I am a PhD student on the London NERC DTP based at King’s College London, UCL and Kew Gardens, passionate about working with people and wildlife for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

My research combines ecological and social methods for the conservation of useful plant species in Colombia – species with reported human uses. Working as part of the Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia Project (UPFC) at Kew, my research focuses on identifying potential Important Plant Areas (IPAs), investigating local knowledge and use of plants, and evaluating the potential of conservation-through-use approaches. I apply mixed-methods from the fields of ecology, biogeography and conservation social science.

Before starting my PhD, I worked as an ecological consultant for a global engineering and development consultancy, gaining experience of working in industry at the interface of social and ecological systems.