Former CCC staffer finishes her Masters
Added to website: 12 September 2007
Two years of hard work has paid off for former Coral Cay Conservation staff member Tanya Blackburn, after completing her Masters which focused on ‘Education for Sustainability’.
The former PR and Communications Manager was awarded CCC sponsorship of her Masters following five years of employment with Coral Cay.
Tanya expressed “satisfaction and relief” at completing her Masters, which she hopes to put to good use by working abroad in the environment or development sector.
“It was tough working and studying at the same time. All my evenings and weekends were spent essay writing,” she said.
Tanya remains a CCC Patron and has this advice for anyone hoping to work with the environment.
“In addition to a degree and/or a post-graduate qualification, I strongly recommend gaining field experience if you are seeking employment in the sector. Volunteering in particular is viewed favourably by employers
Tanya has written the following piece, talking about her experiences over the years with CCC.
My first encounter with Coral Cay Conservation was during my university years as a student of Biodiversity Conservation at the Durrell Institute of Ecology, Kent (as a Pacific islander it was the Fiji Reef Conservation Project which first caught my eye!). Upon graduation and keen to put my newfound knowledge and skills to use, I joined CCC as Volunteer Management Coordinator, a post that allowed me to prepare and enthuse Volunteers (and their parents!) about their impending expeditions abroad. Over the years, impassioned by the ethos of CCC and having seen firsthand the positive impact the research has had on island communities, I moved into a role that allowed me to share this understanding with others - Communications Management.
The small size of the organisation combined with its’ diverse overseas operations demands far more than a typical nine to five job (including early hour wake ups with the 24 hour emergency line!). ‘Doing what it takes’ and ‘getting things done’ are just some of the ethics by which the CCC team work. In working for CCC your commitment and hard work are recognised and rewarded in many ways, as I found when I decided to commence a MSc in Education for Sustainability. After two years of study while working full-time, I have graduated thanks to the financial and emotional support provided by Coral Cay Conservation. As an ex-Coral Cay bod you never really ‘leave’ CCC – I still find myself recommending the organisation to people I meet!
