As CANARI’s Country Coordinator (English-speaking Caribbean) for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) project, Simone works with the rest of the CEPF team, civil society groups and communities as they apply for, and implement biodiversity-related grants in their Key Biodiversity Areas.
Simone is an environmental professional with a focus on coastal and marine environments, as well as social community-based projects in the Caribbean. She first started in this field through the Jamaican branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) and passion in marine biology.
Like many Millennials, Simone is fueled by a desire to ‘make a difference’ and has worked in the environmental field for over 12 years in academia, private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations. She has worked on a variety of projects including ecological and social scientific research, nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration, community development projects, capacity building activities, community-based research, marine protected areas and management of multi-stakeholder projects. She has also worked on numerous projects involving climate change vulnerability and adaptation, disaster risk reduction and ecosystem-based adaptation.
Simone holds a Bachelors (BSc.) in Zoology, a Masters (MSc.) in Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems, and is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Management.