Education

James Cook University, Townsville, Australia (2018-2019) : MSc. Marine Biology and Ecology

Ecological Modelling and Statistical Analysis. Marine Protected Areas and Fisheries Management 

Master’s Thesis: Ecological and social perception of community managed protected area, in the Kingdom of Tonga. (abstract below; full text available from me upon request)

University of Reading, United Kingdom (2014-2017): BSc (Hons.) in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation

Previous Experience

Operations Coordinator and Scientific Officer at Brim Explorer. Svalbard and Tromsø, Norway (2022 - To Date) (brimexplorer.com)

  • Creating accessible scientific and historical content for 4 different locations in Norway.

  • Presenting and teaching visitors on the history and nature of Northern Norway and the Svalbard.

  • Promoting science communication by inviting and advising UNIS’ (University center in Svalbard) students to present their research and develop their presentation skills.

  • Responsible for the safety and management of crowd onboard (up to 150 guests).

  • Responsible for the logistics and stock linked to maintaining the vessel in working order.

  • Decision-making related to routes and meteorology.

Environmental Project Engineer at Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR). Antwerp, Belgium (2020 - 2022) (www.deme-gsr.com)

  • 51-day offshore expedition focusing on the potential effects of exploitation activities on abyssal polymetallic nodule field ecosystems in the Pacific Ocean. Activities include megafaunal surveys (surface, water column and benthic), water sampling, mooring operations.

  • Developed GSR’s sustainability strategy and writing the first annual report based on the United Nations Global Compact and sustainable development goals.

  • Large ocean environmental dataset management and analysis.

  • Advising on the possible impact of and conservation efforts related to seabed exploitation activities.

  • Creating a peer-reviewed literature database on seabed exploitation activities and related environmental studies.

Freelance Wildlife and Nature Photographer (2015 - To Date)

  • Underwater, landscape and wildlife photography.

  • Photo editing.

Board Member / Secretary of WeSea (International, non-profit, non-governmental organization) (2018 - To Date) (www.wesea.org)

  • WeSea mission:  Raise awareness through public education and research about the richness of the underwater world, its fragility, and the threats it faces.

  • Management, strategy formulation, and implementation.

  • Grant application and project management.

  • Mentoring the younger generation on environmental awareness and opportunities for constructive actions.

Host at Pint of Science, Australia (2019) (www.pintofscience.com)

  • Assist with the organization and promotion of this international public science communication event for Queensland, Australia. 

  • Hosting this event promoting science research and conservation during 3 consecutive nights at a venue specifically chosen to encourage audience participation and interaction including with the invited experts. 

Research Assistant at the InterUniversity Institute of Marine Science, Eilat, Israel (2017). 

  • Coral Research: Assisting with a study of local stress effects on cellular defense mechanism activity of corals (Stylophora pistillata). Measuring the fluorescence intensity level and quantifying the host protein concentrations after application of stress mechanisms. 

  • Teaching assistant: Assisting the 2017 Coral Biology Course taught by Prof. Maoz Fine. Activities included coral identification, sampling, underwater and lab-based research. 

  • Scientific diving: Participation in multiple underwater experiments; camera/ time-lapse setup, coral nursery maintenance, coral sampling, coral replacement operations.

  • Complex system maintenance:Red Sea simulator general maintenance, cleaning and verifying the smooth operation of the 80+ aquariums with varying acidity, temperature and salinity levels.

Research Intern at Nova Atlantis, Azores, Portugal (2016). (www.nova-atlantis.org)

  • Data Gathering/Fieldwork: Boat-based research observing and recording marine mammal numbers, group composition and formation, social and individual behavior, and touristic pressure of Whale Watching vessels, focusing primarily on Risso Dolphins (Grampus griseus).

  • GPS project: Assistance with data collection and analysis for proposed MSc thesis by a colleague on the study of Risso dolphin home range and links between group overlaps with the type of behavior recorded. 

  • Data management: Organizing and analyzing a variety of metocean and cetacean data, collected by Nova Atlantis over a 13-year period (Jan 2003 to July 2016). 

  • Photo ID: Taking and comparing marine mammal identification pictures to catalogue.

  • General field station maintenance: for example: woodwork, computer maintenance, basic boat mechanics.

Intern at Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, Nassau, Bahamas (2015). (www.breef.org)

  • Fishery Legislation: Verifying whether hotels and fishing charters respect Bahamian fishing legislation.

  • Coral Restoration: Participated in underwater effort to keep the coral nursery free from parasites and predators, implantation of the coral trees from the nursery on the reef.

