| cv_alessia_kockel_2017.pdf |
Summary of Qualifications
|
- Academic background in Geography, Wildlife Biology, and Marine Biology
- PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and with over 2000 dives - Reef Check EcoDiver Trainer - PADI Specialty Instructor in Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Emergency Oxygen Provider, and Digital Underwater Photography - Fluent in English, French, and Italian, as well as a good knowledge of Spanish - Research diver and excellent knowledge in various marine research sampling methods - Proven competencies in grant and scientific writing, project management, and cross-cultural communication - Skilled at working with a diverse range of stakeholders, academics, private sectors, governmental and non-governmental organizations - Experience working and teaching in an international context - Organized, highly motivated and self-sufficient individual with excellent interpersonal skills - Various experience working in physically and mentally challenging environment in tropical climates |
Education
|
MSc- Geography 2014 — 2018
Marine Protected Areas Research Group, Department of Geography University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada BSc Wildlife Biology Major with Distinction 2006 — 2010 McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Study Abroad- Marine Biology Semester 1, 2009 University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia D.E.C. in Ecological Technology 2003 — 2006 Vanier College, Montreal, Quebec, Canada High School Diploma 1998 — 2003 Beaconsfield High School, Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada |
Employment History |
Awards/Scholarships |
|
Marine Biologist & Scuba Instructor, Broadreach May 2014 – August 2014
Lesser Antilles, Caribbean - Co-lead Caribbean Marine Biology programs for youth (age 14 to 18) - Taught PADI scuba diving courses (Open Water Diver to Rescue Diver) - Maintained safety standards and protocols on diving expeditions - Facilitated group training workshops and activities Chief Scientist & Scuba Instructor, Greenforce Fiji (Gapforce) January — June 2013 Kubulau district, Bua Province, Fiji Islands - Created and delivered Marine Survey program (development and delivery) to train international volunteers to conduct coral reef assessments - Initiated and led a catch-per-unit survey program with fishers from the Kabilau district in collaboration with the University of South Pacific and the Wildlife Conservation Society - Taught various PADI scuba diving courses (Open Water to Divemaster) Field Assistant, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) August — September 2012 Gault Nature Reserve, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada - Assisted 2D and 3D film crews to film eastern chipmunks a BBC wildlife series, called Hidden Kingdoms - Wrangled chipmunks using seeds and acorns for various film shots - Assisted to assemble and unassembled filming kit - Liaisoned with the general public to answer questions - Organized supplies and deliveries Science Officer, Coral Cay Conservation January — May 2012 Southern Leyte, Philippines - Taught a Science Skills Development Program to international volunteers and in-county scholars - Led coral reef surveys and community outreach projects Guest Experience Assistant, Sea Life London Aquarium May — December 2011 London, England - Held public presentations on natural history and marine conservation - Assisted in marine conservation fundraisers Wildlife and whale watching guide, Sea Life Adventures May — October 2010 Easdale Island, Scotland - Gave educational talks on natural history and marine conservation of Scottish wildlife during charter tours (2-5 hours) - Photographed and documented cetaceans for a population study through the Whale and Dolphin Society Scotland Project Coordinator, CKG Training and Consulting 2007 — 2010 Kirkland, Quebec, Canada - Developed and facilitated a variety of workshops and trainings for corporate and government institutes (e.g., culture, diversity, gender equality, leadership development, and team-building) Naturalist and Camp Counselor, Ecomuseum Zoo 2007 — 2008 St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada - Lead nature camp for children age 6 to 13 - Organized camp schedule, activities, budget, and staff training - Educated children on animals and plants in St. Laurence Valley through camp and animal handling activities North River - Freshwater Fish Observation Network Group Leader/Coordinator, 2006 Biosphere, Environment Canada Ile St. Helene, Quebec, Canada - Accompanied high school students in the North River - Freshwater Fish Observation Network - Supervised data collection of freshwater fish (identification, measurements, and observations on external anomalies and parasites) - Organized field excursions and managed database Teaching ExperienceSpecialist Instructor/ GEOG274: Introduction to Bio-geography January– April 2017 Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada - Assisted students with lab assignments - Graded mid-term, final exam, and lab assignments Specialist Instructor/ GEOG209: Introduction to Environmental September – December 2014 Management Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada - Facilitated weekly group discussions on environmental management - Graded papers, mid-term, and final exam Specialist Instructor/ GEOG209: Global Environmental Change September – December 2014 & the Human Response Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada - Graded papers, mid-term, and final exam - Conducted lecture on marine protected areas and climate change Teacher and Facilitator, Comunicatus Language Services 2008 — 2011 Dorval, Quebec, Canada - Taught Aviation English course to international pilots - Co-developed curriculum for Aviation English course and ‘Cultural Awareness in the Workplace” seminar Teaching Assistant for ‘Transcultural Leadership’, McGill University Winter, 2008 Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Assisted in course preparation - Facilitated group discussions on topics in cross-cultural leadership and international business relations - Graded assignments, essays, mid-terms, and final exams Intership & Volunteer ExperienceFounder and Project Director, Divers Give Back November — present
Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Founded "Divers Give Back" which aims to bring aid to fishing villages in the Philippines that have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan - Organized four drop-off locations in the Greater Montreal Area to collect used snorkeling/diving gear, clothes, and fishing gear to send to fishing communities in Southern Leyte PADI Instructor Internship, Four Seasons Resort Maldives June — September 2011 Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives -Taught PADI courses (Open Water Diver to Rescue Diver and 5 specialties: Deep, Wreck, Enriched Air, Emergency Oxygen Provider, and Digital Underwater Photography) Research Diver Internship, Core Sea April 2011 Koh Phangan, Thailand - Assisted Masters students from the University of Bremen to investigate the effects of the influx of tourism on the local ecosystem in Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Angh Thon National Marine Park in Thailand - Participated in various underwater surveys (e.g., sediment sampling, coral surveys, fish surveys, rugosity measurements, and nutrient sampling) PADI Divemaster Internship, Buddha View March — May 2011 Koh Tao, Thailand - Assisted instructors in PADI courses (Open Water to Rescue Diver) - Briefed and guided certified divers Research Assistant, McGill Bird Observatory 2006 — 2009 St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada - Extract birds from mist nets - Assist in identification, sexing, aging, tagging and releasing birds Insect Ecology Laboratory Intern, McGill University 2006 St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada - Collected and identified arachnids for a biodiversity study at McGill’s Morgan Arboretum and Molson Reserve Research Assistant, ANAI Sea Turtle Conservation Project 2005 Limon, Costa Rica - Patrolled beaches for nesting sea turtles and assisted in data collection |
2016/7
- First place prize in ‘Research Reels’ competition at UVic Ideafest - Dr. David and Dorothy Lam Scholarship in Geography ($500) 2015 - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Master’s Scholarship ($17,500) - Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies (FRQNT) Master’s Scholarship ($20,000) - Robin Rigby Trust, Saint Mary’s University ($11,250) - Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives Student Fellowship, University of Victoria ($2,500) - Ajaib Singh Sangha Memorial Scholarship ($2,550) - Graduate Award, University of Victoria ($2,000) - Dr. David and Dorothy Lam Scholarship in Geography ($500) 2014 - Graduate Award, University of Victoria ($1,000) - Student Fellowship, University of Victoria ($10,000) - Ajaib Singh Sangha Memorial Scholarship ($1,250) 2009 - Universitas 21 (U21) Travel Award ($1,500) CommitteesCUPE 4163 Component 1 Steward for Geography/ University of Victoria
April 2016 – Present - Attend monthly CUPE steward council meetings and bi-annual CUPE meetings - Act as the liaison between CUPE 4163 Component 1 members in Geography and the union Organizer for 2016 Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference (PEEC)/ Bamfield Marine Science Centre November 2015 – February 2016 - Helped organize 2016 graduate student-led conference Geography Graduate Representative for Provost’s Diversity and Equity Steering Committee/ University of Victoria May — June 2015 - Acted as the liaison between Geography faculty and the graduate student body - Attended committee meetings - Raised diversity and equity concerns with the Faculty Board, as appropriate ConfrencesConservation Asia 2016
June 29 – July 2, 2016 - Presentation title: Achieving equity in systematic marine conservation planning International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) 2016 June 19 – 24, 2016 - Poster title: Bridging the divide between systematic conservation planning and community-based conservation Certifications & Additional Skills
- Fluent in English, French, and Italian, as well as a good knowledge of Spanish
- Highly proficient in ArcGIS, Marxan, Marxan with Zones, Microsoft Office, and Word Processor - Reef Check EcoDiver Instructor (Indo-Pacific) - Professional Development Workshop Certification on learning and teaching in higher education (Learning & Teaching Centre, University of Victoria) - PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and Specialty Instructor in Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Emergency Oxygen Provider, and Digital Underwater Photography - Emergency First Response Certification and Instructor (CPR/ AED/ First Aid - Infant/Child/Adult) - Wilderness First Aid certification - Transport Canada Pleasure Craft Operator (boat license) - Double black dan in Jujitsu and Taekwando - Quebec Driver’s License |
