I am an interdisciplinary scientist applying machine learning and social science methods to understand and develop interventions to address the diversity of threats from the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. My research focuses on how consumer behaviour, market dynamics, and regulatory changes influence the sustainability of wildlife trade. My current Schmidt AI in Science fellowship focusses on applying machine learning to 'nowcast' (produce near-term forecasts) the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade, developing predictive tools to address the data lag times that can hamper conservation decision-making. In addition, I am developing Bayesian Belief Network models to understand the range of factors that influence trade sustainability in medicinal plant markets, and inform decision making around the trade and harvest of different medicinal species. I also have an ongoing project, using machine learning to analyse patents related to wildlife products, to reveal trends in commercial interest and provide early warnings of shifts in commercial wildlife markets.
By combining cutting edge AI methods with quantitative and qualitative social science methods, I aim to ensure that wildlife trade policy is informed by robust evidence, that acknowledges the nuances and complexities of wildlife trade and what influences it. I collaborate widely with NGOs, policy makers, and other researchers, ensuring that my work bridges the gap between scientific research, conservation practice, and global policy frameworks, supporting evidence-based interventions for biodiversity protection. I have worked extensively on the trade in orchids, from my PhD investigating the online and social media illegal trade in orchid species, to my current role as Chair of the IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group. In addition, I have conducted policy-driven research on the bear bile industry in China, where I explored how legal and illegal markets interact, using a mixed methods approach to understanding consumer demand in these complex markets. Before joining Oxford in 2017, I worked at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) on projects related to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), providing technical support for policy decisions.
