Laura Exley
Director and Co-Founder at COPROT Tortugas de Osa- Claim this Profile
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Spanish Full professional proficiency
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English Native or bilingual proficiency
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Bio
Emma Korein
I worked with Laura while she held the position of Project Manager with Frontier’s conservation and research program in Carate, Cost Rica. Her core responsibilities included managing the day to day running of the project, training new staff, coordinating volunteer and community education programs, ensuring volunteer health and safety, collaborating with local individuals and conservation groups, managing the project budget, implementing short and long-term program objectives, corresponding with government officials and partner conservation groups, and progressing program goals to maximize the education and conservation benefits of our projects. I was consistently inspired by Laura’s leadership skills. She was approachable and inclusive, qualities that gained her the kind of trust and respect that allows a leader to thrive. Her enthusiasm for both conservation and community initiatives was evident and spread positivity throughout the group. In order to improve education and encourage eco-awareness, Laura created and lead Carate’s first ever annual eco-festival, featuring presentations and stands from community members, local artists, environmental organizations, teachers and students. She additionally worked with Frontier volunteers to make our camp site ecologically sustainable, for example, by gardening local fruits and vegetables and making bricks out of recycled plastic. Laura’s success as a leader not only comes from her passion for environmental conservation, but from her innovation and her ability to think outside the box. In order to improve our sea-turtle research and conservation project, she initiated a collaboration with community members and established a locally led self-sustaining sea turtle hatchery. She additionally collaborated with local lodges to establish a camera trap network amongst ecotourism hospitalities, a win-win initiative that supported our research on endangered mammal tracking while also benefiting tourists intrigued by wildlife video captures. Most impressively, Laura continued to shine as a role model by establishing the community sea turtle conservation program, COPROT. This organization contributes to the protection of countless endangered and vulnerable sea turtle species on a key nesting beach in one of the most biodiverse locations on the planet. Overall, Laura is hard-working, intelligent, and an excellent role model who I would eagerly work with again without hesitation. Sincerely, Emma Korein
Liam G.
Laura is an incredibly supportive, patient and understanding individual, who demonstrated strong leadership skills and has an impressive vision for the future of the coprot project. Whilst working for laura, I benefited from a positive and inspiring working environment that she provided for her team. I value my time at the project and her guidance throughout- Laura is an asset to any team with her displaying such confidence, passion and knowledge in her work. Thank you for the opportunity to develop my skills at project with your guidance.
Emma Korein
I worked with Laura while she held the position of Project Manager with Frontier’s conservation and research program in Carate, Cost Rica. Her core responsibilities included managing the day to day running of the project, training new staff, coordinating volunteer and community education programs, ensuring volunteer health and safety, collaborating with local individuals and conservation groups, managing the project budget, implementing short and long-term program objectives, corresponding with government officials and partner conservation groups, and progressing program goals to maximize the education and conservation benefits of our projects. I was consistently inspired by Laura’s leadership skills. She was approachable and inclusive, qualities that gained her the kind of trust and respect that allows a leader to thrive. Her enthusiasm for both conservation and community initiatives was evident and spread positivity throughout the group. In order to improve education and encourage eco-awareness, Laura created and lead Carate’s first ever annual eco-festival, featuring presentations and stands from community members, local artists, environmental organizations, teachers and students. She additionally worked with Frontier volunteers to make our camp site ecologically sustainable, for example, by gardening local fruits and vegetables and making bricks out of recycled plastic. Laura’s success as a leader not only comes from her passion for environmental conservation, but from her innovation and her ability to think outside the box. In order to improve our sea-turtle research and conservation project, she initiated a collaboration with community members and established a locally led self-sustaining sea turtle hatchery. She additionally collaborated with local lodges to establish a camera trap network amongst ecotourism hospitalities, a win-win initiative that supported our research on endangered mammal tracking while also benefiting tourists intrigued by wildlife video captures. Most impressively, Laura continued to shine as a role model by establishing the community sea turtle conservation program, COPROT. This organization contributes to the protection of countless endangered and vulnerable sea turtle species on a key nesting beach in one of the most biodiverse locations on the planet. Overall, Laura is hard-working, intelligent, and an excellent role model who I would eagerly work with again without hesitation. Sincerely, Emma Korein
Liam G.
