I am applying for the Board of SEJ because I believe that the best use of my time is to provide opportunities for young journalists around the world. I am late to the field of journalism, having worked my first 25 years in business in Latin America and Asia. In my recent turn toward journalism, however, I have found an abundance of eager, young journalists in Asia who are willing to sacrifice many nights of sleep to work on investigative media about our planet.
In 2018, I founded the Hong Kong based nonprofit Sustainable Asia to create engaging multimedia features on environmental issues in Asia. The Sustainable Asia podcast was awarded Best Podcast by Asia Podcast Awards in 2019 and Best Online Journalism Collaboration award for our series on the illegal Pangolin wildlife trade networks. The podcast draws listeners not only from Hong Kong and China, but also audiences from around the globe. The Sustainable Asia podcast (可持续亚洲) is also produced and distributed in Chinese and last year won a SOPA award for our series on noise pollution in Chinese waters.
I bring a wealth of experience in business development, respectful stewardship and influential thought leadership, with a strong track record of delivering meaningful program results in the environmental journalism space. As the founder of the nonprofit media group Sustainable Asia, I have successfully spearheaded initiatives that have secured funding from prominent donors like the Swire Charitable Trust and the Pew Charitable Trust.
I want to focus my work on the board at SEJ to fundraise for the environmental journalism grants and student opportunities. In addition, given my recent background in the “small” category of media organizations…I want to find more support for the local environmental journalists who are really making an impact. There are alot of stories out there to uncover with our changing planet, and many of those stories start with the small nonprofit media groups in the US and around the globe.
My primary focus at Sustainable Asia was the personal development of over 20 interns and freelance journalists, many of whom have advanced to reputable organizations like Bloomberg and the South China Morning Post. As a thought leader, I host the popular weekly “Trash Talk” feature on Radio Hong Kong, which reaches over 10,000 listeners per week. Our award-winning audio documentaries on topics such as illegal wildlife trade and ocean plastic pollution further emphasize my dedication to addressing critical environmental issues. My active LinkedIn network of over 950 professionals across business, government, NGOs and media underscores my influence in the region, particularly in Hong Kong and Asia.
With this blend of experience and dedication to environmental journalism, I am eager to contribute to the Society of Environmental Journalists as a board member, leveraging my skills to further the organization's mission of advancing public understanding of environmental issues.
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