I am an Ecologist by training. My research interests have focused on : Relations between protected areas and local communities; Wildlife conservation; Community Building; Environmental governance ; Conflict management ; Climate change.

I am a passionate conservationist and research biologist with over 20 years of experience working in Southern Africa. Here I have spent time researching the insects of the Namib through to the hippos, lions and elephants of Botswana. These experiences have given me a solid understanding of the challenges of field research, large mammal conservation, the complexities of resource competition and the importance of stakeholder relationships. My research interests focus on the social and ecological requirements of mammals in the context of a human landscape as we seek long-term conservation solutions. I have been pursuing this through active research on the African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana), previous work on African lions (Panthera leo), Samango monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis labiatus), hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibious) and meerkats (Suricatta suricatta). Recent trends and my own personal observations have highlighted the importance of individuals and social ecology in the long-term conservation of mammals. I believe having a holistic approach to conservation, understanding the social and ecological needs of both wildlife and humans living alongside, we will move towards human-wildlife coexistence and effective long-term conservation measures. I independently created and founded both my Masters and PhD studies and then founded the Charity and NGO Elephants for Africa; thus have expensive experience in project management, fundraising, communications and budgeting. My work has received international recognition personally and through Elephants for Africa for our research (Georg B Rabb Conservation Award) and education (Silver Medal Global Good Awards) programmes. I am a Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre member and a member of the KAZA elephant sub-working group and the Elephant Specialist Advisory Group.    

I am a conservation biologist focused on finding solutions to conservation problems. My passion lies in trying to improve the link between conservation efforts and research in order to enable a project to feedback into management impacts. My hobbies include Art, Surfing, Kitesurfing, Cycling and any excuse for an adventure

Highly experienced in supporting policy and decision making through delivering data on marine species, coastal pollution, and water delivery on the local, state, and federal levels. Early in my career I took every opportunity I could to gain experience in marine mammal science from California to Quebec. These opportunities created strong connections eventually guiding me to researching plastic pollution while earning my masters degree. As I finished writing my thesis, I began working with NASA on projects using satellite imagery and big data to investigate drought, this experience immensely strengthened my project management, mapping, and analytical skills. Last year I ventured into conservation writing wanting to build on my science communication skills. I would be happy to feature your project or career journey as a blog post within WildHub, so feel free to reach out to set up a short chat/interview.

I am a passionate individual dedicated to ensuring wildlife and wild places are here for years to come in an equitable and sustainable way. An animal lover all my life, it made sense that I would pursue a career focused on the wellbeing and conservation of wildlife. Once I obtained my B.S. in Animal Science, I moved to Birmingham, Alabama to work at the Birmingham Zoo with African mammals. During my time as a zookeeper, I focused much of my energy on educating the public by communicating information to generate understanding and create compassionate attitudes for endangered wildlife and conservation priorities. My natural ability to make connections with people led me to use my time to engage the public and coordinate partner priorities as the Operations Manager for the Global Conservation Corps where I worked both individually and as a team to increase support conservation education and boots-on-the-ground efforts. Additionally, I also acted as the Bowling For Rhinos Communication Liaison with the American Association of Zookeepers where I coordinated communication and connections with field conservationists and zoo professionals. Recently I returned home to Columbus, Ohio to focus on completing my Master’s degree in Conservation Biology through Miami University of Ohio’s Project Dragonfly studying attitudes and participation in conservation while also coordinating collaborative conservation initiatives with university professors, zookeepers, and community members.