Laura is an incredibly supportive, patient and understanding individual, who demonstrated strong leadership skills and has an impressive vision for the future of the coprot project. Whilst working for laura, I benefited from a positive and inspiring working environment that she provided for her team. I value my time at the project and her guidance throughout- Laura is an asset to any team with her displaying such confidence, passion and knowledge in her work. Thank you for the opportunity to develop my skills at project with your guidance.
Emma Korein
I worked with Laura while she held the position of Project Manager with Frontier’s conservation and research program in Carate, Cost Rica. Her core responsibilities included managing the day to day running of the project, training new staff, coordinating volunteer and community education programs, ensuring volunteer health and safety, collaborating with local individuals and conservation groups, managing the project budget, implementing short and long-term program objectives, corresponding with government officials and partner conservation groups, and progressing program goals to maximize the education and conservation benefits of our projects. I was consistently inspired by Laura’s leadership skills. She was approachable and inclusive, qualities that gained her the kind of trust and respect that allows a leader to thrive. Her enthusiasm for both conservation and community initiatives was evident and spread positivity throughout the group. In order to improve education and encourage eco-awareness, Laura created and lead Carate’s first ever annual eco-festival, featuring presentations and stands from community members, local artists, environmental organizations, teachers and students. She additionally worked with Frontier volunteers to make our camp site ecologically sustainable, for example, by gardening local fruits and vegetables and making bricks out of recycled plastic. Laura’s success as a leader not only comes from her passion for environmental conservation, but from her innovation and her ability to think outside the box. In order to improve our sea-turtle research and conservation project, she initiated a collaboration with community members and established a locally led self-sustaining sea turtle hatchery. She additionally collaborated with local lodges to establish a camera trap network amongst ecotourism hospitalities, a win-win initiative that supported our research on endangered mammal tracking while also benefiting tourists intrigued by wildlife video captures. Most impressively, Laura continued to shine as a role model by establishing the community sea turtle conservation program, COPROT. This organization contributes to the protection of countless endangered and vulnerable sea turtle species on a key nesting beach in one of the most biodiverse locations on the planet. Overall, Laura is hard-working, intelligent, and an excellent role model who I would eagerly work with again without hesitation. Sincerely, Emma Korein
Liam G.
Laura is an incredibly supportive, patient and understanding individual, who demonstrated strong leadership skills and has an impressive vision for the future of the coprot project. Whilst working for laura, I benefited from a positive and inspiring working environment that she provided for her team. I value my time at the project and her guidance throughout- Laura is an asset to any team with her displaying such confidence, passion and knowledge in her work. Thank you for the opportunity to develop my skills at project with your guidance.
Emma Korein
I worked with Laura while she held the position of Project Manager with Frontier’s conservation and research program in Carate, Cost Rica. Her core responsibilities included managing the day to day running of the project, training new staff, coordinating volunteer and community education programs, ensuring volunteer health and safety, collaborating with local individuals and conservation groups, managing the project budget, implementing short and long-term program objectives, corresponding with government officials and partner conservation groups, and progressing program goals to maximize the education and conservation benefits of our projects. I was consistently inspired by Laura’s leadership skills. She was approachable and inclusive, qualities that gained her the kind of trust and respect that allows a leader to thrive. Her enthusiasm for both conservation and community initiatives was evident and spread positivity throughout the group. In order to improve education and encourage eco-awareness, Laura created and lead Carate’s first ever annual eco-festival, featuring presentations and stands from community members, local artists, environmental organizations, teachers and students. She additionally worked with Frontier volunteers to make our camp site ecologically sustainable, for example, by gardening local fruits and vegetables and making bricks out of recycled plastic. Laura’s success as a leader not only comes from her passion for environmental conservation, but from her innovation and her ability to think outside the box. In order to improve our sea-turtle research and conservation project, she initiated a collaboration with community members and established a locally led self-sustaining sea turtle hatchery. She additionally collaborated with local lodges to establish a camera trap network amongst ecotourism hospitalities, a win-win initiative that supported our research on endangered mammal tracking while also benefiting tourists intrigued by wildlife video captures. Most impressively, Laura continued to shine as a role model by establishing the community sea turtle conservation program, COPROT. This organization contributes to the protection of countless endangered and vulnerable sea turtle species on a key nesting beach in one of the most biodiverse locations on the planet. Overall, Laura is hard-working, intelligent, and an excellent role model who I would eagerly work with again without hesitation. Sincerely, Emma Korein
Liam G.
Laura is an incredibly supportive, patient and understanding individual, who demonstrated strong leadership skills and has an impressive vision for the future of the coprot project. Whilst working for laura, I benefited from a positive and inspiring working environment that she provided for her team. I value my time at the project and her guidance throughout- Laura is an asset to any team with her displaying such confidence, passion and knowledge in her work. Thank you for the opportunity to develop my skills at project with your guidance.
Experience
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COPROT Tortugas de Osa
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Costa Rica
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Research Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Director and Co-Founder
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Aug 2018 - Present
I initiated this sea turtle conservation and community development organization with my colleague Katya Barrantes in order to tackle a number of environmental and social problems that are currently facing the Osa Peninsula. We are working to provide education and paid job opportunities in conservation to local people that may have a background in environmentally damaging activities such as gold mining and hunting. I initiated this sea turtle conservation and community development organization with my colleague Katya Barrantes in order to tackle a number of environmental and social problems that are currently facing the Osa Peninsula. We are working to provide education and paid job opportunities in conservation to local people that may have a background in environmentally damaging activities such as gold mining and hunting.
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Frontier - The Society for Environmental Exploration
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United Kingdom
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Project Development Manager
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Aug 2016 - Oct 2019
Responsible for the management and development of the Costa Rica project based in Puerto Jimenez and Carate. Management responsibilities are split into 3 main categories; management of science and conservation program, development of teaching and community project, management of construction and development of sustainable conservation camp since land was purchased by Frontier in 2016. I have overseen the build of an entirely new conservation camp, and pushed forward the development of a number of our conservation projects including a community-led sea turtle program, and a big cat monitoring program. During the past 2 years the scope of the project's community work had increased dramatically, and we are now heavily involved in the English language teaching, community support and recycling projects in the local area. I have established and maintained working relationships with a number of community NGOs, institutions and associations working in the area including but not limited to; ASCONA, INOGO, GIRO, Rescate de Valores, AMUCORCA, and 4 local primary schools (Escuela Rio Oro, Saturnino, Orquidia and Corcovado) and have maintained active support with all of these either through provision of volunteers, financial aid or my personal skills. On a personnel level, the role involves management of a principal investigator, conservation or community project coordinators, a number of research or community project assistants and up to 40 volunteers at any one time. Financial administration, logistics, maintainence of high health and safety protocols in a remote location, as well as forming collaborations and relationships with other local or national NGOs and governmental bodies are all daily demands of the position.
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Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Field Research Assistant
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Jan 2016 - Jul 2016
Assistant on a 3 year research project led by Dr. Sarie Van Belle on the spatial navigation and foraging strategies of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) in Palenque National Park, Chiapas. Gained a wealth of experience in behavioral data collection and tree and liana species identification in the field, as well as the use of QGiS to map out complex travel patterns and analyze foraging strategies. Assistant on a 3 year research project led by Dr. Sarie Van Belle on the spatial navigation and foraging strategies of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) in Palenque National Park, Chiapas. Gained a wealth of experience in behavioral data collection and tree and liana species identification in the field, as well as the use of QGiS to map out complex travel patterns and analyze foraging strategies.
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Colchester Zoo
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United Kingdom
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Travel Arrangements
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1 - 100 Employee
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Qualified Animal Keeper
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Nov 2014 - Jan 2016
Qualified animal keeper on the Gelada Section, responsible for the proper husbandry of a number of primate species (Gelada baboon, Colobus monkey, and 3 different lemur species) as well as smooth coated otters, meerkats and a flock of Chilean flamingos. This role had a heavy educational element, and involved developing and presenting educational talks on the different species on the section, as well as promoting the conservation efforts of the zoo. Responsible for training interns and work experience on the correct management of the animals, ensuring high health and safety standards especially with higher category animals.
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Tropical Wings Zoo
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Reino Unido
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Animal Keeper
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Aug 2012 - Aug 2013
Animal keeper in a small family zoo and farm. Animal keeper in a small family zoo and farm.
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BSAS - British Society of Animal Science
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United Kingdom
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Research
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1 - 100 Employee
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Summer Researcher
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Jun 2012 - Sep 2012
Summer research grant awarded from the BSAS to carry out research on a novel method for measuring immunoglobulin content in jersey cow colostrum. Summer research grant awarded from the BSAS to carry out research on a novel method for measuring immunoglobulin content in jersey cow colostrum.
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Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
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United Kingdom
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Hospitals and Health Care
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700 & Above Employee
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Medical Records Coordinator
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Feb 2010 - Jun 2010
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Education
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2011 - 2014
Writtle University College
Bachelor of Science - BS, Animal Sciences
Community
