Biodiversity Project Manager

• Jun 2019 - Present

Working at local, national, regional and international level for biodiversity conservation Coordinating the MOVE-ON Project on the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services Supporting the development of European Union Project: LIFE, BEST, H2020 Working at local, national, regional and international level for biodiversity conservation Coordinating the MOVE-ON Project on the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services Supporting the development of European Union Project: LIFE, BEST, H2020

Researcher in ecology

• May 2018 - Jun 2019

PHD Researcher

• Apr 2015 - Jun 2019

A socio-economic study of the management and control of invasive alien species in the Mascarene islands A socio-economic study of the management and control of invasive alien species in the Mascarene islands

Communication Officer for the Biodiversity Project

• Sep 2014 - Apr 2015

The EU-funded “Biodiversity Programme” (The coastal, marine and island specific biodiversity management in East African and Indian Ocean states) covers six countries (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya and Tanzania) and is implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). The objective of the project is to strengthen national and regional capacities, at all levels, in managing coastal, marine and island-specific biodiversity resources and ecosystems to ensure their conservation and promote the sustainable use of these resources for the benefit of the population. My main duties as a consultant are as follows: • Devising and implementing training on Communication for awareness on the call for proposals funding mechanism in English and French. • Developing, managing and updating the programme page of the IOC website through regular posting of news and information. • Developing a range of publications and information products of value to stakeholders (leaflet, presentations, lesson learnt booklet). • Developing various media and visibility products to mobilise stakeholders around programme actions (Biodiversity logo, Biodiversity slogan, call for proposals brochure, Biodiversity clip and calendar). • Overseeing the translation of all significant programme documentation in French or English. • Keeping track of all programme results to ensure that relevant lessons learnt through implementation are captured and accurately communicated to stakeholders including national policy-making bodies. • Developing a feedback mechanism to enable stakeholders to communicate their views and results to the Programme Management Unit and other stakeholders in the region. • Contributing to all IOC institutional publications on biodiversity related articles. Show less

Biodiversity, Communications and Partnership Specialist-Consultant

• Jan 2014 - Sep 2014

As a consultant and communications specialist, my main task is to provide expertise on specific components of a communication strategy for the Indian Ocean Small Island Developing States, mainly: • Designing an awareness campaign programme. • Producing a threat-ranking analysis and behavioural change study for targeted audience of a communication plan. • Recommending an approach to be taken for the creation of key messages for campaigns. • Developing a list of key contacts for networking amongst Indian Ocean Small Island Developing States. • Identifying potential partnerships within local institutions of Small Island Developing States. Show less

Communications Manager

• Sep 2012 - Sep 2013

My role as Communications Manager for STEWARD involved: • Representing the communication branch of STEWARD on the 4 thematic work areas of the programme: biodiversity, climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation and water, sanitation and hygiene. • Developing and implementing a STEWARD Strategic Communications and Outreach Plan, including an Entertainment-Education component with STEWARD partner organisations. • Providing day-to-day project management, including completion of all project reports and work plans and budget preparation and management. • Managing the STEWARD Communications Team consisting of the Entertainment-Education Coordinator and the Communications Coordinator to ensure effective implementation of an integrated work plan. • Organising and implementing community-based focus group workshops to collect data used in the development of communication and outreach plans. • Maintaining regular communication with STEWARD partner organisations (AUDER, BioClimate, CARE International, Flora and Fauna International, Media Impact and Thomson Reuters). • Initiating a capital city forum, a platform for networking and knowledge sharing for stakeholders in Freetown, Sierra Leone. • Coordinating with STEWARD partner organisation to draft stories and update information for the organisation’s website. • Visiting STEWARD partner organisation offices based in the trans-boundary area of the Upper Guinean Forest. • Providing training in universities on the utilisation of Entertainment-Education in biodiversity conservation. Show less

Assistant to Senior Regional Advisor for Africa, Ramsar Convention Secretariat

• Jan 2010 - Oct 2011

My main duties and responsibilities as Assistant to the Secretariat’s Senior Regional Advisor for Africa were: • Evaluating data sheets ("Ramsar Information Sheets") and preparing related documentation to accompany the designation process of Ramsar Sites in Africa. • Assessing project proposals for the Convention's small grants assistance programmes and monitoring projects over their cycle. • Maintaining routine contacts with governments of Ramsar member and non–member countries, as well as with national NGOs and international partner organisations. • Contributing to the preparation of regional meetings and the annual meetings of the Ramsar Standing Committee. • Assisting in activities related to spreading the 'Ramsar message' to governments, decision-makers, the media, the private sector, and the public at large. • Collating and analysing information on technical and policy issues related to wetland conservation and sustainable use. Show less

Conservation Educator

• Jun 2009 - Jan 2010

My role as Conservation Educator for the organisation involved:• Developing and implementing corporate and social responsibility conservation activities.• Promoting conservation education and awareness in primary and secondary schools across the island.• Disseminating conservation related materials to members of the general public.• Undertaking habitat and protected species surveys and assisting with Ecological Impact Assessments on off-shore islets.

Campaign Manager for Rare & MWF

• Sep 2007 - Jun 2009

As Campaign Manager for Rare (a US-based organisation helping to promote conservation work internationally), and in collaboration with MWF, I was responsible for: • Using social marketing to design and execute a national awareness campaign on Mauritius, highlighting the plight of a number of critically endangered reptiles found on the island.• Creating public outreach materials with a campaign slogan and mascot (a charismatic flagship species), which became the campaign’s messenger and brand.• Organising a national awareness day for children and the general population.• Undertaking pre and post-campaign surveys (and supervising volunteers helping to carry out the surveys), to determine the effectiveness of the campaign. • Co-ordinating and planning expeditions to off-shore islet nature reserves, whilst maintaining high quarantine standards prior to each expedition. • Sensitising school children , skippers, boat users, and the general public to the threat of invasive species, littering and camp fires on the wildlife of off-shore islets.• Writing puppet scenarios and conduct puppet shows in schools.• Preparing and conducting workshops for skippers and boat users of the Blue-Bay Ramsar site.• Managing stakeholder’s meetings between representatives of local government and NGOs closely involved in the campaign. Show less

Survey operator

• Mar 2005 - Mar 2007

As a part time position my role were as follows: • Conducting questionnaire surveys of farmers for a number of agricultural biotechnology corporations. • Farmers were questioned on their use of seed type, land use and productivity. As a part time position my role were as follows: • Conducting questionnaire surveys of farmers for a number of agricultural biotechnology corporations. • Farmers were questioned on their use of seed type, land use and productivity.