Wildlife biologist with cross-cutting interests in wildlife conservation technologies, wildlife and ecological research, climate change.
I am a social scientist and passionate about increasing the application of social science research and methods in the conservation sector. To do this, I founded Human Nature. Human Nature is a social enterprise empowering conservation professionals to use social sciences to impact people and planet. We provide training and mentorship to NGOs, academics, policy makers and others wishing to build their foundations in social science. Many people working in conservation have trained through natural science routes, and find themselves needing to better understand the people elements of ecosystems. Social science provides the tools do this. Please get in touch if you are interested in hearing more about what we do. You can contact me at https://humannature.co.uk/contact.
I have an MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. I am originally from the United States but now live in North Wales with my partner.
Alec Christie
Postdoctoral research associate, University of Cambridge, BioRISC (Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catherine's)
Background: I studied at the University of St Andrews for my BSc Hons in Marine Biology from 2013-2017. During my time I trained and helped conduct research on seals at the SMRU/SOI, cetaceans in Turkey with DMAD, and studied abroad at James Cook University, Australia, undertaking research on coral reefs with Dr Maria Dornelas and Professor Sean Connelly. I was also lucky enough to study polar ecology, including a field course to the Western Antarctic Peninsula in March 2017. I then applied for a PhD project advertised through the Cambridge ESS DTP and joined the Conservation Evidence group in the UCCRI. I completed my PhD in Zoology (Determining the biases and consistences in the evidence for conservation) in March 2021 as a member of King’s College and the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute (UCCRI) in the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI).
I am very interested in communicating science and conservation issues to the public and particularly interested in becoming a wildlife television presenter. In my spare time I am also an amateur wildlife photographer, love getting outdoors and playing all sorts of sports when I can.
Current role: I am a Research Associate in the Department of Zoology and the Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catherine’s (BioRISC) College. My research focuses on applying evidence-based principles from medicine to biodiversity conservation via the Conservation Evidence project. In particular, my work involves co-developing decision support tools with conservationists working to conserve species and provide them with relevant evidence-based recommendations. Currently, I am working on a project to help report tests of invasive species management interventions via an online app and promote more testing of conservation interventions.
Dr Renuka Thakore is the Founder of Global Sustainable Futures: Progress through Partnership Network to achieve Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 targets. She provides a collaborative platform for innovative and transdisciplinary partnerships and capacity development for early career researchers joined by senior experienced researchers from Global South and Global North. Dr Thakore believes in broader sustainable development concept and uses multi-dimensional lens (social, economic, environmental, political, institutional, cultural, and technological) of sustainability, innovations, and theoretical framings to address the problems of societal systems and propagates this through various activities – research, teaching, and practice towards achieving global sustainable goals 2030 and beyond. She encourages systems thinking, engagement and active participation of multiple stakeholders for effective governance and management for sustainable transformations, use of transdisciplinary methodologies, co-creating solutions that are multi-modal and ‘value-added’ to relevant stakeholders. Renuka is proud of having support of 320 Coordinators from 79 countries.
Senior third sector manager with more than twenty years’ experience in international wildlife conservation, 15 of which in a management and leadership role. My focus has been on driving individual capacity development programmes (conservation leadership, facilitation etc.), institutional capacity building of NGOs, multi-stakeholder collaborations, conservation education and conservation programme development.
Hi all! I am currently Fauna & Flora Internationals (FFIs) Senior Programme Manager for Conservation Capacity and Leadership. I have a lovely broad remit, but at its heart my job is to support FFI staff and partners strengthen skills in establishing, managing and supporting FFIs conservation work. I do this in lots of ways- designing and running training events, supporting the application of new skills/learning to peoples work, setting up mentoring relationships and peer to peer learning groups, organising exchange visits, work shadowing, master classes etc. We have a big focus on knowledge management in FFI, so don't just focus on how to bring in new knowledge and learning into our organisation, but how to share and apply all the incredible knowledge and skills our 400 strong team already have
I have an MSc in Environmental Technology and PhD in Anthropology from UCL where I specialised in human-environment interactions, with a stint as a Teaching Fellow in Human Ecology (maternity cover). Prior to joining FFI, I spent a number of years working in the Central African Republic to assess and improve the integration of conservation and development in the Dzanga-Sangha region, and following gorillas up and down volcanoes in Rwanda with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Before joining FFI's Conservation Capacity team in 2013, I spent 5 years in FFI’s Africa team, co-ordinating and managing projects in Liberia, West Africa.
Ricardo Nogueira Martins (Luzern 1990) is the Executive Director of the Local Protected Landscape of Sousa Superior, and a Researcher collaborator at CECS - Communication and Society Research Centre, a leading research unit of the University of Minho. He holds an MSc in Geography - Planning and Territory Management, and a PgDip in EU Policies and Territorial Cooperation from the University of Minho. During his academic career, he studied at the University of the Balearic Islands, Spain, and worked as a research fellow. He is a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of the IUCN, a member of the Scientific Committee of the UNESCO Fourth Colony Geopark, and qualified in EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment as a competent expert in Territory and Soil by QPAIA. He truly believes in green diplomacy.
I am a natural-resource ecologist and sustainability advocate who builds bridges between local communities, nature, and science-policy. By blending systems thinking with social-behavioral change communication, I design human-centered programs and initiatives that connect ecological outcomes with social justice and sustainable development. 🐾⚖️
My training and field experience help me translate research into community-driven projects and business models that restore landscapes and strengthen livelihoods. To advance the adoption of nature-based solutions, I craft creative advocacy and training programmes grounded in evidence-based research. 👩🏽🔬
I deeply enjoy storytelling, co-creating, mentoring early-career practitioners, and hosting spaces that spark creativity and transform complex challenges into tangible impact. 🧩
Outside my work, I love birding, dancing, travelling, photography, and writing. 🌸
Ecuadorian established in the USA. MSc. in Behavioral Ecology. Worked with animal behaviour in Birds and main focus on predator-prey interactions.
Where is restoration taking place around the world, and how is it being tracked? This is an important question that should put ecosystem monitoring at the forefront to achieve both quantitative and qualitative goals. That's where my work comes in—launching data-driven solutions for monitoring, reporting, and guiding investment. Because both people and the planet matter.