We are committed to bringing different viewpoints to the table in order to creatively engage new audiences to protect and restore our natural world. This program was created to provide passes, mentorship and unique networking opportunities for filmmakers who will help us diversify our community with regard to race, gender, culture, socioeconomics, geography, and domain knowledge. This scholarship will provide mentorship for emerging conservation media leaders in unique programs that directly connect them with the most influential content creators from around the globe. Recipients will attend the Jackson Wild Summit, September 28 - October 1, 2020.
Tessa Barlin
Cape Town, South Africa
Tessa Barlin is a 25-year-old South African independent filmmaker with a focus on documentary storytelling and a passion for wildlife conservation. Tessa aims to tell stories that explore the intersection between nature conservation and social justice issues. She is driven to use her craft to bring about meaningful change. Her goal is to inspire people, who ordinarily wouldn't care about nature, to feel connected to the natural world, to claim a sense of ownership and pride in it, and to want to protect it. Where Tessa once exclusively did cinematography, she is now directing and producing her own films too. Tessa's graduation film, The Water Dancers, won a SAFTA Award in 2019 and her most recent short documentary, Beyond The Fence, is currently on the festival circuit.
Cape Town, South Africa
Tessa Barlin is a 25-year-old South African independent filmmaker with a focus on documentary storytelling and a passion for wildlife conservation. Tessa aims to tell stories that explore the intersection between nature conservation and social justice issues. She is driven to use her craft to bring about meaningful change. Her goal is to inspire people, who ordinarily wouldn't care about nature, to feel connected to the natural world, to claim a sense of ownership and pride in it, and to want to protect it. Where Tessa once exclusively did cinematography, she is now directing and producing her own films too. Tessa's graduation film, The Water Dancers, won a SAFTA Award in 2019 and her most recent short documentary, Beyond The Fence, is currently on the festival circuit.
Raghunath Belur
Bangalore, India
Raghunath Belur (“Rana”) is a wildlife filmmaker and photographer from Bangalore, India. He has worked as a cameraperson for several national and international wildlife productions. His interests are in documenting animal behaviour and the conservation efforts leading to the protection of wild spaces. He is a volunteer with Conservation India and is a member of the IUCN’s Otter Specialist Group (OSG). He is currently documenting the conflict between otters and fishermen along the rivers in South India.
Bangalore, India
Raghunath Belur (“Rana”) is a wildlife filmmaker and photographer from Bangalore, India. He has worked as a cameraperson for several national and international wildlife productions. His interests are in documenting animal behaviour and the conservation efforts leading to the protection of wild spaces. He is a volunteer with Conservation India and is a member of the IUCN’s Otter Specialist Group (OSG). He is currently documenting the conflict between otters and fishermen along the rivers in South India.
Chelsie Boodoo
East Lansing, MI, United States
Chelsie Boodoo is a Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. student at Michigan State University. She founded the radio-show/podcast "The Sci-Files" with her co-host Daniel Puentes. "The Sci-Files" won First Place in the 2020 Michigan Association of Broadcasting Awards for College Radio Talk Show for the episode "Doppsee the Pregnant Black Rhino". Chelsie has a passion for science communication (scicomm), and started MSU SciComm with other graduate students to create a welcoming space for everyone to practice and learn scicomm. Chelsie also enjoys capturing the beauty of nature and astronomy in Michigan through video and photography. She is a City of East Lansing Emerging Leader and she was commissioned in Summer 2020 to create science-art for the city. You can contact her on Twitter: @SciWithChelsie.
East Lansing, MI, United States
Chelsie Boodoo is a Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. student at Michigan State University. She founded the radio-show/podcast "The Sci-Files" with her co-host Daniel Puentes. "The Sci-Files" won First Place in the 2020 Michigan Association of Broadcasting Awards for College Radio Talk Show for the episode "Doppsee the Pregnant Black Rhino". Chelsie has a passion for science communication (scicomm), and started MSU SciComm with other graduate students to create a welcoming space for everyone to practice and learn scicomm. Chelsie also enjoys capturing the beauty of nature and astronomy in Michigan through video and photography. She is a City of East Lansing Emerging Leader and she was commissioned in Summer 2020 to create science-art for the city. You can contact her on Twitter: @SciWithChelsie.
