Deonne Smith, Communications and Partnership Officer and National UN Volunteer at the UN Environment Caribbean Sub-Regional Office in Kingston, Jamaica, has been selected as a 2017/2018 Conservation Leadership in the Caribbean (CLiC) Fellow.

She is among candidates from 14 countries to have been selected The fully funded and highly competitive programme selected candidates from 14 countries.“This is an extremely exciting opportunity and I am honoured to be among those participating in this programme,” said Smith. “CLiC will broaden my knowledge of the varying conservation issues we face in the Caribbean and expand my expertise in developing public education, communication and other strategies to help address them.”Now in its second iteration, the heavily oversubscribed programme, funded in part by the US Fish and Wildlife Service with the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), St George’s University and the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation, CLiC creates an opportunity for up-and-coming Caribbean conservation professionals to gain invaluable first-hand skills and experience working with proven conservation leaders.In addition to three in-depth training sessions over an 18 – month period, fellows will work in teams to design, implement and evaluate cutting-edge projects in biodiversity conservation in support of sustainable development in the Caribbean. They will have access to qualified training experts who will help guide them on the journey and who will provide one-on-one mentoring, networking opportunities and career development.“This programme directly addresses a succession crevasse across the Caribbean and Latin America by empowering a new generation of wildlife and conservation leaders who as today’s young leaders do not have adequate access to opportunities to experience and practice conservation in areas such as development, communications or grassroots activities,” said Kelvin Alie, CLiC Director and Vice President of Conservation and Animal Welfare at IFAW.Andrea Easter-Pilcher, Interim Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, St Georges University, said that preparations were in high gear to welcome the new cadre of Fellows unto the campus for their first in-person training, which begins this Sunday, May 21.“It is an honour and delight to mentor and support the next generation of Caribbean conservation leaders,” said Professor Easter-Pilcher. Pilcher noted that alumni of the programme have already gone on to work in senior positions in Caribbean conservation or internationally, including a United Nations appointment.CLiC fellows come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences in the conservation field. Deonne joins the following 2017 fellows:• Devon Carter, Anguilla, The Anguilla National Trust• Zana Kristen Wade, Belize, The Biodiversity Finance Initiative• Mariana Gnecco, San Andres, Colombia, San Andres Botanical Garden• Jhulio Samudi Frederick, Dominica, Dominica State College• Quincy Augustine, Grenada, St George’s University• Kate Charles, Grenada, Ocean Spirits Sea Turtle Program• Shanell Cyrus, Grenada, St George’s University• Christell Chesney, Guyana, Field Assistant• Govindra Punu, Guyana, Vector Control Services• Josue Celiscar, Haiti, Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine (FoProBiM)• Erika Gress, Mexico, National Commission for Natural Protected Areas• Joseleen Vargas Downs, Nicaragua, Bluefields Indian and Caribbean University• Tanja Lieuw, Suriname, National Institute for Environment in Suriname• Cathlene Trumpet, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Forestry Department• Renoir J Auguste, Trinidad & Tobago, Dept of Life Sciences, UWI• Kimberley Chu Foon, Trinidad & Tobago, Asa Wright Nature Centre• Aliya Hosein, Trinidad & Tobago, Dept of Life Sciences, UWI• Ashana Gibran, Trinidad & Tobago, Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago• Jemimah Rivera, Margarita, Venezuela, Biomarina Venezuela Group