With a passion for people-centred management of natural resources, advocacy and social development, Aria Laidlow-Ferdinand has a diverse background with experience in climate and disaster risk management and environmental natural resource management.
Prior to CANARI, Aria worked on projects with developmental organisations, NGOs and state-owned agencies in various capacities and brings regional and national experience in climate information services, vulnerability assessments, community-based disaster risk management, country work programmes, developing safeguards and policy implementation plans.
She has also worked in academia as a lecturer in Green Engineering and contributed to publications in the fields of climate and disaster risk financing and disaster preparedness and response. Aria’s experience has given her a greater appreciation for both public and private sectors in the governance of resources.
Aria has also been involved in various local and regional initiatives and organisations for over 10 years. She is currently on the Programme Development team for CIWIL Regional, a member of the CIWIL SVG national chapter and a member of the advisory committee for the Caribbean Feminist Climate Justice Movement.
Aria has an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford and a BSc with Majors in Environmental Natural Resource Management and Geography (first-class honours) from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.