I'm Liane, and I am a WildLearning Specialist at WildTeam! I'm looking forward to getting to know you all! For the last few years, I've been working in Seychelles, focusing on island and marine conservation efforts, particularly coral restoration and turtle nesting monitoring. If you ask me questions about coral, be prepared for me to get very nerdy about it! Prior to that, I was managing a project in Northern Thailand, where I worked closely with a local community to set up ethical elephant experiences in their village. In my free time, I love running and hiking, and being anywhere in nature. I have also learnt to freedive in the last few years and enjoy doing that when possible. I'm really interested in talking to different people and learning from them and their unique experiences.

My background is mainly in species conservation, education and capacity exchange. I researched mother-young interactions in gorillas and chimpanzees, in captivity and the wild. After that, I worked for three years in Indonesia, where I developed and implemented youth ambassador and community engagement programmes on local and regional scales. I co-founded WildHub, a community of nature conservation professionals, in 2020 and work as their Community Lead. I am furthermore on the Advisory Board of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent where I obtained my PhD on capacity development for conservation in 2022. 

Affordable, flexible and sociable online learning in technical skills for conservation and open education.  Support for virtual and hybrid conferences and events

I lead and deliver a part-theory, part hand-on course in Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation at Kingston Maurward College, on the South Coast of the UK. I have managed Rangers and Engagement staff and overseen species and habitat management for over 20 years, but my passions are around people and conservation. From writing bids for engagement projects/roles to developing the future workforce, I believe the key to a brighter ecological future lies with people. I received the Alumni of the Year Award from Bournemouth University, in 2018, nominated for my work in supporting young people in Conservation, and our team have developed an industry standard placement scheme. I am also the co-host of a Conservation podcast; The Hive.

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.