Make A Career Out of Saving the Planet
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is ‘Climate Action’ and the best way to honour these words is to take them literally. In this spirit, the Cropper Foundation has put together a team of environmental sustainability experts to share their knowledge and offer career advice via a three-day zoom webinar series commencing on Earth Day, April 22, 2020. The Foundation has selected four speakers whose career paths would have intersected with the Cropper Foundation at various points in its history. All speakers have first-hand experience working in fields where their efforts have contributed towards the protection of our planet. They share Caribbean roots but have branched off to every corner of the globe pursuing illustrious careers in fields such as environmental economics and diplomacy, environmental law and activism, marine biology and oceans, and landscape science and ecology.
Climate Action Through Webinar Series
The objective of the webinar series is two-fold. Firstly, the Foundation seeks to encourage, motivate and provide guidance to the next generation of environmental sustainability leaders. Secondly, the Foundation seeks to remain a hub of innovation in these trying times by exploring new methods of engaging our network of professionals locally and internationally.
Learn More About Our Speakers
If you are considering participating in these webinars, get ready to rethink the role the environment plays in our economy. Get ready to learn about what it’s like to be a National Geographic Explorer in the Galapagos or to promote green growth for World Bank South Korea. Get ready to learn how you can use the law to hold policymakers and business leaders accountable for environmentally destructive practices. Our impressive line up of speakers bring to the table a wealth of experience, a diverse set of skills and a shared vision for climate action moving beyond Earth Day 2020.
Alexander Girvan was born in Jamaica and migrated to Trinidad and Tobago at the secondary school level. He is currently an Adjunct Senior Technical Officer at the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and lectures part-time at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, on the subject of ‘Environmental Economics’. He formerly held the post of ‘Programme Coordinator of the Caribbean Sea Commission’ at the Association of Caribbean States. He has contributed to several studies and reports on the Caribbean environment, including the ‘Global Environmental Outlook 5’ for Latin America and the Caribbean, where he was featured as a lead author. He has a BSc in ‘Physical Geography and Economics’ from McGill University and an MSc in ‘Environmental Economics’ from the University of York. Alexander also enjoys a close connection to the foundation as a former ‘Programme Officer’ and a current associate director.
Trinidad and Tobago born professional, Lisa Premchand, is currently the Programme Coordinator at the non-profit Organisation Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) – one of the Foundation’s main partners in the project ‘CSOs for Good Environmental Governance.’ Over the last 20 years, FFOS has been one of the key civil society voices in holding the State and private sector accountable for environmental degradation of natural resources and ecosystems in Trinidad and Tobago. FFOS has led the country and the region in strategic litigation around environmental issues, winning several key cases and significantly advancing environmental advocacy using the law. Lisa, in her role as coordinator, leads the development of FFOS’ national advocacy strategy and research. She has a BSc in ‘Environment and Natural Resources Management’ and an MSc in ‘Science and Management of Tropical Biodiversity’ from the University of the West Indies and is also completing her Bachelor of Laws Degree.
Salomé Buglass is a marine scientist at the Charles Darwin Foundation since 2016. She is engaged in several applied research projects that support the management of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Salomé has a background in biogeography with a strong focus on climate change and has worked with marine ecosystems and fisheries in the Caribbean (including volunteering at the Foundation), Canada – and most recently – in Ecuador. In 2018, Salome received a National Geographic Early Career Grant, which she is using to lead a pioneer study on exploring the twilight zone ecosystem on seamounts through remotely operated vehicles. Salome has a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography from University College London and a Master’s Degree in Geography from the University of British Columbia. Salomé has Caribbean roots through her mother who was born in the Dominican Republic and she lived for three years in Trinidad and Tobago where she volunteered with the Cropper Foundation.
Trinidad & Tobago citizen Maurice Rawlins is currently a ‘Natural Resources Management Specialist, Environment’ at the World Bank, South Korea. He works on climate change adaptation and resilience, natural capital accounting and integration of ecosystem service approaches in forestry. All of his work ties back to the concept of ‘green growth’. Prior to joining the Bank, Maurice worked at The Cropper Foundation, focusing on policy development for sustainable hillside agriculture. Maurice holds a PhD from the University of the West Indies in Environmental Biology, and an MSc from the University of Oxford in ‘Environmental Change and Management’.
How to Sign Up
Each webinar session will last 45 minutes and will include a feature presentation and a question and answer segment. While the webinars are targeted at students, anyone with an interest in one of the stated fields is encouraged to register. Each webinar can host up to 20 participants who will be selected on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. If you are interested in signing up please RSVP by clicking: http://thecropperfndn.typeform.com/to/XBAIxK
Learn More About Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. To learn more about Earth Day, please visit https://www.earthday.org/
Written by Zico Cozier, Communications Specialist – The Cropper Foundation