  • Oil Monitoring: Taking daily oceanic samples, analyzing data, creating spreadsheets and charts for public use.

  • Summer Camp Counselor:Working with children, teaching marine conservation with a particular focus on shark conservation, promoting eco-school programs.

Volunteer at Marine Dynamics, Gansbaai, South Africa (2014). (www.marinedynamics.org)

  • Ecotourism: Tour guide for clients of Marine Dynamics.

  • Wildlife Conservation: Gathering data and photo identification of Great White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) to be used for a long-term research project. 

  • Conservation initiative: Multiple beach clean-ups, installing fishing line trash cans along the coast in Hermanus, Gansbaai and Kleinbaai.

  • Boating: Basic training in safety procedures, installation of diving cages and related facilities.

Research Intern at the InterUniversity Institute of Marine Science, Eilat, Israel (2014). 

  • Scientific Diving: Installing camera equipment around coral colonies, setting up Electromagnetic Current Meter, taking care of coral nursery.

  • Ecological Survey: Underwater survey of “Christmas tree worms” (Spirobranchus giganteus) at 3 different water depths (-1m, -3m and -5m) daily over a 3-month period.

  • Coral Research: assisting with a large-scale experimental study of photosynthesis and respiration of a variety of symbiotic coral species (eg., favidae sp., pocilloporidae sp.) under thermal stress and ocean acidification conditions, daily over a 3-month period.

  • Laboratory Work:Gathering photosynthetic health status of a variety of coral species (eg., favidae sp., pocilloporidae sp.) prior to incubation, measured with an imaging PAM camera. Test and control of feeding habits of the same coral species.

Instructor at Sub Evasion Diving Center, Ile d’Yeu, France (Since 2008) (www.subevasion.com)

  • Diving supervision and safety

  • Scuba diving instruction

  • Equipment maintenance: dive tanks, BCD and regulator

  • Conservation talks:presentation and open debate with the public on issues linked to climate change, pollution and sustainable fishing.

Additional Skills and Certifications

Languages: French : Fluent - English : Fluent 

Computer Knowledge: Word, Excel, PowerPoint • Photo editing: Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop • Familiar with Microsoft and mac OS.• GIS (ArcMap 10.0)• MATLAB (modelling) • R, SPSS, Prizm (Statistic analysis software)• BEAM (remote-sensing software).

Certifications:

Scuba Diving: ▪ AAUS (American Academy of Underwater Science) Certified Scientific Diver ▪ CMAS (World Underwater Federation): Instructor ▪ TDI Technical Diver: Advanced Nitrox, Deco Procedures ▪ Rescue Diver : RIFAP : “Réactions et Intervention Face à un Accident » Subaquatique Plongée” - Reaction and response facing an underwater accident ▪ Coral Nursery Restoration Specialty 

Basic Offshore Safety Induction & Emergency Training (BOSIET) including HUET plus EBS OPITO Approved (RelyOn Nutec, Ostend, Jan. 2021)

Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System (CA-EBS) Initial Deployment Training OPITO Approved (RelyOn Nutec, Ostend, Jan. 2021)

STCW (2010) Basic Safety Training Certified, MCA Approved (UKSA, Sept. 2019)

Security Awareness Certified, MCA Approved (UKSA, Sept. 2019)

Crowd and Crisis Management, MCA Approved (Mintra, May 2022)

First aid and CPR responder and O2 provider

Boating License (France): Coastal (<6NM) 

Driver’s License : B (Manual full license) 

European Drone operator

Publications

Thesis Abstract

Locally managed marine areas are a common conservation tool in Pacific island nations. The kingdom of Tonga has shown increasing number of those small marine areas or SMAs. The main objective of these reserves are to counteract the effects of climate change and overfishing. The effectiveness of protected areas has been studied on a biological and ecological level, but the local community perception is still misunderstood. This project attempts to link local community perception and understanding of the role and objectives of SMAs. A series of surveys were conducted by the Tongan government, in the 4 studied communities. The selected question focused primarily on the perception of the current state of their ecosystem and the ecological roles of small marine reserves within the community. Biological surveys were conducted, to create baseline knowledge on the abundance of targeted fish and determine the current ecological state of the system. The results of the surveys and the baseline biological data show that the community with the most degraded ecosystem, show the most interest and have the higher expectation regarding the use of SMAs. Overall, every community has a good understanding of the state of the ecosystem and the ecological principles of SMAs. Hopefully, the engagement and good perception of the network will continue in the long-term.