Asha de Vos
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dr. Asha de Vos is an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan marine biologist, ocean educator and pioneer of long-term blue whale research within the Northern Indian Ocean. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Oceans Institute of the University of Western Australia. She has degrees from the University of St. Andrews, University of Oxford and the University of Western Australia but escaped academia to establish her own Sri Lankan grown non-profit, Oceanswell - Sri Lanka’s first marine conservation research and education organization. Her work has been showcased internationally by the BBC, the New York Times, TED and National Geographic to name a few. Asha is the first and only Sri Lankan to have a PhD in Marine Mammal research, the first Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and first National Geographic Explorer from Sri Lanka, and the first Sri Lankan woman to have her portrait hung at Oxford University. Asha is also a TED Senior fellow, an Ocean Conservation Fellow at the New England Aquarium, a Duke Global Fellow in Marine Conservation, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dr. Asha de Vos is an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan marine biologist, ocean educator and pioneer of long-term blue whale research within the Northern Indian Ocean. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Oceans Institute of the University of Western Australia. She has degrees from the University of St. Andrews, University of Oxford and the University of Western Australia but escaped academia to establish her own Sri Lankan grown non-profit, Oceanswell - Sri Lanka’s first marine conservation research and education organization. Her work has been showcased internationally by the BBC, the New York Times, TED and National Geographic to name a few. Asha is the first and only Sri Lankan to have a PhD in Marine Mammal research, the first Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and first National Geographic Explorer from Sri Lanka, and the first Sri Lankan woman to have her portrait hung at Oxford University. Asha is also a TED Senior fellow, an Ocean Conservation Fellow at the New England Aquarium, a Duke Global Fellow in Marine Conservation, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.
Iyana Esters
Reno, NV, United States
Iyana is a documentary photographer based in the United States with a Master's of Public Health from Indiana University. She combines visual storytelling with her expertise in public health to empower Black and other marginalized communities, using photography as a lens to examine the human impact of environmental inequities. An emerging visual storyteller, Iyana works primarily in long-form photography and documentary. She also works with the Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources as a programmer.
Reno, NV, United States
Iyana is a documentary photographer based in the United States with a Master's of Public Health from Indiana University. She combines visual storytelling with her expertise in public health to empower Black and other marginalized communities, using photography as a lens to examine the human impact of environmental inequities. An emerging visual storyteller, Iyana works primarily in long-form photography and documentary. She also works with the Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources as a programmer.
Malak Ghazal
Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Malak Ghazal is a multimedia artist from Kalamazoo, MI focusing on postcolonialism and environmental politics. She is one of 14 million Lebanese migrants, known as the Lebanese Diaspora. Though they are scattered in all corners of the globe - their hearts are rooted in our homeland. But, Malak asks, “why did so many of us have to leave in the first place? The answer lies in the land itself. Our strife is directly linked to environmental exploitation - dating back several thousands of years. Rarely have the voices of Arabs (or members of the ‘developing world’) included in the environmentalist movement, but our communities illustrate how destroying ecosystems destroys societies. Through interviews, documentation, writing, and photography, my work explores these connections. I hope to continue this research in the months to come through the Jackson Wild Fellowship.”
Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Malak Ghazal is a multimedia artist from Kalamazoo, MI focusing on postcolonialism and environmental politics. She is one of 14 million Lebanese migrants, known as the Lebanese Diaspora. Though they are scattered in all corners of the globe - their hearts are rooted in our homeland. But, Malak asks, “why did so many of us have to leave in the first place? The answer lies in the land itself. Our strife is directly linked to environmental exploitation - dating back several thousands of years. Rarely have the voices of Arabs (or members of the ‘developing world’) included in the environmentalist movement, but our communities illustrate how destroying ecosystems destroys societies. Through interviews, documentation, writing, and photography, my work explores these connections. I hope to continue this research in the months to come through the Jackson Wild Fellowship.”
