Kat Holmes Email & Phone Number

UK National Focal Point for the Ramsar Convention on wetlandsResponsible for the UK's international wetlands policy and negotiations, alongside managing the network of internationally important wetland sites across the UK, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories.IUCN UK Executive Committee - Defra focal point

Grant manager for the UK's Southern Africa Conservation Fund, a £500k/year ODA programme to support wildlife corridors, tackle illegal wildife trade, mitigate human wildlife conflict and support community livelihoods in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.Led international engagement and financial design of the UK's Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, delivering £100m over numerous transboundary landscapes for biodiversity, climate and poverty alleviation outcomes.

Led the implementation of the UK's chairmanship of the environmental track under the UK's G7 presidency.

Ivory Act, banning domestic trade in ivory. Represented the UK at the EU and internationally to drive global action on closing down ivory markets and trade.

Marine policy advocacy delivering marine protected areas for seabirds and their prey and addressing bycatch. Coordinated RSPB's response to the opportunities and risks EU exit posed to marine conservation and fisheries management in the UK, working across NGOs to drive forward public money for public good.

Home Based

Management and implementation of Nature Spy's digital communication strategy and websmite design. Strategic planning of communications activities and networking. Carried out interviews with inspiring professionals who use camera traps to achieve conservation objectives. Project management - implementation of the "SafariSpy" camera trapping project, involving the development of a network of conservation professionals and providing access to camera trap technology and support.

Pretoria Area, South Africa

Policy – shaped UK government policy for London IWT conference in 2014 and led on discussions with South Africa. Achieved UK government engagement with South Africa on low carbon growth and UNFCCC negotiations.Projects – developed and delivered projects building low carbon growth and tackling IWT with local implementers, totalling £200,000.Communications – organised a Ministerial visit on IWT and a visit by the Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative for Climate Change. Organised events, wrote press releases and used social media. Worked as part of a crisis response team.External relationships – built and maintained a group of close contacts across government, business, media and civil society.

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

Policy – assisted in research which advised DEA on national Rhino horn trade. Fundraising – initiated donor relations and co-wrote funding proposals.

Bath, United Kingdom

Research – led a project consolidating expert knowledge and analysing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to evaluate the success of conservation actions for 236 species of mammal since 1996 (paper to be published this year). Communications – Managed ‘Species of the Day’, a public awareness initiative, writing accessible and educational species accounts, and sourcing photographs.Fundraising – co-wrote a fundraising proposal and identified and approached prospective donors.

London, United Kingdom

Researched and wrote a short paper on climate change impacts on malaria in Africa, to inform the position of Malaria No More on this topic.Researched 150 Members of Parliament and produced a summary report identifying 10 members for a targeted lobbying campaign.

Bachelor'S Degree, Biology, First Class

Activities and Societies: Dissertation (first class): Patterns of hybridization and sexual selection within the Anseriformes (ducks, geese.

Master'S Degree, Sustainable Development, Distinction

Part time study by correspondence from South Africa. Specialising in natural resource economics, policy and management. Currently.