Looking forward to this course!

Juliet Dhanraj

8 months ago

Hello everyone,

It's a pleasure to e-meet you. My name is Juliet Dhanraj. As an "island girl" born and raised in the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago), I have a deep love for the ocean. I migrated to Canada a few years ago, and I now live in Toronto, Ontario. During my immigrant journey, I experienced systemic barriers that prevented me from getting into the Planning field I studied hard for and invested a lot of time and money. All I have are my shattered dreams of being an Environmental Planner or Marine Planner. My academic background is in Geography, Planning and Development, Sustainability, Theology, Emergency Management and Marine Planning. I love cooking, writing poetry, listening to music, attending religious events, sightseeing and learning about new cultures. 

All the best!   

Andrea Segovia

8 months ago

Hi Everyone!

My name is Andrea Segovia, I'm from Venezuela. I did my Bachelor's in Biology in Seoul, South Korea, and now I'm relocating to Vienna, Austria for my master studies in Human-Animal Interactions. I am deeply passionate about animals and about conservation. In the future I hope to work in behavioral research and join conservation efforts both in the field and at wildlife rehabilitation centers. There's a lot for me to learn and I'm excited to start my career in such a wonderful field. 

My main area of interest is mammals, specially apex predators in the ecosystem. I did my undergrad thesis on the possible applications of animal personality (sometimes called behavioral syndromes) for Eurasian otter conservation through re-wilding projects. It is also my life's dream to be able to work closely with wolves. Our ancestors' friendship with ancient canids was the best thing that ever happened to humanity, in my opinion, and I think we can still learn a lot about ourselves and about possible solutions to problems we face nowadays by taking a closer look at the history, development and progression of these relationships. I hope I get the chance to contribute to this through my future work.

María Susana Barreto

7 months ago

Hello!

Susi Barreto here, biologist from Venezuela. Working in a local NGO developing different conservation strategies. I am the org’s fundraising specialist 

Peter Smith

7 months ago

Hi all, was struggling for access but here I am now.  I am Pete, an Operations manager for the Mining Remediation Authority in the UK.  Based in the Midlands but I have sites in the Pennines, Lake District and Cornwall (all the horrible places no one wants to go!!).  In essence we treat mine water from abandoned mines, bringing it up to an acceptable level before it is discharged into rivers.  It's a rewarding job, especially when you discover that the clear stream your scheme discharges into was once called "yellow brook" due to the build up of mine, or that an ecological survey has discovered a salmon in the brook.

I've recently been tasked with running more projects, on top of my operational activities, so I wanted to do this course to ensure that I could include any kind of conservation and biodiversity gain that I could as it's something I'm passionate about.

In my spare time I am usually either reading or finding random woods to walk my Labrador, Freya, around in.  In the Winter i'm a rugby player (38 years and counting!) and in the Summer I can be found doing my best walrus impression as a freediver.

Thomas Ramalekana

6 months ago

Thomas Ishmael Ramalekana, also known as "Mr. Speaker," is a South African motivational speaker, author, and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of the "Danger of Giving Up Initiatives," an online ministry and empowerment platform aimed at inspiring individuals to overcome challenges and achieve personal growth.Barnes & Noble

Born in Ga-Femane Village, Limpopo Province, Ramalekana is a proud Molobedu and is recognized for his dynamic speaking style and impactful messages. He has been featured on several South African radio stations, including Thobela FM, Mungana Lonene FM, and Capricorn FM, where he discusses topics related to perseverance and personal development.Barnes & Noble

In addition to his speaking engagements, Ramalekana is the author of the bestselling book The Danger of Giving Up and has written articles featured in various South African newspapers. He has also been interviewed by international media outlets, expanding his reach beyond South Africa.

As an academic, Ramalekana submitted his thesis to the University of Pretoria, indicating his commitment to education and intellectual development. His mission is to transform individuals from "caterpillars" into "butterflies," symbolizing personal transformation and empowerment.Barnes & Noble

Through his work, Ramalekana continues to inspire and motivate individuals to overcome obstacles and pursue a fulfilling life.

Looking forward to learning from you all.

Fiona

6 months ago

Hi everyone, I’m Fiona – I’m based in London and currently work in digital learning for the NHS. My background is in project management across quite a mix of sectors, including healthcare, education, events, and heritage. Over time, I’ve felt a growing pull towards nature and conservation, and I’ve reached a point where I want my day-to-day work to align more closely with those values. I’m here to learn how I can make that shift and to connect with others on a similar path. Looking forward to getting to know you all!