Alexandra Kahn
Honolulu, HI, United States
Alexandra Kahn is a full time photographer and videographer focusing on environmental and social change. She has made three feature-length adventure sports documentaries serving as first videographer, editor, and colorist for each. She founded The Kahana Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides environmental education through media and advocacy training. She also works as a community organizer and helped spearhead the campaign that made Honolulu the first major city to ban single-use plastics in the United States. Alexandra continues to organize and run campaigns, and has authored legislation for elected officials at the state and local level to change policies on resiliency, conservation, renewable energy, circular economies, and environmental education. She enjoys marrying her love for the environment with her love for media production that can inspire change. Alexandra has a degree in marketing from the University of Colorado and lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Honolulu, HI, United States
Alexandra Kahn is a full time photographer and videographer focusing on environmental and social change. She has made three feature-length adventure sports documentaries serving as first videographer, editor, and colorist for each. She founded The Kahana Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides environmental education through media and advocacy training. She also works as a community organizer and helped spearhead the campaign that made Honolulu the first major city to ban single-use plastics in the United States. Alexandra continues to organize and run campaigns, and has authored legislation for elected officials at the state and local level to change policies on resiliency, conservation, renewable energy, circular economies, and environmental education. She enjoys marrying her love for the environment with her love for media production that can inspire change. Alexandra has a degree in marketing from the University of Colorado and lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Felixie Kipngetich
Nakuru, Kenya
Felix is an independent documentary filmmaker and science storyteller based in Kenya. He's had the privilege of developing films for non-profits in East Africa while also serving as a wildlife film and photography expedition assistant instructor. He’s currently interning at Kenya Wildlife Trust on their Mara Predator Conservation Programme. He seeks to drive impact while also learning better ways of being creative, inclusive, and interactive in his work. The interactions he’s had while facilitating the masterclasses within the wild have pushed and motivated him to need to try to and be better at it so he can share these skills with more younger Africans. He’s a big believer that as Africans we ought to inform our own stories & represent ourselves wholly. We should protect and preserve our biodiversity. Driven by the vision to create better solutions to conserve the environment and tell the stories of nature - his mission is to explore this incredible world, learn everything he can, and share powerful, impactful stories.
Nakuru, Kenya
Felix is an independent documentary filmmaker and science storyteller based in Kenya. He's had the privilege of developing films for non-profits in East Africa while also serving as a wildlife film and photography expedition assistant instructor. He’s currently interning at Kenya Wildlife Trust on their Mara Predator Conservation Programme. He seeks to drive impact while also learning better ways of being creative, inclusive, and interactive in his work. The interactions he’s had while facilitating the masterclasses within the wild have pushed and motivated him to need to try to and be better at it so he can share these skills with more younger Africans. He’s a big believer that as Africans we ought to inform our own stories & represent ourselves wholly. We should protect and preserve our biodiversity. Driven by the vision to create better solutions to conserve the environment and tell the stories of nature - his mission is to explore this incredible world, learn everything he can, and share powerful, impactful stories.
Cosette Larash
Baltimore, MD, United States
Cosette Larash is a marine conservationist, educator, photographer, and filmmaker based in Baltimore, MD who is passionate about our blue planet and the people that call it home. She is a freelance photographer for the National Aquarium and works full time as a public engagement specialist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), where she works to make scientific research accessible to the community. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, she brings a unique lens to science and conservation storytelling. Her goal is to bring a more inclusive and equitable perspective towards the types of stories that are highlighted. Cosette is passionate about challenging American “norms” in STEM and by amplifying the stories of diversity in the field, she hopes to show what real science looks like and that anyone can be a part of it.
Baltimore, MD, United States
Cosette Larash is a marine conservationist, educator, photographer, and filmmaker based in Baltimore, MD who is passionate about our blue planet and the people that call it home. She is a freelance photographer for the National Aquarium and works full time as a public engagement specialist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), where she works to make scientific research accessible to the community. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, she brings a unique lens to science and conservation storytelling. Her goal is to bring a more inclusive and equitable perspective towards the types of stories that are highlighted. Cosette is passionate about challenging American “norms” in STEM and by amplifying the stories of diversity in the field, she hopes to show what real science looks like and that anyone can be a part of it.
