Introducing the 2024 Early Career Ocean Professionals
We are pleased to announce our 2024 round of early career ocean professionals. They will join the IORA Blue Carbon Hub to conduct collaborative projects from July – September. We look forward to welcoming our visitors to the Hub office in Perth.
Below are some details about the successful applicants and their projects they will undertake.
Ashraful Moontahab
- Ashraful is an early career researcher who completed his MSc in Oceanography at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University last year. He has worked on multiple projects including themes on renewable energy, climate variability, physical oceanography and ocean modelling. To integrate the economic output from ocean usage, a focus on blue carbon policy is needed to avoid climatic uncertainty. His research with the IORA Blue Carbon Hub will evaluate the impact of Bangladesh’s blue carbon policy measures on the preservation of coastal ecosystems and the mitigation of climate change. Ashraful was a successful ECOP last year, but his visit was postponed due to his academic commitments.
- LocationBangladesh
Avianto Nugroho
- Avianto is a policy analyst at the Coordinating Deputy for Maritime Resources. He has a masters degree in Environmental Management and a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries and marine science. His project will explore avenues for enhancing Indonesia’s blue carbon governance. Leveraging lessons from international collaboration, particularly with and from the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Member States, to optimise blue carbon contributions towards Indonesia’s emission reduction targets.
- LocationIndonesia
- AddressCoordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment – Republic of Indonesia
Devica Natalia Br Ginting
- Devica Natalia Br Ginting is a researcher at the Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia. She is particularly interested in blue carbon ecosystems and has focused her research in this field following her participation in the Blue Carbon Fellowship in 2019. Her research emphasizes the utilization of remote sensing data to provide information related to blue carbon ecosystems. In her thesis, she examined seagrass mapping procedures based on remote sensing data using machine learning method in Nusa Lembongan, Bali. Building on this research, Devica aims to further investigate seagrass dynamics on small islands using remote sensing data. Small islands were selected due to their importance as seagrass habitats and their susceptibility to climate change impacts and anthropogenic activities. This research is expected to provide comprehensive insights into understanding seagrass dynamics on small islands, supporting seagrass rehabilitation and restoration efforts. Through this program, she hopes to build knowledge and capacity related to blue carbon ecosystems, especially seagrass, enabling her to produce more comprehensive research.
- LocationIndonesia
- AddressResearch Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)
Jamie Yeo Jing Ying
- Jamie Yeo is from Singapore and holds a Bachelors of Social Science Degree in Geography from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Upon graduation, she took up roles in both private banking and wealth management which gave her the knowledge and tools required to address the concerns of affluent clients. Subsequently, her role as an impact investor in a family office has helped her understand the due diligence process leading up to investment-making decisions. Jamie would like to investigate alternative financing tools to unlock private capital towards scaling conservation efforts. She would like to understand the concerns of philanthropists, impact investors and private bankers in their due diligence process. One of the outcomes of her project is to develop a policy guide for decision-makers detailing tactical approaches on how they could leverage private finance to achieve their goals. Jamie is excited to be part of ECOPP as it will connect her to working practitioners who can translate these findings into meaningful and impactful work.
- LocationSingapore
Josphat Gacoki Nguu
- Josphat is an associate researcher at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute in Kenya. He holds an MSc in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium. His research focuses on community-based conservation of blue carbon ecosystems. Currently, he is leading the development of carbon offset projects in mangrove and seagrass ecosystems at both national and regional levels. For his ECOP fellowship project at the IORA Blue Carbon Hub, Josphat will work on formulating a criteria matrix for selecting closure areas for seagrass carbon projects. The lack of defined boundaries in seagrass resources complicates the establishment of community conservation areas. Through this program, Josphat will collaborate with other seagrass conservation experts to develop a global seagrass closure matrix that can be used by seagrass carbon offset developers. This project will also provide an opportunity to enhance collaboration between Kenya and Australia in advancing seagrass conservation policies.
- LocationKenya
- AddressKenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
Waruni Tissera
- Waruni Tissera is a Research Officer at the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka. In this role, she works on the government-led Accelerated Natural Regeneration of Mangroves (ANRM) project, where she is involved in science-based restoration activities and research related to blue carbon ecosystems. She conducts research on estimating the total carbon stock and soil physicochemical parameters of mangrove ecosystems. Currently, she is engaged in biodiversity and survival assessment studies related to mangrove ecosystems and their restoration. Waruni graduated with first-class honors from Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Food Production and Technology Management, with a specialization in Aquaculture and Fisheries. Previously, she worked as a research assistant in the Ocean Affairs, Environment, and Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka. At the IORA Blue Carbon Hub, Waruni aims to develop comprehensive policies on carbon and environmental crediting for mangrove restoration. She hopes to bridge the gap between conservation and economic development in Sri Lanka, laying the groundwork for integrating blue carbon finance mechanisms into national discussions and decision-making processes.
- LocationSri Lanka
- AddressWildlife & Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka
