Andy Donnelly - Director, Science Partnerships
Andy Donnelly is a zoology graduate from UCW Aberystwyth, and has an MSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture from Stirling University. He has 15 years’ experience in biological research management, consultancy and outreach. This ranges from working as a wildlife guide in the Peruvian Amazon and providing under water experimental design for collaborative European Union oceanography projects to developing inter-agency communication products for the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee and leading terrestrial invertebrate surveys in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
A graduate of Cambridge Universities Cross Sector Partnerships and accredited partnership broker (PBAS), from 2001 until 2007 Andy worked for the Australian Museum as a science communicator and program manager developing and delivering a series of projects through corporate partnerships. These included environmental education and community outreach, biodiversity survey and data management systems. He acted as a scientific advisor to the BBC Natural History Unit on David Attenborough’s recent ‘Life in the Undergrowth’ series.
As Director, Science Partnerships, Andy is exploring and developing corporate and cross-sector partnerships and experiential learning programs and working to increase community environmental engagement and education activities in Australia.
Andy joined Earthwatch in June 2007.
Jen Alger - Director, Field Management
Jen Alger, originally from Newfoundland, Canada, has a BSc in Biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She moved to the UK in 1999, and trained as a Veterinary Nurse before taking a job with Earthwatch Europe in 2002. At Earthwatch Europe, Jen headed the Field Management team, and successfully risk-assessed and managed over 50 international research projects, led by scientists and attended by volunteers from around the world.
Jen is Oxford Cambridge and RSA (Royal Society of Arts) accredited in Off-Site Safety Management, and trained in Wilderness First Aid, Incident Management, Crisis Media, and Trauma Counselling. She also has six years experience co-ordinating and leading cross departmental Incident Management Teams.
Through her career and personal life, Jen has been able to visit 28 countries around the world. In May 2009, Jen joined her 25th Earthwatch Expedition, and continues to visit projects to assess them for safety and volunteer suitability.
As Director of Field Management Australia, Jen will assist in the development of new Earthwatch Australia projects, and continues to manage and monitor the field operations of existing projects.
Jen joined Earthwatch Australia in August 2009.
Rachel Maitland - ClimateWatch Coordinator, Sydney
Rachel Maitland graduated from Sydney University in Marine Science and then completed her honours with James Cook University with Ivan Lawler (through Helene Marsh) on risk analysis of boat impacts on Dugong populations in Hervey Bay.
After university she joined the NSW National Parks bandicoot surveys. She subsequently worked for the Marine and Coastal Community Network based at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science managing communications and participant liaison. The network Marine and Coastal Community Network has 10,300 participants.
With this experience Rachel joined Earthwatch to coordinate the ClimateWatch and Scientist for a Day programs working in the Earthwatch Australia Sydney office.
Joined August 2008