Irene Mendez Cruz
Bristol, United Kingdom
Irene is a Venezuelan-French marine and natural history photographer and filmmaker, currently working as a researcher for the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol. She is passionate about the natural world, storytelling and science & conservation communication. She comes from a multicultural family of artists and has a diverse academic background, having studied Political Science at La Sorbonne and Marine & Natural History Photography at Falmouth University - a BA that sits at the crossroad of photography, filmmaking and zoology. She has experience working in South and Central America, with renowned institutions like the Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Her work has been published in BBC Wildlife Magazine, WIRED UK and Practical Photography Magazine amongst others.
Bristol, United Kingdom
Irene is a Venezuelan-French marine and natural history photographer and filmmaker, currently working as a researcher for the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol. She is passionate about the natural world, storytelling and science & conservation communication. She comes from a multicultural family of artists and has a diverse academic background, having studied Political Science at La Sorbonne and Marine & Natural History Photography at Falmouth University - a BA that sits at the crossroad of photography, filmmaking and zoology. She has experience working in South and Central America, with renowned institutions like the Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Her work has been published in BBC Wildlife Magazine, WIRED UK and Practical Photography Magazine amongst others.
Yolanda Mogatusi
Johannesburg, South Africa
Yolanda Keabetswe Mogatusi a South African Filmmaker and Storyteller whose career in film and television has spanned over 12 years. Through her company, 1000 Hugs Films, Yolanda has produced many hours of television content and her transition into film has been met with much acclaim with her short film Hair That Moves and dance documentary, Rumba In The Jungle - The Return, playing at many different festivals around the world. An advocate for female empowerment both on and off screen, most of her films have a strong female lead and her children's content carries a message of self acceptance and personal empowerment. A sustainable fashion enthusiast, she is a regular mentor and moderator at the Nature, Environment and Wildlife Film Congress (N.E.W.F) where she is passionate about equipping a new generation of impactful filmmakers.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Yolanda Keabetswe Mogatusi a South African Filmmaker and Storyteller whose career in film and television has spanned over 12 years. Through her company, 1000 Hugs Films, Yolanda has produced many hours of television content and her transition into film has been met with much acclaim with her short film Hair That Moves and dance documentary, Rumba In The Jungle - The Return, playing at many different festivals around the world. An advocate for female empowerment both on and off screen, most of her films have a strong female lead and her children's content carries a message of self acceptance and personal empowerment. A sustainable fashion enthusiast, she is a regular mentor and moderator at the Nature, Environment and Wildlife Film Congress (N.E.W.F) where she is passionate about equipping a new generation of impactful filmmakers.
Kiki Cheptoo Ng'ok
Nairobi, Kenya
Kiki Cheptoo Ng’ok is a documentary filmmaker based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her work is based on uncovering and telling the ‘untold’ stories that exist in Kenya. She maintains that Africans are best suited to explore and tell about the nuanced lives and experiences of African people and the continent. She is especially interested in the relationships between people and landscapes, flora and fauna. Kiki hopes to illuminate the historical connections indigenous Africans have with the environment, as a way to foster conservation efforts.
Nairobi, Kenya
Kiki Cheptoo Ng’ok is a documentary filmmaker based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her work is based on uncovering and telling the ‘untold’ stories that exist in Kenya. She maintains that Africans are best suited to explore and tell about the nuanced lives and experiences of African people and the continent. She is especially interested in the relationships between people and landscapes, flora and fauna. Kiki hopes to illuminate the historical connections indigenous Africans have with the environment, as a way to foster conservation efforts.
Niba Nirmal
San Francisco, CA, United States
Niba Audrey Nirmal is a multimedia science communicator based in San Francisco. A model turned scientist turned content creator, she explores the science in cosmetics, fashion, and skincare through her YouTube channel, Notes By Niba. At UC Davis, she researched the effects of climate change on crops and studied diversity studies. As a Duke graduate student, she studied gene networks in plant stem cells. As a visible and invisible minority, Niba strives to be inclusive of all minority statuses. Her dedication to this endeavor earned her an undergraduate minor in diversity studies and Dean's Award for her graduate work in Duke Biology. In her free time Niba enjoys journaling, Batman comics, and adding to her plant collection. For more information, visit her website or LinkedIn.
