Bio

My passion for the ocean grew out of my love for exploring tide pools as a child growing up in Malaysia, Italy, and Canada. Wanting to pursue a career in marine conservation, I majored in Wildlife Biology at McGill University in Canada, and took a semester abroad to study marine biology at the University of Queensland in Australia. After obtaining my Bachelors degree, I worked on several marine conservation projects as a marine biologist and scuba diving instructor in Thailand, Maldives, Philippines, Fiji, and islands in the Lesser Antilles.

In 2018, I completed a Master in Science with the Marine Protected Areas Research Group at the University of Victoria, Canada, under the supervisor of Dr. Philip Dearden. Using Sogod Bay as a Philippines case study, my research investigated approaches for incorporating small-scale fisheries considerations into the systematic design of marine protected areas (MPA). My research team and I worked closely with local communities, government officials, NGOs, and partner universities to collect spatial data to develop MPA network plans that are both ecologically representative and socially equitable for local communities. The knowledge and skills I gained through this research have strengthened my commitment to protect tropical marine ecosystems in a manner that is considerate and respectful of the values, culture, and needs of local people.