As Programme Director for Selamatkan Yaki, an integrated species conservation programme based in Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia I am responsible for planning and rolling out various projects to work towards our objectives across a multiple year framework. Our programme works towards protecting the habitat and remaining populations of the Critically Endangered Sulawesi crested black macaque (Macaca nigra), whilst supporting local initiatives, developing alternatives to hunting and capacity building for the local people. I am also the Co-Founder of Lestari Environmental Education Consultancy. Lestari cultivates regenerative change through innovative and engaging social science approaches. Drawing from a rich resource and experience base of behavioural chance best practice, Lestari offers a service to academic institutions, NGOs, businesses and other change makers across the following central domains: advocacy and communications, facilitation, and research and evaluation. Collaborative pathways are catalysed to undertake transformative research, develop strategy and policy and facilitate events and training such as participatory workshops and nature-based experiential learning to foster change. In addition to this role, I am undertaking a part time PhD in Human Geography, primarily focused on the understudied area of conservation advocacy. Integrated into the programme, this study examines anthropological causes of species' declines and potential mitigation strategies based on behavioural change mechanisms such as community based social marketing. It is predicted that the mutual and synergistic goals of filling gaps in our understanding of mechanisms of advocacy whilst enhancing in-situ conservation strategies will be achieved. Previous positions have seen the development of my experience in primate conservation and research as a primatologist for Operation Wallacea in Sulawesi and conducting research on primate health in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. In addition to my field experience, I have been involved in ex-situ management, working as experienced keeper in the primate department and quarantine at Stichting AAP in The Netherlands. I completed an MSc in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes University, UK in 2010. With this range of experience I have developed a commitment for working in conservation to support efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity and live in harmony with our fellow primates.

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.

I am a trained biologist and primatologist passionate about wildlife conservation, specifically conservation medicine (one health); the intersect between wildlife, ecosystem and human health. My interests span primatology, marine science, veterinary medicine, public health, human-wildlife interactions, community-based conservation, sustainable development, deforestation and ecotourism. I received my BA in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. I worked with the Schusterman Group: Pinniped Cognition and Sensory Systems Laboratory 
at the Long Marine Laboratory, assisting set regulation standards on marine mammal noise pollution for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. I completed my MSc in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes University in 2011. Working closely with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Conservation Through Public Health my independent research project focused on disease transmission risks between humans and mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Following my MSc I directed the Rwanda based nonprofit Art of Conservation, using the arts and creative learning to teach children and their families about living healthy, and helped launch the local offshoot nonprofit Conservation Heritage-Turambe. I work with many nonprofits and professionals across the globe using conferences, events, publications, photography, film and digital media/marketing to share my experiences and knowledge. Between my formal education I have worked as a veterinary technician for over seven years and lived in six continents. I am passionate about our world, exploring new places and cultures, meeting unique and extraordinary people, learning, photography, film and would like to improve the health and livelihood of our planet through work as a conservationist, scientist and filmmaker. I am currently working on a feature length wildlife multimedia project, The Great Call, and an educational one health short on my Master’s work regarding safe mountain gorilla trekking protocols. My team is looking for executive producers and grantors for both projects. If interested please email me at allison@onehealthproductions.com.