San Francisco, CA, United States
Niba Audrey Nirmal is a multimedia science communicator based in San Francisco. A model turned scientist turned content creator, she explores the science in cosmetics, fashion, and skincare through her YouTube channel, Notes By Niba. At UC Davis, she researched the effects of climate change on crops and studied diversity studies. As a Duke graduate student, she studied gene networks in plant stem cells. As a visible and invisible minority, Niba strives to be inclusive of all minority statuses. Her dedication to this endeavor earned her an undergraduate minor in diversity studies and Dean's Award for her graduate work in Duke Biology. In her free time Niba enjoys journaling, Batman comics, and adding to her plant collection. For more information, visit her website or LinkedIn.
Carolina Sosa
Montevideo, Uruguay
Carolina Sosa was born in Uruguay and holds a BA in Communications. She also lived in Argentina, Mexico, and most recently in Los Angeles, where she completed an MFA in Documentary Filmmaking at NYFA. She has been directing and producing documentaries for the last eight years in different countries. She is a Fulbright scholar, an active member of the International Documentary Association, and her work has been screened in many film festivals and received several awards. In 2020, her first feature documentary found distribution in the UK as well as in the USA. She is also the CEO of Okurelo Cine, an organization that adapts movies for blind and deaf people, and works freelance as a video editor. She has a passion for environmental issues and wildlife conservation, which has led her to work with organizations like The UpRoar, where she made videos to create awareness of animal species at risk.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Carolina Sosa was born in Uruguay and holds a BA in Communications. She also lived in Argentina, Mexico, and most recently in Los Angeles, where she completed an MFA in Documentary Filmmaking at NYFA. She has been directing and producing documentaries for the last eight years in different countries. She is a Fulbright scholar, an active member of the International Documentary Association, and her work has been screened in many film festivals and received several awards. In 2020, her first feature documentary found distribution in the UK as well as in the USA. She is also the CEO of Okurelo Cine, an organization that adapts movies for blind and deaf people, and works freelance as a video editor. She has a passion for environmental issues and wildlife conservation, which has led her to work with organizations like The UpRoar, where she made videos to create awareness of animal species at risk.
Aishwarya Sridhar
Navi Mumbai, India
Aishwarya Sridhar is a 23-year-old wildlife film-maker and presenter, who loves to explore the wilderness. Her debut documentary was telecast on DD National (India's state-owned broadcaster) and has helped protect the last remaining wetlands of Mumbai. She is working with the local fishing communities, NGOs and the state towards policy level protection for wetlands in Maharashtra and is the youngest member of the State Wetland Brief Documentation Committee. She has recently completed filming the most iconic and photographed wild Bengal Tigress from the forests of Central India. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she directed and presented an 8-part digital series for WWF-India which focuses on inculcating the love for wildlife in children through Origami. Currently, she is the host for ''Nature For Future'' on Discovery Channel India- a unique wildlife chat show focusing on India's most endangered species. Her work has been featured in international and national newspapers and magazines like BBC Wildlife, Guardian, Mongabay, Digital Camera, Times of India, Sanctuary Asia, Saevus to name a few.
Navi Mumbai, India
Aishwarya Sridhar is a 23-year-old wildlife film-maker and presenter, who loves to explore the wilderness. Her debut documentary was telecast on DD National (India's state-owned broadcaster) and has helped protect the last remaining wetlands of Mumbai. She is working with the local fishing communities, NGOs and the state towards policy level protection for wetlands in Maharashtra and is the youngest member of the State Wetland Brief Documentation Committee. She has recently completed filming the most iconic and photographed wild Bengal Tigress from the forests of Central India. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she directed and presented an 8-part digital series for WWF-India which focuses on inculcating the love for wildlife in children through Origami. Currently, she is the host for ''Nature For Future'' on Discovery Channel India- a unique wildlife chat show focusing on India's most endangered species. Her work has been featured in international and national newspapers and magazines like BBC Wildlife, Guardian, Mongabay, Digital Camera, Times of India, Sanctuary Asia, Saevus to name a few.
