What inspired you to work for Marine Impact?
I volunteered abroad as a teenager and I’ve since worked in the volunteer/travel industry for a number of years. I believe volunteering and gaining hands-on experience in your field of interest is hugely valuable and Marine Impact offers incredible opportunities for those interested in learning about, or even pursuing, a career in marine conservation.
I have always been intrigued by the marine environment and first learned to scuba dive in Thailand and found it completely mesmerizing! So much so that I decided to go back to University to complete my masters in Applied Marine Science at the University of Cape Town.
Combining my interests in marine environments and volunteering abroad, Marine Impact seemed like the perfect organization to work for.
Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do, because I honestly believe in the transformational power of travel. Volunteering abroad allows people to engage with the world around them, understand new cultures, meet a variety of people, and learn new skills, while also allowing time for self-reflection and self-discovery.
I also think the marine environment is often overlooked (out of sight, out of mind...) and so working with an organization that is promoting marine conservation, and making an effort to educate people on the ocean, its inhabitants, and how to protect it, is fantastic.
Weekend sightseeing with some program participants.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is working alongside passionate and like-minded individuals. We share a common goal, work hard, but have a good laugh while doing so.
The greatest asset of any organization is its people, and this is particularly important for Marine Impact as we are selling an experience, rather than a product. And what makes that experience so memorable? The people!
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I've had a fairly varied career and have both a bachelors and masters degree. Many of the skills I have learnt are transferable and therefore used daily in my current role. I feel that my education and work experience to date has given me a wealth of knowledge about how different organizations operate, how to work with and manage people, and how to think critically and solve problems.
My studies and trips abroad to get involved with conservation projects have also given me first hand knowledge of the types of experiences our participants are after, which ultimately helps when developing new or improving our current project offerings.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
My advice would be to take the path less traveled and don't be afraid to travel alone. Visit weird and wonderful places that aren't necessarily on the "Top 10 list of places to go." Go to places that intrigue and excite you, that take you out of your comfort zone and most importantly, embrace every moment.
Enjoying the views of Mpumalanga in South Africa.
What hopes do you have for the future for Marine Impact?
In a word: growth. Now that travel is making a comeback after the pandemic, we are hoping to bring more and more participants to our marine conservation projects. We also hope to develop our project portfolio, by working alongside marine scientists to look at developing species specific projects, or projects in new locations.
What is Marine Impact’s mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
We strive to deliver the best marine conservation experiences for our international participants. Our projects are developed alongside experts, are impact driven, and have a real focus on creating life-changing experiences for our participants. By focusing on these core elements, we intend to continue towards this goal.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope that all of our participants walk away from our projects with complete respect and adoration of the marine environment. We hope they share this love of the ocean with people back home and become ambassadors for change.
Our programs are a time for self-discovery, as well as learning about new cultures, food, environments and people and so we hope they go home with an open-mind and new perspectives.
Reaching one of the highest peaks in the Seychelles.
How do you help support participants?
We provide in-depth support to our participants, right from the moment they make an inquiry on our website. One of our friendly team members will reach out to them to discuss our projects to see which suits them best and once booked, we provide advice on where to fly to, what travel insurance to get, what to pack and more!
Once they've arrived at their destination, our project teams will meet them at the airport and will help them get settled in. Our project team is available 24/7 to offer support and guidance throughout their time on the project.
If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would go to the Cayman Islands and partake in the Sea Turtle and Coral Reef Conservation program. Why? Because the Caribbean is a beautiful destination and with its calm, warm waters, it is one of the best places in the world for snorkeling and diving opportunities.
I also previously volunteered on a turtle conservation program in Central America and would relish the opportunity to get involved with the conservation of these incredible creatures.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Traveling abroad is important because it is a way to broaden your mind, continue learning and expand your social circle, while boosting cultural awareness. I think learning about different cultures and ways of life generally makes people more accepting, understanding and empathetic to others, and it prevents unnecessary divisions.
Snorkeling!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel, to me, is a form of travel that enriches your life in some way. It could be that your mind is enriched by learning about new cultures, or it could be that you're socially enriched because you've formed relationships with people you likely never would have met otherwise.
Giving back, taking part, sharing, and learning are all core elements of meaningful travel and traveling this way, may well change your life!
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, and with there being a growing number of global problems, I hope that more importance is given to international education and the need for global engagement, cultural understanding and respect for differences.
International educational opportunities should be used as a platform for work readiness, as there is a growing need for global solutions.
How is your company handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?
We have enhanced our health and safety protocols since the pandemic hit and our friendly team is available to answer any questions or concerns participants may have about traveling abroad at this time. Many of the countries we operate in require Covid-19 vaccination and this is something that we recommend to all our participants too.
As we know from the last two years, things can change in an instant and so we have also implemented our lowest ever deposit and a completely flexible booking policy to give participants confidence to travel again.
