As Head of Communications at Whitley Fund for Nature, I am responsible for leading the organisation’s communications strategy, using the charity’s platform to spread awareness about Whitley Award winners across WFN’s website and social media. I lead on campaigns, and support across the charity’s PR and events to raise the profile of Whitley Award winners. I'm also a Trustee of Born Free Foundation, and I founded The Wildlife Blogger Crowd in 2020; a virtual network of over 250 bloggers, social media influencers, podcasters, and filmmakers. In 2021, I published a book of our collective works, ‘Connections With Nature’.
I am currently the Leave Only Footprints Engagement Coordinator at BCP Council. Over the past few years, I have taken on a few different roles within the organisation, based at Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve following my BSc in Animal Behaviour and alongside completing my MSc in Biodiversity Conservation at Bournemouth University.
Within my role, I engage with a wide range of people over a wide range of topics from litter to the local wildlife and habitats, with the aim of reducing negative behaviours and encouraging interest and passion for nature. I am also interested and have experience in collecting and analysing data around these subjects.
I have previously held a role as a research assistant with Bournemouth University exploring the most effective ways/methods to engage young people with nature, through running focus groups and literature reviews.
I have a special interest in the effect of being outdoors in nature on wellbeing, especially the bereaved, and have started a podcast called The Nature of Loss; sponsored by BCP Council.
Kanishka Karunanayake
Project Manager / Consultant, Blackcap Services Ltd / WWF / Natural State
Ghyslain Mabaya
Ingénieur agronome, spécialiste en gestion des ressources naturelles , Indépendant
Hello, I'm 25 and currently based in Worcestershire, UK. I graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2019 with a BSc in Wildlife Conservation.
Have been involved in a variety of projects - Javan Silvery Gibbon, Tigers in India, and more recently water vole conservation in the UK. Currently run a landscape wide wetland restoration project in West Sussex on the south coast of the UK with water voles in mind but would love to just throw in a couple of European beavers and my job would be done!
Indoor or outdoor, as long as I'm working for nature I'm happy! I currently work as a Programs Coordinator with The Thin Green Line Foundation, drawing on my past experiences working in the field to help Rangers globally. Our work focusses on providing Training, Equipment, Emergency Aid and Networking Opportunities for the people working on the frontlines of conservation. As a former Ranger myself, I adore being outside and connecting others with nature. Personally, I have interests in community development and capacity building, the interface between conservation science and environmental policy, and rewilding! I'm a keen birder and hill-walker, currently exploring Victoria, Australia.
Arvind Kumar Chaurasia
Additional Commissioner, IRS(C&IT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC)
I am Additional Commissioner from Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) with vast experience of law enforcement especially in tackling transnational smuggling including willdife trafficking. Also, as an expert I have been conducting sessions on various aspects of wildlife crimes and its convergence with other serious crimes, legal and enforcement framework to counter it, wildlife cyber crime, OSINT for combating wildlife crime, combating money laundering associated with wildlife crime, CITES, role of Customs in tackling the menace of wildlife crime, Digital Forensics etc. for forest, police, customs and other enforcement agencies' officials. I have also been invited as an expert by UNODC ROSA to train the law enforcement officials of Sri Lanka on combating wildlife cyber crimes.
I am a conservation enthusiast with a bias for wildlife fauna. I intend to specialize in project management. I am also looking for more opportunities in conservation all over the world, especially in the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Namibia, and Tanzania.
I am a wildlife veterinarian specializing in great apes and monkeys but I also enjoy working with elephants, cobras and a variety of other endangered species. I traveled regularly between rescue and rehabilitation centers in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the United States. I mentor new veterinarians and teach at St. George's University of Veterinary Medicine in the Caribbean. I have a Masters in Veterinary Epidemiology from University College London with my thesis being done with ZSL regarding the endangered red squirrels of Great Britain.
Founder President of WildRoots-India, an organization for Climate, Environmental, Biodiversity Awareness & Conservation Education, based in Guwahati, Assam, India. Recipient of the National Green Mentor Award, Govt. of India and Global Teacher Accreditation from the British Council & Cambridge Education Foundation. As a Nationally recognised illustrator & designer, I primarily use Art and Design to connect the youth and communities to activities and programmes related to environmental protection, climate change mitigation and conservation.
I have 10 years of experience in animal welfare and conservation ranging from project management, work plans, and managing implementation partners to fundraising, strategic partnerships and communications. I'm also a registered veterinary nurse with knowledge and experience in zoonotic disease/one health.
I've done work in Zambia, Africa as well as on many elephant conservation campaigns.
My special interests are community conservation, counter wildlife trafficking, poaching , human-wildlife conflict, wildlife protection and behavior change.
Alan Munro
Project Officer (formerly), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds/BirdLife International