Paula Sternberg
Ensenada, Mexico
Paula (she/her) was born in Oakland, California and was raised in Ensenada, Baja California. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology from the University of California San Diego and focuses on environmental science education and outreach. Paula is currently the Communications Manager for Mares Mexicanos, an initiative focused on using innovative audiovisual media to promote harmonious relationships between society and the Mexican seas. She has recently been accepted to the Master's Program for Use, Management, and Preservation of Natural Resources at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Her interdisciplinary research will explore social perspectives on environmental health of coastal ecosystems to improve public understanding of anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment.
Ensenada, Mexico
Paula (she/her) was born in Oakland, California and was raised in Ensenada, Baja California. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology from the University of California San Diego and focuses on environmental science education and outreach. Paula is currently the Communications Manager for Mares Mexicanos, an initiative focused on using innovative audiovisual media to promote harmonious relationships between society and the Mexican seas. She has recently been accepted to the Master's Program for Use, Management, and Preservation of Natural Resources at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Her interdisciplinary research will explore social perspectives on environmental health of coastal ecosystems to improve public understanding of anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment.
Elizabeth Streeter
Bristol, United Kingdom
Elizabeth Streeter specializes in communicating conservation stories. Whether that means filming underwater, using her drone, filming in the freezing cold, or in the heat of the amazon rainforest. She is driven by her passion for the natural world and she hopes to inspire others to help to protect it with her work. Elizabeth studied Marine & Natural History photography at Falmouth University, where she learnt the skills she needed to create content. This enabled her to work on some incredible projects. She was part of the amazing team behind #RangerWithoutBorders expedition in 2018. She then created a short film for Raw Foundation about plastic infiltrating the amazon rainforest. Her work was then shown on the pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival last year, spreading awareness about plastic pollution! Elizabeth's aim is to continue to create documentaries that are investigative and conservation driven, with aspirations to one day be a wildlife producer here in Bristol.
If you’d like to see more of her work, her Instagram is: @elizabethstreeterphoto and her website is: www.elizabethstreeter.com.
Bristol, United Kingdom
Elizabeth Streeter specializes in communicating conservation stories. Whether that means filming underwater, using her drone, filming in the freezing cold, or in the heat of the amazon rainforest. She is driven by her passion for the natural world and she hopes to inspire others to help to protect it with her work. Elizabeth studied Marine & Natural History photography at Falmouth University, where she learnt the skills she needed to create content. This enabled her to work on some incredible projects. She was part of the amazing team behind #RangerWithoutBorders expedition in 2018. She then created a short film for Raw Foundation about plastic infiltrating the amazon rainforest. Her work was then shown on the pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival last year, spreading awareness about plastic pollution! Elizabeth's aim is to continue to create documentaries that are investigative and conservation driven, with aspirations to one day be a wildlife producer here in Bristol.
If you’d like to see more of her work, her Instagram is: @elizabethstreeterphoto and her website is: www.elizabethstreeter.com.
Shaz Syed
Gurgaon, India
Shaz is a filmmaker and cameraman with just around 10 years of experience working in production and research capacities on films ranging from corporate events, eco-tourism, girl child education and heritage conservation both collaboratively and independently. He has held integral roles in film productions by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, BBC’s Natural History Unit, The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (Delhi), The Energy Resource Institute (TERI) and NGO’s that are working on human rights and societal upheaval. The independent films that he has shot and produced have been screened at both national and international festivals (including the Jackson Hole Science and Media Awards in 2014) and won him many laurels. He has also diversified his portfolio as a multimedia storyteller, producing content on environment-related subjects such as short educational videos on critically endangered species, rights of forest dwelling communities and vulnerable habitats close to congested cities.
