I am an interdisciplinary conservation scientist interested in wildlife trade and use, its sustainability, governance, and economics, including human behaviour, and pangolins and their conservation.
I lead research streams on pangolins and wildlife trade policy and I am co-leading the development of masterclasses on illegal wildlife trade (IWT) with a focus on West Africa.
- Wildlife trade policy: portfolio of projects drawing on regulatory theory and empirical insights to assess the effectiveness of multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs) including CITES, evaluate the use of evidence in national and international policymaking, and investigate the role of institutions in conservation.
- Pangolins: projects on the use and trade of pangolins, their status and morphology, national and international trade policy, and the engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities in pangolin conservation.
- IWT masterclasses: leading the development, design and delivery of masterclasses to support and build capacity among researchers, policymakers and practitioners to address IWT. Initial focus on West Africa (2025-2026).
In 2012, I re-formed the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group and served as Chair of the group until early 2021. I now serve as CITES focal point for the group. I am also a member of the IUCN CEESP/SSC Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi). I was the lead editor of Pangolins: Science, Society and Conservation, the first major volume on pangolins and their conservation, published by Academic Press in 2020.
Additional Affiliations
Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS)
