Stephanie Wilmott Email & Phone Number

Australia

London, England, United Kingdom

As a Plant Health Surveyor & Team Leader, I conducted visual surveys of oak trees throughout Greater London for invasive oak processionary moth nests with the aim of assessing and monitoring the spread of the pest, in cooperation with the Forestry Commission. I also supervised a team of six to eight staff members and used multiple forms of technology to record, manage and share data. With my communication and interpersonal skills, I was able to educate the general public in oak processionary moths to raise awareness of the pest and its legal and health implications. I also organised and scheduled survey work and acquired the permission of multiple landholders to access privately-owned lands. Key Achievements:• Gained promotion to the Team Leader position within two months of employment, demonstrating effective leadership skills.

London, United Kingdom

Costa Rica

My primary duty was to monitor the local marine turtle populations by tagging and measuring three types of adult sea turtles. This duty entailed the procedures of recording biometric data, marking nests and excavating nests, calculating hatchling success rates and working in partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. I facilitated and provided leadership and skills training programs in tropical sciences, conservation and field survey techniques to up to 30 volunteers per month. As such, I mentored, trained and supervised 12 short-term and three long-term interns in biological survey techniques, leadership, data analysis, paper critiques, presentations and risk assessments. I also orchestrated and organised educational activities for local children at the end of the turtle season celebration. In the area of administration, I ensured the project’s adherence to frameworks and maintained all project documentation, including but not limited to project plans, schedules, work hours, budgets and expenditures. I also developed and delivered progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation and presentations whilst managing extensive databases and reporting all data to the partner organisation Sea Turtle Conservancy. Along with the above, I undertook social media development tasks for platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, blogs and photo compilations. Key Achievements:• Designed and implemented new training techniques for biometric data collection with great improvements in accuracy. • Successfully mentored three long-term interns, resulting in their employment within the organisation on the completion of internship period. • Effectively led and managed an under-18s Adventure Week, leading 10 teenagers in outdoor adventure activities, including zip-lining, canyoning and white-water rafting. • Received training programs in Off-Site Safety Management, Project Management, Volunteer Management, Conflict Management and Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection.

Costa Rica

In this role, I collected data on the predator-prey relationship between jaguars and marine turtles, obtained data on jaguar prey species and recorded their social and feeding behaviours. I assessed jaguar prey species through scat collection and cleaning and participated in a trial study of jaguar DNA collection through the swabbing of saliva on deceased turtles. With this, I utilised effective camera trapping techniques to identify and monitor 14 resident jaguars and up to six migrant jaguars. I also created a visual pedigree of resident jaguars based on previous years of camera trap footage for volunteer training. Key Achievements:• Significantly assisted in the development and implementation of new jaguar safety protocols by visiting local schools and organisations to educated them on jaguars and best safe practices to handle them. • Effectively reinstated close and productive relationships with partner organisations and co-authored two published articles. • Gained extensive skills in track identification and animal presence, including the identification of tacks, scratch marks and evidence of dragging.

Costa Rica

As a Conservation Intern, I assisted in site research and documentation, involving on-site land attribute analysis, GIS mapping and report writing. I participated in data entry and management for each of the four projects, ensuring data accuracy and timeliness. Throughout this employment, I developed my leadership skills through training programs and experience in leading surveys and assisting volunteers.Key Achievements:• Successfully selected as the only one of the five long-term interns to stay on at the research base and then, offered permanent employment. • Obtained experience and skills necessary for living remotely in a foreign country, improving adaptation and travelling skills. • Completed training in biological survey techniques and assisted in biodiversity and bird projects, including forest, canal bird and shorebird surveys; also received Certification in Emergency First Response.

Wollongong, Australia

During my employment at Wollongong Coal Pty Ltd, I established monitoring sites and undertook the monitoring, recording, QA/QC and reporting of water quality, water flow and manual/electronic piezometer data in Sydney Catchment Authority area. I worked with the environmental team, the community and contractors to manage environmental factors and maintain site compliance relevant to the mine, including regular inspections around site, operating pumps and controlling water level in settling dams, dust, noise, water, radiation, sediment and vegetation monitoring and management.Utilising my strong sense of initiative and organisational skills, I managed all environmental data collected in spreadsheets and data base systems and assisted in providing data for published reports and presentations to regulators and the public. I was able to produce new and updated existing Safe Work Procedures and Risk Assessments whilst following daily safety management procedures, including the completion of Take Twos and vehicle safety checks. Moreover, I trained and supervised casual employees to improve their skills, provide assistance to complex tasks and foster teamwork.

Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

As an Honours Student for BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal, I conducted baseline study on endangered plant species Persoonia hirsuta to determine current population locations, sizes, height of individuals and health. In order to do so, I completed habitat assessments to determine environmental factors that affect the presence of absence of species, including soil particle size, canopy cover, dominant vegetation, slope, altitude, aspect, distance to draining lines and disturbance and abundance of rock outcrops. I also organised collected data on Microsoft Excel and analysed said data in statistical programs, such as JMP and PRIMER. Along with this, I prepared analytical reports and built organisational networks whilst managing deliverables in order to meet deadlines. Essentially, I supported research development and resources initiatives to gain experience in the development of tropical research programs, identification of funding opportunities, coordination of proposals and sponsorship and promotional activities.

Master'S Degree, Ecology And Evolutionary Biology

Bachelor Of Environmental Science (Advanced) Honours, Life Sciences