Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 17 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
Hello! This is my first ever blog and only my sixth day of having the Okavango Delta as my home, so bear with me!
So what brings me here? Well, I’ve been supporting Elephants for Africa since my fiancée, Dr Kate Evans, started it as a PhD research project back in 2002 and now I’ve just taken the next big step to join the Charity full time. My role is as Operations Manager, assuming responsibility for the day-to-day running and leadership in all business related or strategic issues. The idea being that this will enable to the researchers to be able to concentrate on doing the research (it plays to my strengths too).
Where did I come from? Well, I’m a Materials Engineer and I spent almost eleven years working in Product Development for Jaguar Land Rover. I joined as a graduate and worked my way up to the position of Technical Specialist, responsible for Material Characterisation. Hang in there, there is a link! As part of my role, I managed people and projects, controlled budgets, defined material strategy, established processes, created and ran training courses, gave presentations etc etc. All of these things are transferable to my new role.
I don’t plan to be chained to the office and have every intention of getting out in the field with the researchers and learning as much as I can about the Ele’s and the other flora and fauna in the area.
Until next time,
Sim
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Hi, I am Kate Evans, or more commonly known as Elephant Kate. I am a zoologist whose great love is elephants. Since 2002 I have been living my dream by researching elephants in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. I decided I was going to be an elephant researcher when I was seven. I was living in Asia at the time and visited the elephant orphanage in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It was there that I made up my mind I was going to work for these majestic and intelligent animals. I made a promise to an elephant and we all know an elephant never forgets!!!! It took me 20 years to finally realise my dream and start my life as an elephant researcher. It was 20 years well spent and now I have to pinch myself most days to make sure it is true and I am living my dream.
I now head up a team who are researching the elephants and trying to work out the social and ecological needs of the largest remaining population of the African elephant. From time to time, other team members will add their thoughts and experiences. I love sharing my experiences - so I hope that this blog is a medium through which you will be able to join the elephants and I on our adventures in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. -
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