Secretariat

Helen is working with Plan Vivo through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Edinburgh which runs until March 2027. Her work will focus on the SHAMBA model, with a focus on increasing accessibility and modelling capability for Plan Vivo projects. Helen has a PhD in Soil Carbon Modelling (University of Edinburgh), Masters in Climate and Atmospheric Science (University of Leeds) and BSc in Natural Sciences (Durham University). She works on tackling the climate and nature crises, with a focus on sustainable resource use and resilient ecosystems. Helen has over 8 years of experience in environmental modelling for research, strategy and decision support. Her career focus is building science-based methods fit for application in the real world.

Tanya holds an MSc in Climate Studies with a specialisation in human – environment interactions from Wageningen University. She also holds certifications in Managing Environmental and Social Performance using the IFC Performance standards and Measuring the environment through environmental SDG indicators.

She has a background working in government parastatals, including the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Management Agency in Zimbabwe, where she gained experience in natural resources management and community-focused environmental work. Over the past two years, she has worked in the carbon market and land-use space, with experience supporting Acorn’s community-based agroforestry projects and contributing to MRV, ESG monitoring and reporting, and stakeholder engagement across diverse contexts.

Tanya is passionate about advancing sustainable solutions that deliver meaningful benefits for both communities and ecosystems, with a particular interest in supporting projects that improve the livelihoods of underserved groups. She is excited to contribute to Plan Vivo’s mission by supporting projects across Africa, especially in regions closely connected to her own background. 

Donald has over 8 years of experience in environmental science, policy, carbon market frameworks, project development, and management. With a strong background in climate mitigation, nature-based solutions, carbon credit rating, and project development risk mitigation and advisory, he has worked across Eastern Africa and internationally on mangrove restoration, forest carbon modeling, carbon project design, registry process development, stakeholder engagement, improved cookstoves and household solar lighting projects, and carbon finance policy analysis. 

He holds an MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media, and Society from Dublin City University and a BSc in Coastal and Marine Resources Management from Kenyatta University. 

Before joining Plan Vivo, Olivia worked in sustainability education for professionals, and as a research assistant for a sustainability consultant. She holds a BA in English Literature, as well as an MPhil in Anthropocene Studies, both from the University of Cambridge. The focus of her Master’s dissertation was the environmental potential of Scottish community landownership in the Highlands.

Alongside work, Olivia enjoys cold water swimming, crafts, and community activism.

Róisín is a recent expat from Aotearoa New Zealand where she worked for the Climate Change Commission as a Research Assistant and Analyst in their Māori team. Most of her work surrounded indigenous community engagement and analysing public consultation feedback to support policy advice delivered to the New Zealand Government. 

Róisín holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology, Education and Maori Studies, and is currently on a break from her Masters of Indigenous Studies. Her passion in the field lies in supporting climate action and conservation to be indigenous led and focused. 

Outside of work, Róisín enjoys long walks through the greenscapes in and around Edinburgh and cosying up with a good book and a cup of tea.

Terita has been working in the conservation field since 2016 where the majority of her work focused on restoring critical habitats for species at risk in Canada. In 2021, she moved to the UK to pursue a Master of Science in Conservation and Biodiversity so she could dive into the international conservation world and focus on her passion of protecting and conserving globally endangered species.

Terita has a particular interest in primate and bird conservation and has seen 3 out of 5 of the world’s apes in the wild, including gorillas, gibbons, and chimpanzees. She is an avid birder and often spends her weekends out birdwatching on her local patch or going further afield to other RSPB reserves in the UK. When she is not birding, she spends her free time hiking, cycling and snorkelling. 

Dianah has close to 20 years of experience in biodiversity conservation with special interests in avian conservation and community livelihoods development. She holds a PhD in Environment and Natural Resource Management from Makerere University, Uganda with a focus on The Conservation of Biodiversity in Farmlands of Uganda, using birds as indicators.

She has previously worked with NatureUganda as the Director of the Biodiversity Monitoring and the Community conservation programme, and with ECOTRUST, heading the biodiversity conservation arm of her Tripple win model.

Dianah’s current interest is in the trickle down of biodiversity conservation finance to the grassroot indigenous communities. She is passionate about music, family, and her faith. During her spare time, Dianah enjoys studying the Bible and reflecting on scripture.

