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International Environmental Lawyer, Researcher & Regional Director
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Mekong Legal Director
, International Non-Profit
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Chiang Mai,
Thailand
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International environmental lawyer, NGO program director & water researcher/consultant with exceptional record over 14 years addressing legal, environmental & social issues, mainly in the developing world with diverse stakeholders from local to global scales. Experienced leader, strategic mind & proven manager. Locations: SEast Asia; Southern/East Africa; UK; France; Australia. Bilingual: EN & FR |
 Contact International Environmental Lawyer, Researcher & Regional Director
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Area of Expertise: |
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Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy, Political
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Director, CEO, COP, President
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Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation
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Human Rights, Law, Migration, Conflicts, Justice
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Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
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Professional Experience: |
Currently, I lead EarthRights International’s (ERI) Mekong Legal Program, managing a team of lawyers working with communities to protect their environmental and human rights across six Mekong countries as well as with a diverse range of legal, campaign and funding partners across the region and globally. I am responsible for overseeing all strategic planning and budget processes, daily implementation and monitoring and evaluation, as well as funding relationships and donor reporting. I develop the curriculum and teach at the Mekong Legal Advocacy Institute two-week training for junior public interest lawyers so I have a strong understanding of how to convey technical concepts in a simple, precise and translatable manner. I am very comfortable interacting with Board governance structures as I report to the ERI Board on a twice yearly basis. My excellent negotiation and diplomacy skills have been honed via managing complex networks such as the Mekong Legal Network and convening large-scale legal conferences so I am very adept at incorporating diverse standpoints to build consensus - all pivotal skills for any Executive/Director role.
At UN Environment, I developed project proposals and policy briefs on water issues. I was also directly involved in formal roundtable negotiations at UN Environment’s Governing Council XII and Global Ministerial Environmental Forum. As a Researcher in the Global Governance of International Watercourses with the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, I engaged with a variety of key local, national and international stakeholders to disseminate and promote research and policy initiatives, including using multi-media resources such as establishing the UNWC Online User’s Guide, which provided me with multi-faceted research/policy communication skills suited for this UN Environment role. My consulting company, Transboundary Water Law, has successfully serviced a range of clients, including government ministries/donors, the Mekong River Commission and non-government organisations (IUCN, Oxfam, WWF).
During my eight years of progressively responsible roles at Oxfam, I successfully coordinated implementation of a multi-country, multi-donor, multi-partner, multi-million USD suite of projects. I have cumulatively gained outstanding exposure to, and responsibility in, programme management (strategy; development; implementation; monitoring and evaluation; reporting) and partnership coordination expertise with representatives at all levels – local, national and global. My roles have involved engaging daily with a diverse range of international, national and local stakeholders; working cross-culturally via both distance communications and face-to-face; with responsibility for managing small, focused and highly motivated teams within medium to large global organisations.
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Education: |
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS, RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
A Law Masters graduate (LLM - Marine & Environmental Law) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, with a specialization in international environmental law, I also hold undergraduate degrees in each of Law, Science, and French from Monash University, Australia.
I am passionate about the intersection between law, the environment and human rights, which underpins my drive for solving some of the biggest challenges we face globally in terms of sustainable development.
My research and analysis focuses on environmental and human rights issues and related legal/governance regimes, specifically in strengthening cooperation across local to global stakeholders for more effective localised and transboundary governance of shared natural resources.
I have published/edited journal articles, a book and chapters, as well as delivered conference papers and institutional seminars, particularly capacity-building training so I am very adept at tailoring my outputs to target the particular audience I need to engage with.
An outspoken and active commentator via social media (900+ Twitter followers), I highlight and engage with fellow experts and activists on current and emerging environmental and human rights issues.
This all demonstrates my: sound knowledge of current/emerging trends in international environmental governance, global development and human rights issues; capacity to achieve a very high standard of research, analysis and writing; and exceptional presentation, facilitator, spokesperson and profile-building skills.
Please see my Transboundary Water Law consulting website (www.transboundarywaterlaw.com/publications.html) for a full list of my publications (journals, books, book chapters, online articles), web-resources and presentations (training, papers, seminars, expert panels).
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Affiliations and Achievements: |
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
In September 2015, I was appointed to a three year tenure as an Honorary Research Associate of the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Law within the Institute of Marine and Environmental Law.
I am a member of several global professional associations including: IUCN's World Commission on Environmental Law; and the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW); the International Water Law Association (AIDA); and the International Water Resources Association (IWRA).
I have been Book Review Editor for IWRA's peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal ‘Water International’ since July 2013.
COURSES
Xiamen Academy of International Law (Xiamen, China)
- Summer Program – Three week course on international law issues with lectures given by eminent world experts 2013 (July)
Université Paris III – Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris, France)
- Monash University semester exchange program, 2007 (Jan–May)
Université Jean Moulin - Lyon III (Lyon, France)
- Monash University semester exchange program, 2006 (Sept – Dec)
Monash University Sustainability Institute - Green Steps Program
- ‘High Distinction’ for ‘Certificate in Environmental Management’, 2005 (Mar -Oct)
ACADEMIC AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
Xiamen University (Xiamen, China)
- Scholarship (full fee) to attend the Xiamen Academy of International Law Summer Program, 2013 (July)
Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
- Law Faculty ‘LexisNexis Prize’ for subject: ‘Human Rights in Australian Law’, 2010
- Law Faculty ‘Dr Brian Donovan Memorial Prize’ for subject: ‘Crime & Gender’, 2010
- School of Geography and Environmental Science Summer Research Scholarship, 2004 (Nov) - 2005 (Apr)
Xavier College (Melbourne, Australia)
- Award for ‘Distinctive All-Round Involvement & Commitment to Academic Excellence’, 2000
- Award for ‘Highest Score (50/50) in VCE English’, 2000
- Government of the State of Victoria ‘Premier’s Award’ for highest score (50/50) in VCE Geography, 1999
- Awards of ‘Special Distinction’ for General Excellence in Academia, 1997 & 1998 - Awards of ‘General Excellence’ for Outstanding Academic Achievement, 1995 & 1996
LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Oxfam Australia
- Personal Leadership Course, 2011 (Jan – Jun)
- Chosen to represent Oxfam Australia in work exchange program with Oxfam France (Paris, France), 2010 (Jun – Jul)
Conservation Volunteers Australia - International Projects
- Sea Turtle Monitoring (Costa Rica), 2003 (Jun - July)
- Baboon Monitoring (South Africa), 2004 (Mar)
Ampersand Network
- Co-founder and former Public Officer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampersand_Network), 2003 (Sep) – 2006 (Jun)
Xavier College
- College Prefect (Inter-School Relations), 2000
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Available for: |
- Being headhunted – make me an offer
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