Gap Year: Volunteer abroad » Madagascar Wildlife Conservation Adventure » Field Staff

 Brendan Sherry - Country Coordinator

Brendan Sherry joined Frontier as Country Coordinator for Madagascar in October '09.  Having completed an MSc Environmental Technology at Imperial College in London, conservation in harmony with sustainable resource management, and community capacity building are areas of special interest.  A keen traveller and international muncher, Brendan is inspired by culinary adventure, and believes strongly in the potential of breakfast.  Prior to joining Frontier his favourite job was that of a Black Water Rafting guide in Waitomo, and over the years he has grown fond of warm climates and being able to see stars of an evening.  Brendan is a qualified project manager, has a background in corporate IT&T from the UK, Australia, and homeland N.Z.

Andrew Lowin - Prinicpal Investigator

After travelling across South East Asia and then Australia, I started my career working as a gamekeeper back in the UK on an estate in Gloustershire. I then got the opportunity to fulfill a life long dream and work on a game reserve in South Africa.  After finishing my contract I backpacked through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe visiting some of Africa's top Game reserves. On returning to the UK, I realised that I needed a degree if I was to progress in the conservation industry and in June 2008 I completed a Bsc in Wildlife Management. Immediately after graduating, I left to work in Madagascar as a research assistant for a Phd Behavioural study on Black and White Ruffed lemurs. After spending 6 months working in the primary rainforest of Ranomafana National Park I moved islands to Mauritius, where I worked for The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation on the Pink Pigeon conservation project. I now have over 7 year's field experience, spending 18 months of my life working in Africa.

Helen O'Neill - Assistant Research Officer

Helen completed an undergraduate degree in Zoology at the University of Liverpool during which she developed a passion for conservation biology. As a result she went onto do a Masters degree in Conservation Science at Imperial College London. For her MSc she conducted an investigation into how to improve the ranger based monitoring of the critically endangered Saiga Antelope in two Russian nature reserves. This involved living and working in the heart of the Russian steppe alongside anti-poaching rangers to develop the monitoring system by trying out new techniques and modifying old ones. Since graduating from her MSc Helen has been working for her local wildlife trust as a conservation trainee, and also working part time at a sanctuary for retired horses. She is very excited to be back doing field research as she always finds it interesting, challenging and hugely rewarding.

Ann Ecklund - Assistant Research Officer

During my entire life I have always had a huge interest in animals, nature and the environment. Growing up in Sweden nature has always been close in my life, and as a child I used to walk and horse ride in the forests, to go skiing and trekking in the mountains and swimming in the lakes. In 2004 I decided I wanted to see something more and travelled around Asia, where I visited national parks and experienced places with breathtaking nature. When I got to see a wild tiger in an Indian national park, I finally realised that working to save these magnificent creatures and other threatened animals and ecosystems was what I wanted to dedicate my life to. So when I picked up my studies again it was to do a bachelor degree in Conservation Biology and Animal Behaviour at the University of Lincoln. My dissertation project was on the social behaviour of ringtailed lemurs, and I did the study on the group of lemurs that I have been working with during three summers at Furuvik Zoo in Sweden. I am hoping that my calm and happy attitude, as well as my knowledge acquired from university studies, will be an asset for the Frontier Madagascar Forest programme and I am really excited about getting the chance to work with Frontier and to learn more about conservation in the tropics! Favourite movie character: King Julian of Madagascar of course! Someone I can really relate to when it comes to having conversations with one self....

Edmund - local guide, Security and all round Legend

Edmond joined the Frontier Madagascar Forest programme back in 2005. Edmond was living locally at the time and the Frontier staff were impressed by his skills as a local guide. It was clear very early on in his employment with Frontier that he would become an invaluable employee as he works tirelessly and can undertake any task he sets too. Edmond continues to astonish everyone who meets him with his vast knowledge on absolutely everything and with his invaluable practical skills he could teach Ray Mears a thing or two! His English is improving and he speaks fluent French and is always happy to teach a bit of Malagasy to those keen volunteers. Edmonds incredible knowledge and abilities have also been used by the Expedition programme as his knowledge of the local area is second to none and seems to know all of Madagascar like the back of his hand. So if you need someone to build a camp, fix a head torch or make rice and beans taste like steak and chips Edmond is your man!