leona_bhuyan.jpg

I am an interdisciplinary conservationist working at the intersection of ecology and sociology to understand human-wildlife interactions and develop interventions to promote their coexistence. With an MSc in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh, UK and a deep interest in nature conservation, I found myself working as a project manager and field researcher for an Elephant Welfare Foundation in Assam, India. This provided me an opportunity to work for conservation through community engagement - facilitating an intimate understanding of how humans and elephants share spaces and the negative interactions which threaten them. Through this role, I spearheaded capacity building workshops, habitat restoration programs, conservation outreach initiatives, and built meaningful partnerships with local communities for human-elephant conflict management. Moreover, my partnerships and interactions with diverse local stakeholders in the field propelled my interests in participatory models of nature conservation and the social dimensions of environmental change. I believe that conservation challenges are best tackled through collaborations and inclusive participation – much of which is still lagging across relevant disciplines and sectors. Through this unique Mphil program, I aim to acquire the necessary skillsets to tackle complex biodiversity challenges, promote participatory and interdisciplinary conservation approaches, and most importantly – create spaces where both nature and communities can thrive in my country.

mei_mei_chow.jpg

Growing up in the island city of Penang, Malaysia, with a BSc in Animal Biology, I always yearned for the larger forests out there, thinking they held more excitement. My conservation journey as a wildlife researcher at the Wildlife Conservation Society revealed a different picture. The perils that various species in Malaysia face cannot be unravelled by population study alone. I delved further into training law enforcement officers on recording patrolling data. I then worked with Penang Green Council - a state-linked organisation, to learn more about bridging public opinions with policymakers. I believe that you can’t save species alone; you must convince others. My diverse path led me to become a creative agency copywriter and participate in an environmental journalism program, enhancing my communication skills. Over the past four years, I have been a programme officer at TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, focusing on the illegal wildlife trade. Mainly training law enforcement officers and the transport sector, the materials I designed and sessions I led have increased the learners’ skills to detect smuggling, leading to increased seizures. This Masters in Conservation Leadership will enable me to communicate conservation issues better to improve policies, innovate conservation solutions and manage projects effectively.

shelby_dye.jpg

Born and raised in Arkansas -The Natural State, I developed a close relationship with the natural world, and the interconnectedness of our planet was clear to me as a child growing up in the mountains. After earning my B.A. in Biological Anthropology, and B.A. in Journalism from the University of Arkansas, I relocated to Washington, D.C. -the seat of power and policy - to assume my role as Community Engagement Specialist for the Jane Goodall Institute. Here, I led our Roots & Shoots Program team in operationalizing ways the organization and program could address environmental justice issues and connected young change-makers with the resources to support youth-led projects that addressed socio-environmental challenges impacting their communities. I later served as the Advancement Operations Associate for the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, where I worked to further the zoo’s mission to save species and their habitats. I supported key conservation science projects like the American Prairie Reserve and served as a member of the Learning Opportunities Group on the SI Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) Committee. My mission is to make life better for people, other animals, and the environment through community-centred conservation efforts.

asma_hirsi.jpg

Being born into a family with a root of nomads who kept livestock for survival for centuries is what shaped my love for animals. In my early teens, I found myself connecting to livestock and growing an interest in its study. I studied Veterinary Medicine, and upon finishing my degree, I started to organise and call upon the community, more specifically Agro-Pastoral women, on ways to be involved and improve their livelihoods by maximising their livestock production. I have co-founded a local NGO that supports the pastoral community in my country and has helped hundreds of pastoral households. In October 2018, I came across cases of cheetah cubs being captured from the wild and exported to the Middle East, which touched me deeply. I started working for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and being on call as a doctor by going on cheetah rescue missions with the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development. I have given medical support to confiscated cubs from poachers and transported them to rehabilitation centres. Since 2018 to date, my career has been mostly involved in wildlife and cheetah conservation. During my career, I have worked on projects on illegal wildlife trade, the Future Farmers of Africa programme, and trained rangers and wildlife observers under the project. As a professional conservationist, I now have a strong desire to learn more about conservation leadership and the skills that are required to enable me to make a substantial contribution to the conservation sector by fusing conventional livestock management with ecology and wildlife conservation.

tambudzai_matenga.jpg

While I always held a love for the outdoors and nature from a young age, I diverted into a more conventional path in my formal education. With a background in Economics and Demography (BA) and Political Science and International Relations (MA), I established my career in the development sector, designing and implementing solutions to development challenges in health, nutrition, sustainable food systems and climate change. Working with various international and local organizations across Zambia exposed me to the vast beauty and biodiversity of my country and reignited my passion for nature. Since 2021, my work in a consortium of Hivos, WWF, SSN, SDI, AMwA and several local organizations, involves working with vulnerable communities who are highly affected by climate change. Our work has supported communities in conservation efforts such as afforestation and reforestation, adopting sustainable livelihoods as they adapt to climate change and building their capacity to self-advocate. I also participate in the WHO People-Planet-Health Action Board to contribute voices and ideas from the global south on issues pertaining to wellbeing and planetary health with policymakers at the World Health Organization. With the MPhil in Conservation Leadership, I will strengthen my skills, knowledge and leadership in conservation advocacy.

nobert_nyandire.jpg

I have lived most of my life in Nairobi City which is widely known as the only capital city in the world with a national park. I developed the love of nature at a very tender age. My dad used to work with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in Nairobi and often, we used to do game park visit and drives. It used to be very fascinating since we could interact with plants and animal species. Unfortunately, this beautiful life was cut short after I sat for my primary exams, and we had to move from the capital city to the village after my dad lost his job. Life was so unbearable having lived a comfortable life and here we were in the village barely affording two meals a day. I later did my secondary school exams but my entire 4 years in secondary school was a struggle, mostly being sent home for school fees and I used to walk for more than 25kms from school to home and vice-versa since my parents could not afford my bus fare which was only $1 dollar then. But in this difficulty, I still saw an opportunity to interact with nature, I could pluck a few wildflowers here and there, eat some stray fruits along the way etc. I later joined Kenyatta University to study a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning and Management. Thereafter, I have established myself a more than 16 years distinguished professional career in the field of Environmental Planning & Climate Change advocating for policy formulation at the international, national and sub-national levels and advancing transparency in systems. The policy work I have been engaged in, has led me to notice the siloed approach between climate change and biodiversity where in most cases they are treated differently. This disconnect is why I am here at the University of Cambridge to learn more on how to bridge this gap.

ivanny_hernandez.jpg

I joined the conservation world as an administrative assistant in 2009, having just earned an undergraduate degree in Accounting, Business Management, and Administration from the University of the Ozarks. I then became a part of one of the most renowned conservation organizations in Belize, Ya’axche Conservation Trust. Fast forward to 14 years later, now Finance Director, my passion for conservation has strengthened. My involvement in this arena has allowed me to become a strong leader, decision maker, and key contributor to the management and conservation of Toledo's jewel called the Maya Golden Landscape, a pristine forest in southern Belize covering an area of 770,000 acres. One important lesson I’ve learned through my experiences at Ya’axche is that successful management of protected areas is more than enforcement and compliance efforts, biodiversity monitoring, and data collection. To maintain the pristine conditions of the fauna and flora in protected areas, community outreach and livelihood is imperative, as this promotes the importance of raising awareness and educating the people within the communities so that they can become better stewards of the resources within and around the PAs. This ensures continuity and sustainability in the future as our vision at Ya’axche says, we must ensure the “harmony between nature and human development for the benefit of both”. The knowledge I have acquired along with my expertise in sustainable conservation financing, financial management, budgeting, fundraising for organizational sustainability, and efficient operationality has prepared me to undertake the Masters in Conservation Leadership. I hope to continue significantly contributing to conservation in Belize.

sofia_pastor.jpg

I'm a small woman with big dreams, and my heart beats for nature! Following my heart, I studied Biology at Universidad de Costa Rica. For three remarkable years, I served as a Teaching Assistant for ecology and zoology and engaged in thrilling marine research at CIMAR. Driven by a desire for broader impact, I specialized in natural resource management at Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. My thesis focused on identifying and describing people's acceptability toward tapirs within a biological corridor and how this might impact tapir population connectivity. This innovative approach secured my first grant from the Society for Conservation Biology, marking just the beginning of my career. I joined the Costa Rica Wildlife Foundation, progressing from research associate to a formal coordination position. Building on my thesis findings, I coordinated initiatives centered on human-wildlife coexistence and community-driven conservation on different parts of the country. This included raising funds and developing genuine community engagement, citizen science, and ecological restoration. Simultaneously, I initiated a fascinating manatee-focused conservation project in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. Currently, I'm pleased to delegate these initiatives to emerging local experts and leaders. With enthusiasm for the future, I'm pursuing the Conservation Leadership Master's at Cambridge. I am confident that this experience will equip me with exceptional leadership skills to further amplify conservation and coexistence impact, with a hopeful aspiration to inspire more women and integrate their participation into full action.

borwen.jpg

Growing up, I was fascinated by the lush evergreen forests, the rich biodiversity tied to the sustenance and heritage of our people. Life was beautiful. But fourteen years of civil unrest, fuelled by the unsustainable exploitation of timber resources resulted in corruption, exacerbating poverty and undermining biodiversity conservation outcomes. As a result, economic sanctions on the forest sector were imposed. The 2006 Forestry Sector reform process coincided with the beginning of my career through the Conservation Leadership Programme. I aspire to be one of the most respected conservation leaders in Liberia. Since then, I have served in numerous capacities in government, international conservation development organisations to build stakeholders’ capacity, worked on the establishment of protected areas, setting up Liberia’s REDD+ program and climate finance initiatives, strengthening local communities’ participation in forest governance, setting up sustainable livelihood programmes, benefit sharing mechanisms, and improving laws and policies on forest governance and timber trade. Through the Masters in Conservation Leadership, I aim to develop additional skills that will empower me to offer more solutions to address the critical conservation, forest management, stakeholders’ participation, livelihood issues and climate resilience in Liberia to create a balance between conservation, people, and development. I hold postgraduate diplomas from Freiburg University and University of California-Berkeley, Master of Public Health focusing on One Health and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cuttington University in Liberia.

ormon_e._sultangaziev.jpg

I was born in Kyrgyzstan, a small and mountainous nation nestled within the Tien-Shan Mountain range. From an early stage in my life, I displayed a strong affinity for plants. This prompted my parents to enrol me in forestry studies at Kyrgyz National Agrarian University in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Upon completing my university education with honours, I was granted a prestigious two-year fellowship by Bioversity International. This fellowship enabled me to conduct my research at BFW in Vienna, Austria. Following the successful conclusion of this fellowship, I pursued further studies, culminating in a Master's degree in Mountain Forestry from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria. Upon my return to Kyrgyzstan in 2019, I embarked on a journey with Fauna and Flora’s Kyrgyzstan team. Initially joining as a project assistant, I gradually assumed the role of a Central Asia ecologist. Over the span of the past four years with F&F, I have been deeply involved in diverse projects. These projects encompass an array of activities including research and conservation efforts focused on wild tulips, assessing the status of steppe tortoise populations in Central Asia, safeguarding the IUCN red-listed Menzbier’s marmot and other significant fauna within the Besh-Aral reserve, as well as the mapping, protection, and cultivation of IUCN red-listed species such as Niedzwetzky apple (Malus niedzwetzkyana) and Bukhara pear (Pyrus korshinskyi). Driven by a passionate commitment to conservation, I aspire to fortify my abilities through the Masters in Conservation Leadership program. My goal is to acquire the expertise required to effectively address the pressing conservation challenges faced by my homeland.

asif_ibne_yousuf_web.jpeg

In the early stages of my career, I took a big step that changed my life's direction. I shifted from being a banker to becoming an environmentalist—a choice that wasn't supported by my friends and family, as banking appeared to be a secure career path within my country's context. The decision wasn't simple, but my motive and determination was strong. I could not just sit and watch the environmental degradation that was taking place. Since then, I've designed programmes and secured funding from various donors such as the World Bank, UNDP, USAID, European Union, and large private sector entities. Some standout moments in my journey include designing, securing funding, and coordinating a project that saved a dying stream in a remote wildlife sanctuary, co-founding an organization that empowers local communities to save endangered species through citizen science, and launching a market driven social enterprise, to help reduce communities' reliance on forests and biodiversity. I have also worked at one of the nation's largest international NGOs, spearheading their environment and climate portfolio. My journey has taken me to far-off corners of Bangladesh, where ancient forests and unique indigenous communities still thrive. This confirms that changing my career was the right move. What I've seen is truly worth the effort, and I'm on the right path. But I have to go further to ensure that our nation's natural environment is safeguarded for generations to come.