Emily Pernet

Captivated by the natural world during regular hiking trips across the Alps and following nature documentaries from a young age, Emily only recently considered a career in conservation. After growing up in France, and obtaining a Bachelor’s degree and an MSc in Economics, she started her career in the international development space, taking her to countries including Haiti, Rwanda, Kenya and Mozambique. Following a couple of policy advising roles, she went on to focus on sustainable livelihoods, leading research projects focused on the crossroads between inclusive growth and climate change.

Her professional journey is driven by a belief that conservation efforts must support both biodiversity and the communities that rely on natural resources. Her experiences so far have solidified her understanding of the complex relationships between human development and environmental conservation, as well as the importance of context-specific, community-driven solutions. This has reinforced her conviction that conservation efforts must not only protect biodiversity but also enhance social equity.

She then realised that she could further combine her love for nature and people together. By pursuing this MSc in Conservation Biology, Emily aims to bridge her socio-economic expertise with scientific knowledge, providing her with a unique perspective and skillset to ultimately contribute to solutions that benefit both ecosystems and people.

During her spare time, Emily enjoys playing racket sports, hiking, camping, practicing yoga and meditation, reading and being offline. Some of her favourite conservation areas are Chapada Diamantina National Park in Brazil, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Bazaruto Archipelago National Marine Park and Chimanimani National Park in Mozambique.