Experience

TALKING TRANSFORMATION LTD

• United Kingdom
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Lead, Conservation and Development Strategy

  • Mar 2021 - Present

  Currently working on (i) policy analysis for the Galapagos Islands in the context of Covid-19 (with University of Cambridge and Charles Darwin Foundation); and (ii) a long-term vision, strategy and summary of investment needs for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund in the Tropical Andes Biodiversity Hotspot.



Fauna & Flora

• United Kingdom
• Environmental Services
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Regional Director, Americas & Caribbean

  • Mar 2008 - Mar 2021

  Responsible for regional programme, predominantly in Ecuador, Central America and the Eastern Caribbean, with annual budget of US$2m and many in-country partner organisations. Themes include participatory marine governance, small-scale fisheries, Covid-19 response and recovery, forest conservation, landscape/seascape management, climate resilience, sustainable tourism, threatened species, island restoration, institutional capacity building, sustainable financing, policy analysis and legislation. In a collaboration with Conservation International, co-authored with Dr Hugh Kirkman the report, “Comparison of Approaches to Management of Large Marine Areas”.

• Conservation Program Advisor

  • 2011 - 2016



Conservation International

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Regional Director, Andes

  • 2003 - 2008

  Programmatic and financial responsibility for CI’s regional programme in five Andean countries and the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape. Led five country teams and a regional “Center for Biodiversity Conservation” of 8-10 technical specialists in diverse fields. Highlights included multi-partner seascape programme, site and landscape scale terrestrial conservation programme, achieved 40% increase in annual budget to over $12 million, and helped to establish a $15m endowment fund for the Galapagos Islands.



Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands

• Ecuador
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director, Charles Darwin Research Station

  • 1996 - 2002

  Led the Charles Darwin Research Station, which assists conservation of the Galapagos Islands through research, policy advice, education, training and collaboration with institutions and community groups. Highlights included scaling up control of invasive alien species and island restoration, first use of biological control in Galapagos, key role in establishing the 133,000 sq km Marine Reserve under participatory governance, advisor to the archipelago’s governing council, advising on legislation, development of environmental education programmes, expansion of volunteer programmes, tripling the Research Station’s annual budget to US$ 4.4 million and collaboration with a tourism company on a highly successful fund-raising programme. The Charles Darwin Foundation was awarded four prestigious international prizes in this period.



FINNIDA

• Chief Advisor, Zanzibar Department of Environment

  • 1989 - 1996

  Chief Advisor to the Department of Environment, Zanzibar (3-4 months per year). Collaborated with the Director of Environment on establishing the Department of Environment, organising environmental studies, and developing and implementing environmental policy. Issues included tourism development, protected areas, hazardous waste and environmental education.



The Environment and Development Group, Oxford

• Environmental Consultant

  • 1988 - 1996

  Short-term consultancies in the periods 1988-90 and 1993-96, most of them undertaken as a member of The Environment & Development Group, Oxford, UK, in: Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Seychelles and Cuba.



The Environment and Development Group

• Policy & Planning Advisor to Kenya Wildlife Service

  • 1990 - 1994

  Policy and Planning Advisor to Kenya Wildlife Service (8 months per year), with a brief spanning policy development, capacity building, planning and monitoring. Highlights included a central role in a comprehensive policy review, investment plan and consequent US$ 143 million multi-donor project, formulation of policies on community participation, establishment of a “Community Wildlife Service” within KWS, and strengthening of the marine parks network.



IUCN

• Switzerland
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Projects Officer, IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Africa

  • 1986 - 1988

  Projects Officer for the Eastern Africa Regional Office of IUCN (the World Conservation Union), responsible for field project management, from planning and writing through to reporting, monitoring and evaluation.



Imperial College London

• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Researcher in Epidemiology

  • 1984 - 1986

  Imperial College, London. Post-doctoral researcher under Professor Roy Anderson, working on the epidemiology of bilharzia in Kenyan rural communities.



Metropolitan Touring and Special Expeditions

• Naturalist Guide

  • 1981 - 1984

  Naturalist tour guide and then trainer of naturalist guides in the Galapagos Islands and subsequently in naturalist guide in Baja California. Full-time in 1981-82 then part-time 1983-84.