I am dedicated to advancing shark science and conservation through my role in Outreach and Engagement at The Shark Trust. My work is aimed at making shark science and conservation accessible to everyone! I work in our communications team, supporting community fundraisers, running citizen science events at local beaches, designing infographics or documents that support our conservation work, delivering our schools education programme, working with other organisations on how we communicate about shark conservation through education workshops and webinars, assisting with running events/conferences, hosting the Shark Trust Podcast, and running our social media accounts. I'm a graduate of MSc Marine Conservation from the University of Plymouth (2021/22). My research focused on utilising Blue Social Prescribing to enhance accessibility to the marine environment for individuals impacted by their mental health and/or poverty. I explored the subsequent impact on pro-ocean behaviour, emphasising the crucial intersection of environmental and mental wellbeing. Beyond my conservation pursuits, I bring a wealth of experience as a Qualified Mental Health Nurse, Phlebotomist, and Suicide Prevention Trainer. My professional journey includes roles as a Band 5 Nurse in Secure Services (forensics), Adult Acute, Psychiatric Intensive Care, a Clozapine Phlebotomy Clinic, and Perinatal Mental Health Services. And as a Clinical Team Leader (Band 6) in Rehabilitation Services for adults experiencing psychosis.

" There are opportunities even in the most difficult moments"  Wangari Maathai, Unbowed. Nature and Wildlife have always been a part of me since I can remember, well, since i got curious as to why my father( Environmental Scientist) had a green and yellow pen with the WWF inscription and logo contrary with the WWF I knew( Wrestling). With over a decade of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical sector, I'm excited to apply my skills in strategic communication and stakeholder engagement to conservation efforts. I'm particularly interested in habitats preservation, human-Wildlife conflict mitigation, and species protection. I'm looking to connect with like-minded professionals, learn from their experiences, and contribute to meaningful conservation projects.

My research focus is the cultural and utilitarian ways rural communities value wildlife with a focus on endangered apes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I used mixed methods including doing interviews with community members and reconnaissance walks in adjacent village forests. My goal is to work for a conservation organization that partners with communities to find conservation solutions and implement initiatives that benefit both people and animals relevant to the local context. 

I am Nyaradzo Hoto, an Ecologist and Biodiversity Supervisor with Akashinga – The Brave Ones, based in the Lower Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. My professional focus is on biodiversity monitoring, ecological research, reforestation, and community-based conservation. I am particularly committed to advancing women’s leadership in conservation, promoting climate resilience, and integrating traditional knowledge with scientific approaches to achieve sustainable ecosystem management. In recognition of my contribution to conservation, I received the IUCN International Ranger Award in 2022. I am currently enrolled in the WildTeam UK Project Planning for Wildlife Conservation course to enhance my expertise in strategic project design and adaptive management. I look forward to knowledge exchange and collaboration with fellow conservation professionals globally.

I am Loiruku, a young person born into the Maasai community. I enjoy working with the pastoralist and farming communities because that is where my life began, and I love working with the community and I love wildlife.

For unintentionally setting free a non-venomous injured wolf snake from my room, my college mates call me Snake-man because by doing so, they assumed I endangered their lives. You can find me with wild animals in the mountains, valleys, or plains because our addresses are somehow the same. Outside my job, I do herping and anyone who wants information on this group of animals besides other biodiversity, climate, and social science can contact me any time. Rest, I follow Allan Rufus’ dictum “Life is like a sandwich, birth as one slice and death as the other. What you put in between the slices is up to you. Is your sandwich tasty or sour?” So, it is me who makes my sandwich! Education-wise, I have a PhD Ecosystem Management (University of New England, Armidale, Australia), MSc Biodiversity, Wildlife, and Ecosystem Health (Edinburgh University, Scotland, UK), PG Diploma (Hons), Wildlife Management (Wildlife Institute of India), BSc Forestry (Royal University of Bhutan), and High Standard Professional Certificate (Forest Rangers' Course), Northeast Forest Rangers' College, Jalukbari, Assam (now Central Academy for State Forest Service, Burnihat, Assam, India). All my life, I studied Nature Conservation and related Ecological and Environmental Sciences and live to see how rapidly they change. I can do many things many people can do! I have been recently immortalized by a team of taxonomists from the British Museum as they named a torrent frog (Amolops wangyali) from eastern Bhutan after me based on the work I have done on Bhutan amphibians. Thus, frogs in military jackets around Trashigang may carry my name as their specific species epithet. But more than rejoicing, I feel stressed because I feel I should do more in this area and I don't have much time. So, you know...!

I’m a designer, communications professional and storyteller passionate about using creativity to inspire meaningful connection with the natural world. With 5+ years of interdisciplinary design experience, I bring ideas to life across mediums—from exhibit panels and interpretive graphics to websites, campaigns, and digital storytelling. My approach is concept-first and strategy-driven: every project starts with why, ensuring design is both meaningful and impactful. I’ve partnered with mission-driven organizations like the ASPCA, cultural institutions like the Museum of the Earth, and brands like Converse, leading projects that span digital, print, and experiential touchpoints. I’ve launched campaigns, animated social motion graphics, edited copy, lead workshops, built responsive websites, and designed everything from annual reports to environmental graphics – all while keeping teams aligned and deadlines on track. Before moving into design full-time, I was in the field: running outdoor education programs, banding saw-whet owls, checking deer track transects at dawn, and pit-tagging salamanders. Those experiences taught me the value of curiosity, patience, and translating complex environmental ideas into experiences people can actually connect with. That same rigor and care now guide every project I take on. I blend digital precision through UI/UX, design systems, motion—with environmental storytelling, exhibit graphics, interpretive panels—to spark wonder, encourage stewardship, and leave lasting impressions. Storytelling has always been my guide, whether leading a kid through the rhythms of a forest or helping an organization share its values with the world. If you’re passionate about using design to make people care—about ideas, nature, or your mission, I’d love to connect. Let’s make something meaningful together.

My name is Dr. Kassahun Berhanu, and I am a veterinarian based in Ethiopia. My country is rich in unique wildlife species, and I am passionate about conservation, zoonotic disease prevention, and community engagement.