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Shona Watt - Sustainability Educator and Consultant
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CURRICULUM VITAE
 
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS


-          Highly motivated and organized individual with a passion for nature
-          Strong background in sustainability and higher education
-          Experience in environmental education and business administration
-          Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Photoshop
-          Fluent French; Canadian and American citizenship
-          Understanding of different cultures and regions; Independent while living at home and abroad

EDUCATION

Masters Degree in Environmental Management                                                                                                  2009-2010
University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland   
-          Courses included: business law, economics, and environmental policy
-          Thesis title: Changing behavior to reduce CO2 emissions of Scottish local authorities
-          Research methods included: interviewing, online surveys, and statistically analyzing data

Bachelors Degree in Wildlife Biology                                                                                                                      2005-2009
McGill University, St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec  
-          Graduated with distinction (3.4 GPA)
-          Courses included: zoology, botany, fisheries & wildlife management, and conservation law
-          Compiled literature reviews and management reports; Presented to peers and professors
-          Semester abroad (University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia) 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Adjunct Professor: Global Environmental Earth Science
, Champlain College of Vermont                                          2010 - present
Montreal, Quebec  
-          Taught a 4 credit science course to students of various majors
-          Organized excursions to outdoor sites to supplement learning
-          Managed students' semester-long sustainability community service projects
-          Designed exams, labs, lectures, and discussion groups

Sustainability Coordinator, Post Graduate Student Society of McGill                                                                           2012 - 2014
Montreal, Quebec
-           Recruited and organized 40 student volunteers to complete operations assessments
-          Used STARS framework to evaluate waste, water, greenhouse gas emissions, food, and social impacts
-          Implemented sustainable practices (e.g. gardens, composting, water meter, purchasing policy)
-          Integrated operations and building audit into multi-stakeholder 5 year Sustainability Action Plan
-          Organized community consultation events for PGSS members

Sustainability Instructor, McGill Post-Graduate Student Society (PGSS)                                                                  Fall semester 2013
Montreal, Quebec
-          Designed and facilitated a sustainability workshop series for graduate students

Temporary Office Coordinator, Sustainable Concordia                                                                                                   2013
Montreal, Quebec
-      Managed internal and external communication
-      Facilitated non-hierarchical, multi-stakeholder meetings and debriefs
-      Organizer of successful student fee-levy campaign (budget increase of $30,000/annum to $100,000/annum)

Sustainable Event Guide Coordinator, Sustainable Concordia                                                                                        2012
Montreal, Quebec
-      Established sustainable event certification system for Hospitality Concordia
-      Coordinated completion of Sustainable Event Guide and related events
-      Facilitator in non-hierarchical, multi-stakeholder campus campaigns

Animal Care Technician, Ecomuseum                                                                                                                             2011
Montreal, Quebec
-          Responsible for daily care of birds and mammals, including feeding and cleaning enclosures
-          Handled animals and administered medication

Montreal Campus Manager, Champlain College of Vermont                                                                                       2010-2011
Montreal, Quebec   
-          Business administrator for international campus; maintained monthly budgets and campus security
-          Created professors' contracts, class schedules, and student activities
-          Managed social media outlets for campus marketing (photography, Facebook, blog)
-          Responsible for 3 day student orientation, including check-in, meals, and entertainment
-          Led weekend educational trips to Quebec City and Ottawa
-          Supervised Resident Assistants and student bloggers

Conservation Summer Camp Counselor, NY State Department of Environmental Conservation                                          2009
Warrensburg, New York   
-          Developed and taught interactive nature programs to 12-17 year olds
-          Led interpretive hikes and overnight camping trips

Environmental Educator, Ndakinna Wilderness Preserve                                                                                                  2005
Saratoga Springs, New York    
-          Taught and supervised 5-8 year olds in an outdoor setting
-          Presented interactive talks on mammal tracking, wilderness survival skills, and ecology

INTERNSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER WORK
Co-Organizer for Climate Justice Montreal                                                                                                            2012 - present
Montreal, Quebec
-          Volunteer coordinator for community forum with +200 participants from a variety of ages and socio-economic backgrounds
-          Coordinate and facilitate meetings, plan events, maintain administration
-          Create outreach materials (Tumblr, Rabble article, memes)
-          Presented at BC PowerShift panel on Quebec Pipelines; organized workshop on group dynamics

Research Assistant, WWF                                                                                                                                            2010
Perth, Scotland    
 -          Synthesized literature review about sustainability issues
Bat Survey Assistant, PhD candidate                                                                                                                            2010  
Stirling, Scotland   
-            
Collected data about presence/absence of common pipistrelles in golf courses
Administrative Assistant, Sierra Club                                                                                                                           2010
Montreal, Quebec   
-          Compiled a database of grants in French and English for environmental projects
Legal Intern, Sierra Club                                                                                                                                                2009
Albany, New York                                                                                                                                             
-          Wrote and distributed memos concerning environmental issues to NY state representatives
-          Attended committee meetings and lobby visits with politicians and environmental groups
Research Assistant, McGill Bird Observatory                                                                                                                   2009
St. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec    
-         Conducted bird surveys by sight and sound
-         Recorded data for population surveys
-         Assisted with mist-next extraction 
Assistant Zookeeper, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary                                                                                                              2008
Brisbane, Australia    
-         
Cleaned bird and marsupial enclosures
-         Prepared food and vitamin supplements for animals
Museum Technician, Queensland Museum                                                                                                                       2008
Brisbane, Australia 
-        Cleaned and prepared bird and mammal study skins
Founder, Saratoga County Community Green                                                                                                                    2007
Clifton Park, New York   
-          Founded a university student run environmental organization
-          Organized weekly meetings and events focused on sustainability

TRAINING

-          Completed a 72 hour Permaculture Design Certification course
-          Chosen for week-long training session with Greenpeace, focused on sustainable university campaigns and political lobbying
-          Certified in mammal tracking

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
-         Member of Clifton Park, N.Y. Town GREEN Board                                                                                                 2007-2011
-         Former Gorilla Composting Member at Macdonald Campus, McGill University                                                          2006-2010

REFERENCES
       Available upon request
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