Gurgaon, India
Shaz is a filmmaker and cameraman with just around 10 years of experience working in production and research capacities on films ranging from corporate events, eco-tourism, girl child education and heritage conservation both collaboratively and independently. He has held integral roles in film productions by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, BBC’s Natural History Unit, The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (Delhi), The Energy Resource Institute (TERI) and NGO’s that are working on human rights and societal upheaval. The independent films that he has shot and produced have been screened at both national and international festivals (including the Jackson Hole Science and Media Awards in 2014) and won him many laurels. He has also diversified his portfolio as a multimedia storyteller, producing content on environment-related subjects such as short educational videos on critically endangered species, rights of forest dwelling communities and vulnerable habitats close to congested cities.
Akansha Tiwari
Pune, India
Akansha Tiwari is an independent documentary filmmaker from India. She is a film and television graduate and is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Zoology. In just two years of starting her career, Akansha has worked on several wildlife, livelihood and human interest documentaries in India. She is now making her debut as a director with two independent films on the rampant plastic problem and ghost nets. Passionate about marine biodiversity, Akansha wants to create an impact on the audience and influence policy decisions on conservation with her stories.
Pune, India
Akansha Tiwari is an independent documentary filmmaker from India. She is a film and television graduate and is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Zoology. In just two years of starting her career, Akansha has worked on several wildlife, livelihood and human interest documentaries in India. She is now making her debut as a director with two independent films on the rampant plastic problem and ghost nets. Passionate about marine biodiversity, Akansha wants to create an impact on the audience and influence policy decisions on conservation with her stories.
Victoria Wangui
Nairobi, Kenya
Victoria Wangui is the founder and editor of the award-winning environmental communication platform, Nyika Silika, and the co-founder of Biophilic Conversations, an organization that is inspiring the youth to be actively involved in the conservation community in Africa. She has a background in wildlife management and conservation and her major interests are biodiversity, conservation, community-based conservation, and spreading awareness on the importance of wildlife and nature. She is driven by a passion for wildlife, informing and educating communities living with wildlife, and the youth on environmental conservation in Africa. Currently, she is the Communications Assistant at WildlifeDirect; a Kenya based Conservation Organisation. Victoria is also a writer and digital marketing specialist. Her goal is to share knowledge and spread awareness on matters of environmental conservation, as media can influence perceptions of wildlife and conservation, focusing on the stories that matter and must be told. Her work has been featured in Kenya Birding, A Focus on Property, Mazingira Yetu Magazine, The Explorer, and The Star Kenya.
Nairobi, Kenya
Victoria Wangui is the founder and editor of the award-winning environmental communication platform, Nyika Silika, and the co-founder of Biophilic Conversations, an organization that is inspiring the youth to be actively involved in the conservation community in Africa. She has a background in wildlife management and conservation and her major interests are biodiversity, conservation, community-based conservation, and spreading awareness on the importance of wildlife and nature. She is driven by a passion for wildlife, informing and educating communities living with wildlife, and the youth on environmental conservation in Africa. Currently, she is the Communications Assistant at WildlifeDirect; a Kenya based Conservation Organisation. Victoria is also a writer and digital marketing specialist. Her goal is to share knowledge and spread awareness on matters of environmental conservation, as media can influence perceptions of wildlife and conservation, focusing on the stories that matter and must be told. Her work has been featured in Kenya Birding, A Focus on Property, Mazingira Yetu Magazine, The Explorer, and The Star Kenya.
Ryan Wilkes
Calgary, Canada
Ryan is a wildlife and adventure filmmaker and photographer from Calgary, Canada. Although his formal education is in Engineering, he fell in love with the outdoors and filmmaking while pursuing his PhD in New Zealand. Inspired by the beautiful scenery around him, he and his camera became regulars in back country of the South Island and he is now pursuing a career in filmmaking. Through documenting adventurous pursuits and conservation-related endeavors, he explores the relationship between people and the natural world in his work. Ryan's adventures have included swimming with humpback whales in Tonga, trekking through the rain forests of Uganda to spend time with the mountain gorillas, and paragliding from the summit of the world's tallest freestanding mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro. The time Ryan has spent immersed in the outdoors has led to a deep appreciation for nature, as well as the people who have dedicated themselves to protecting and rehabilitating wild places.
