The Global Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Kizzy's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About Kizzy
I am a PhD student researching Transformative Ocean Governance and the interface between people and the environment. My research explores what transformational governance looks like in practice through a series of UK and international case studies: Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, the North Devon World Surfing Reserve, the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the Australian World Surfing Reserves of Noosa, Gold Coast, and Manly Freshwater.
My methodology is grounded in qualitative research and interpretivist epistemologies, drawing on theories of reflexive governance, social-ecological systems, and adaptive co-management. I use semi-structured interviews and focus groups with a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, community members, NGOs, and scientists, to examine governance models, power dynamics, local knowledge, and visions for sustainable marine futures.
In addition to my PhD, I have held research assistant roles on projects with the Blue Marine Foundation, the DiadES project, and Plymouth City Council on the State of the Sound report.
I graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2007 with an MSc in Biological Diversity and a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology. I then moved on to work in public aquariums across the UK as an aquarist and displays supervisor, where I led on education initiatives, volunteer and staff training, and animal husbandry. This experience deepened my understanding of how public engagement can drive environmental awareness and stewardship. Motivated by this, I transitioned into teaching animal science, marine biology, and wildlife conservation in both Further and Higher Education, eventually becoming a programme leader and HE curriculum manager. I developed and led modules on marine policy and management, and later moved into learning development, helping students strengthen their academic practice.
I earned my PGCE in 2014 and was awarded a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2019. My research now contributes to critical conversations on ocean governance, environmental justice, and the role of place-based, participatory approaches in shaping sustainable marine futures.
