Since opening its virtual doors at the start of 2020, WildHub has grown to a global community of 2,000 conservation professionals across 115+ countries. We were also joined by more conservation networks who brought in their members, including the Whitley Award Alumni, and CoalitionWILD's Global Mentorship participants.
In this community update I would like to share with you our latest developments, draw attention to the valued contributions of our Core community members, and you can read what our members said about the benefits of joining the WildHub community.
Our latest developments: building our Core community
We are building our Core community of those key members who are regularly sharing opportunities and lessons learned with WildHub.
- Follow CoalitionWILD's Flavia Martinelli, who achieved the Key Connector status in our community by sharing more than 12 opportunities in 2021 and is now nearing the Star Connector status (>24 opportunities shared)!
- Nearing the Key Connector status is also Kristi Foster at Conservation Careers for sharing the many opportunities, resources and events that are in line with our members' interests (thank you Kristi!).
- Congrats to Brian Heppenstall for becoming our community's first Key Creator in 2021 last month! Together with member Mollie Taylor, Brian created the Hive, a conservation podcast, and regularly shared their episodes with WildHub, next to his own lessons learned on unpaid internships within conservation; impacts and alternatives.
- Follow Madeleine Traynor who co-creates the Maliasili Reader, a bundle of collective lessons learned from the Maliasili team, and who, by sharing just two more lessons learned contributions, will also achieve the Key Creator status and join our Core community!
Check out our new feature: My Network, in which you have a personalised homepage including the expert members you follow and members following you!
Conservation Catalysts
We are also developing our Core community by offering the opportunity for members to become Conservation Catalysts with WildHub, a role in which anyone in our community can catalyse the sharing of lessons learned! See, for example:
- Contributions by Natalie Rhoades in which she interviewed Elizabeth Stephenson on conservation leadership and Allison Catalano on learning from failure.
- Ussi Abuu Mnamengi had a direct conversation with Renuka Thakore on the key to building successful partnerships, and;
- Carolyn Rosevelt explored pathways to success in volunteer recruitment and management with the help of Kelly Rose and Douglas Anderson.
Read here how to join our team of aspiring Conservation Catalysts!
Would you like to know more? Read our latest post how to join our WildHub Core community!
Community Advocates
I would also like to introduce our brand-new WildHub Community Advocates, Lara Reden, Chewe Chiti and Katie Grant! You will see their names popping up whilst they help our community by welcoming new members, answering questions, promoting new contributions through our social media channels and moderating new content.
Upcoming events
The annual WildHub Festival will be held around October this year. Get in touch with us if you would like to organise, co-lead or contribute to a session with the details of your proposed event (e.g. topic, speakers/panellist/activity) at hello@wildhub.community We will make sure that you've got everything you need to make your Festival session come true!
Our monthly WildHub Fika is still ongoing too, read here how you can join.
Members about WildHub
Some examples of how joining the WildHub community has helped our members most can be found below.
• Problem-solving and information that benefits conservation action: Members have shared their problems and helped each other come up with creative and novel solutions. The WildHub community also provided our members with access to useful information and tools (e.g. frameworks, best practices) that helped them in their conservation job.
I [gained] more knowledge and several partners.” Kien Nguyen Van, Plant Resources Center, Vietnam.
• Professional and career development: Membership also helped them keep their conservation-related knowledge and skills up-to-date and helped members progress in their conservation career.
[WildHub has helped] expand my network of professional or like-minded aspiring conservationists with diverse backgrounds and experiences.” Mya-Rose Craig (Birdgirl), Black2Nature, UK
I have used WildHub to expand my network and reach out to younger conservation professionals and those not familiar with my organization(s) or its work. I have posted news and updates to WildHub and engaged with WildHub members." Antony Lynam, Wildlife Conservation Society, Australia
• Social support and resilience building: WildHub regularly hosts community activities and events, resulting in members feeling socially supported by others in the community and WildHub making a positive difference to members in staying connected with other conservationists. Furthermore, being part of the WildHub community has helped them adapt positively to difficult situations and setbacks, herewith building much needed professional resilience.
The activity I have enjoyed the most at WildHub is the activity [WildHub] 'Fika'. I think it's a great way of improving the nexus between conservation professionals, a community that I feel is sometimes very isolated, and this activity just gives us the chance to, once a month, get to meet somebody that may be inspiring, helpful, or a future collaborator.” Fátima D. Gigante, Centro de Rescate de Primates Rainfer, Spain.
As always, it's amazing to see the many interactions and contributions on a daily basis that help our community thrive. Congrats to all our members for achieving our collective milestone!
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Lovely to read! Thanks for sharing :)