Calgary, Canada
Ryan is a wildlife and adventure filmmaker and photographer from Calgary, Canada. Although his formal education is in Engineering, he fell in love with the outdoors and filmmaking while pursuing his PhD in New Zealand. Inspired by the beautiful scenery around him, he and his camera became regulars in back country of the South Island and he is now pursuing a career in filmmaking. Through documenting adventurous pursuits and conservation-related endeavors, he explores the relationship between people and the natural world in his work. Ryan's adventures have included swimming with humpback whales in Tonga, trekking through the rain forests of Uganda to spend time with the mountain gorillas, and paragliding from the summit of the world's tallest freestanding mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro. The time Ryan has spent immersed in the outdoors has led to a deep appreciation for nature, as well as the people who have dedicated themselves to protecting and rehabilitating wild places.
Justin Wong
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Justin Wong is a filmmaker based in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia who loves natural history subjects. He has worked with NGOs including WWF-Malaysia and Tigers Alive Initiative to produce conservation films and is dedicated to raising the awareness of carbon footprint emission, marine conservation and protection of wildlife in Malaysia. In 2015, Justin participated in a wildlife expedition in South Africa and produced two short documentaries with the local communities there. After that, he spent a year with one of Malaysia's most experienced naturalist to produce a ten-episode documentary series, exploring the natural history of the enchanting archipelago of Langkawi. Justin has always been amazed by the potential of video to persuade, teach, and raise awareness. Currently, he is exploring the art storytelling through Virtual Reality (VR) as the new medium. His VR works include 'Carbon: Building Blocks of Life' and 'Langkawi Hidden Treasures', through which he showcased the possibility of bringing the audience closer to the subject for a unique experience with nature.
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Justin Wong is a filmmaker based in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia who loves natural history subjects. He has worked with NGOs including WWF-Malaysia and Tigers Alive Initiative to produce conservation films and is dedicated to raising the awareness of carbon footprint emission, marine conservation and protection of wildlife in Malaysia. In 2015, Justin participated in a wildlife expedition in South Africa and produced two short documentaries with the local communities there. After that, he spent a year with one of Malaysia's most experienced naturalist to produce a ten-episode documentary series, exploring the natural history of the enchanting archipelago of Langkawi. Justin has always been amazed by the potential of video to persuade, teach, and raise awareness. Currently, he is exploring the art storytelling through Virtual Reality (VR) as the new medium. His VR works include 'Carbon: Building Blocks of Life' and 'Langkawi Hidden Treasures', through which he showcased the possibility of bringing the audience closer to the subject for a unique experience with nature.
Sandra Wanga
Nairobi, Kenya
Sandra Wanga is an ecologist, emerging wildlife cinematography and filmmaker with a focus on documenting wildlife conservation efforts and storytelling. My major interests are biodiversity conservation, creating awareness on importance of wildlife and nature to people who wouldn't care about it so they can feel connected to the natural world pride in it and want to protect it. My goal is to help bring change in conservation delivery in some of the world's most ecologically and politically challenging environments. I'm also keen in supporting ecological and conservation scientist by documenting their work and linking them to the public through conservation photography. Sandra is also a digital marketing specialist where she supports designing conservation organizations websites and support social media management that are geared towards raising funds for conservation organizations. Whilst conservation is my primary driver, its filmmaking and cinematography that captures my passion.
Nairobi, Kenya
Sandra Wanga is an ecologist, emerging wildlife cinematography and filmmaker with a focus on documenting wildlife conservation efforts and storytelling. My major interests are biodiversity conservation, creating awareness on importance of wildlife and nature to people who wouldn't care about it so they can feel connected to the natural world pride in it and want to protect it. My goal is to help bring change in conservation delivery in some of the world's most ecologically and politically challenging environments. I'm also keen in supporting ecological and conservation scientist by documenting their work and linking them to the public through conservation photography. Sandra is also a digital marketing specialist where she supports designing conservation organizations websites and support social media management that are geared towards raising funds for conservation organizations. Whilst conservation is my primary driver, its filmmaking and cinematography that captures my passion.