Adrine has 13 years’ experience in designing, planning and implementing PV projects; forest restoration; agroforestry; collaborative forest management and policy lobby and advocacy projects. She has worked with government, media, academia, NGOs, private sector and small-holder farmers on government, private sector and donor funded projects at local, sub-national, national and international level in Uganda, Rwanda and Ghana. She is a Ugandan, with a Msc Environment and Natural Resources Management and a Bachelor of Community Forestry from Makerere University, Uganda. She also holds certificates in Gender Mainstreaming, Organic Agriculture, Forestry Silvicultural Practices, Ecosystem Values based on TEEB, among others.

Edwin holds a degree in Agricultural Sciences from EARTH University in Costa Rica and an MSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Hohenheim in Germany.

With over 15 years of experience in sustainable agriculture projects focused on the development of the Latin American region, he has worked as a consultant for UN agencies (FAO, UNDP, WFP), International Investment Funds for Agroforestry, Ministries of Agriculture, and NGOs.

His main interests are agriculture and conservation, with a focus on organic farming, syntrophic agriculture, permaculture, silvopastoral systems and similar nature-based solutions to minimize carbon emissions in agriculture, promote and safeguard natural habitats and biodiversity, revitalize degraded landscapes, and boost rural livelihoods. 

Nicole has more than 5 years of experience as a consultant, with a specialisation in assisting companies in successfully incorporating a sustainability strategy. Her key areas of expertise include carbon footprinting, net-zero target setting, and reporting. During her professional work she gained knowledge about various environmental commodities, such as carbon credits.

Nicole also deepened her understanding of marine conservation during a 5‑month internship in Koh Tao, Thailand, which she aims to incorporate into her future work. Nicole holds an MSc in Environmental Science and Technology from TU Berlin.

Charlegne holds a BEng in Chemical Engineering and is currently pursuing an MSc in Carbon Management. She was a fellow with the Edinburgh Earth Institute contributing to multiple projects including ​‘Fossil-Fuel-Ed’ which involved documenting the University of Edinburgh’s historic relationship to fossil fuels and the fossil fuel economy as well as exploring the institution’s role in the teaching of coal mining.

Born in Zimbabwe, she is passionate about contributing to mitigation and adaptation projects, especially when they also focus on improving the livelihoods of communities across the African continent. 

As a Climate Officer, Amelia frequently works with carbon projects, supporting and guiding them through the certification process. She also works on Plan Vivo’s environmental and social safeguarding guidance, working towards best practice within the sector, and ensuring Plan Vivo’s holistic values of community participation and protection are safeguarded in all our projects, as well as keeping abreast of how this sector is changing and improving. Amelia is also coordinating the project migration verifications to PV Climate Version 5.

She holds a BSc in Physics from the University of York and an MSc in Carbon Management from the University of Edinburgh.

Outside of work, Amelia is passionate about rugby, and plays for Heriot’s Rugby Club most weekends.

Lilian has been actively involved in research in blue carbon ecosystems, people, and climate for the past decade. She is highly experienced in mangrove ecology and the engagement of communities in nature-based solutions, and significantly contributes to mangrove research, policy and community development in her country and the Western Indian Ocean region.

Lilian holds an MSc (Environmental Science) and BSc (Natural Resources Management) from Egerton University and is currently pursuing a PhD (Marine Ecology) at Edinburgh Napier University. Outside of work, she enjoys family time and engaging children in activities in her local church. Lilian is based in Kenya.

Greg graduated with a BSc in Biology from the University of Dundee. He has extensive experience in animal conservation, including work with loggerhead sea turtles in Cape Verde and bonobo research in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he collaborated with local communities and NGOs.

Greg also has a background in software engineering, which adds a valuable technology perspective to his conservation efforts.

Cecilia joined Plan Vivo Foundation in August 2020 and supports the team on the day to day management of the finances and budgets. 

With a background in administration and finance, Cecilia, having worked in the third sector for over 30 years, has gained experience of both local, national and international voluntary organisations from a range of thematic areas and now enjoys being part of the continuing growth of Plan Vivo. 

In 2021, Harry returned to the UK after a decade away in Colombia. He holds an MSc in Environmental Protection and Management from Edinburgh University and a MA in Global Diplomacy from SOAS University. Prior to Plan Vivo, Harry worked with the British Council Bogota and several Colombian Universities. His passion for conservation was stoked through extensive periods in Colombian regions bordering the Amazon, including Caqueta, Guaviare and Putumayo. He speaks both English and Spanish. Outside of work he regularly bike packs and explores the Scottish countryside.