Work Experience

Trainer in Systematic Conservation Planning, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
August 2021 – present
Remote work
  • Develop online training videos on Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP) and the Essential Life Support Areas (ELSA) methodology

Training Consultant, Fisheries and Oceans Canada 
January – May 2021
Remote work
  • Develop online training course on ‘Marxan Connect’, a Graphical User Interface that helps conservationists include connectivity in protected area network planning

Marxan Consultant, The Nature Conservancy and PacMARA 
March – June 2020
Remote work
  • Update the user manuals for ‘Marxan’ and ‘Marxan with Zones’

Marine Spatial Planning Consultant, Fisheries and Oceans Canada 
January – March 2020
Remote work
  • Reviewed and analysed marine spatial planning (MSP) documents and reports for the Salish Sea Integrated Management Areas

Marxan Connect Course Developer, Dalhousie University
August 2019 – February 2020
Halifax, Canada
  • Develop a technical training course on ‘Marxan Connect’, a Graphical User Interface that helps conservationists include connectivity in protected area network planning
 
Marine Biology Instructor, Broadreach & Leslie University
May – August 2019
Lesser Antilles, Caribbean
  • Led the ‘Caribbean Tropical Marine Biology’ college course (LNSCI 3004)
  • Taught marine science, research diving, and PADI scuba diving courses
  • Developed and updated course content and activities 

Marxan with Zones Course Developer & Trainer, PacMARA
June 2018
Kuching, Malaysia
  • Co-developed and facilitated a 3-day technical training course on the spatial prioritization software ‘Marxan with Zones'
 
Geospatial Assistant, Digital Scholarship Commons
January – June 2018
Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  • Developed and delivered workshops for students and faculty on geospatial concepts and tools (e.g., ArcGIS, Google Earth Pro, and QGIS)

Marine Biologist & Scuba Instructor, Broadreach                                        
May 2014 – August 2014
Lesser Antilles, Caribbean
  • Co-lead Caribbean Marine Biology programs for youth (age 14 to 18)
  • Taught PADI scuba diving courses (Open Water Diver to Rescue Diver)
  • Maintained safety standards and protocols on diving expeditions
  • Facilitated group training workshops and activities          

Chief Scientist & Scuba Instructor, Greenforce Fiji (Gapforce)                          
​January — June 2013
Kubulau district, Bua Province, Fiji Islands 
  • Created and delivered Marine Survey program (development and delivery) to train international volunteers to conduct coral reef assessments
  • Initiated and led a catch-per-unit survey program with fishers from the Kabilau district in collaboration with the University of South Pacific and the Wildlife Conservation Society 
  • Taught various PADI scuba diving courses (Open Water to Divemaster) 

Field Assistant, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)                            
August — September 2012
Gault Nature Reserve, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
  • Assisted 2D and 3D film crews to film eastern chipmunks a BBC wildlife series, called Hidden Kingdoms

Science Officer, Coral Cay Conservation                                                          
​January — May 2012
Southern Leyte, Philippines
  • Taught a Science Skills Development Program to international volunteers and in-county scholars
  • Led coral reef surveys and community outreach projects 

Guest Experience Assistant, Sea Life London Aquarium                              
May — December 2011
London, England
  • Held public presentations on natural history and marine conservation
  • Assisted in marine conservation fundraisers

Wildlife and whale watching guide, Sea Life Adventures                                
May — October 2010
Easdale Island, Scotland
  • Gave educational talks on natural history and marine conservation of Scottish wildlife during charter tours (2-5 hours)
  • Photographed and documented cetaceans for a population study through the Whale and Dolphin Society Scotland

Naturalist and Camp Counselor, Ecomuseum Zoo                                                    
2007 — 2008
St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
  • Lead nature camp for children age 6 to 13 
  • Organized camp schedule, activities, budget, and staff training
  • Educated children on animals and plants in St. Laurence Valley through camp and animal handling activities

North River - Freshwater Fish Observation Network Group Leader/ Coordinator, Biosphere, Environment Canada 
2006                                     
Ile St. Helene, Quebec, Canada
  • Accompanied high school students in the North River - Freshwater Fish Observation Network
  • Supervised data collection of freshwater fish (identification, measurements, and observations on ​external anomalies and parasites)
  • Organized field excursions and managed database
​

Teaching Experience

Project Coordinator, CKG Training and Consulting                                                    
January 2007 — present (Part-time freelancer) 
Kirkland, Quebec, Canada
  • Develop and facilitate workshops and trainings (e.g., DE&I- diversity, equity, and inclusion; leadership development, and team-building) for corporate and government institutes

Specialist Instructor/ GEOG274: Introduction to Biogeography                     
January– April 2017
Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  • Assisted students with lab assignments
  • Graded mid-term, final exam, and lab assignments  
​
Specialist Instructor/ GEOG209: Introduction to Environmental Management 
September – December 2014
Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  • Facilitated weekly group discussions on environmental management
  • Graded papers, mid-term, and final exam

Specialist Instructor/ GEOG209: Global Environmental Change & the Human Response     
September – December 2014
Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  • Graded papers, mid-term, and final exam
  • Conducted lecture on marine protected areas and climate change ​

​Teacher and Facilitator, Comunicatus Language Services                                        
2008 — 2011
Dorval, Quebec, Canada
  • Taught Aviation English course to international pilots
  • Co-developed curriculum for Aviation English course and ‘Cultural Awareness in the Workplace seminar 
​
Teaching Assistant for ‘Transcultural Leadership’, McGill University           
Winter, 2008
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  • Assisted in course preparation
  • Facilitated group discussions on topics in cross-cultural leadership and international business relations
  • Graded assignments, essays, mid-terms, and final exams
​

Intership & Volunteer Experience

Founder and Project Director, Divers Give Back                                            
November — January 2013
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  • Founded "Divers Give Back" which aims to bring aid to fishing villages in the Philippines that have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan
  • Organized four drop-off locations in the Greater Montreal Area to collect used snorkeling/diving gear, clothes, and fishing gear to send to fishing communities in Southern Leyte

PADI Instructor Internship, Four Seasons Resort Maldives                        
June — September 2011
Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives
  • Taught PADI courses (Open Water Diver to Rescue Diver and 5 specialties: Deep, Wreck, Enriched Air, Emergency Oxygen Provider, and Digital Underwater Photography)

Research Diver Internship, Core Sea                                                                         
April 2011
Koh Phangan, Thailand 
  • Assisted Masters students from the University of Bremen to investigate the effects of the influx of tourism on the local ecosystem in Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Angh Thon National Marine Park in Thailand
  • Participated in various underwater surveys (e.g., sediment sampling, coral surveys, fish surveys, rugosity measurements, and nutrient sampling)

PADI Divemaster Internship, Buddha View                                                      
March — May 2011 
Koh Tao, Thailand 
  • Assisted instructors in PADI courses (Open Water to Rescue Diver)
  • Briefed and guided certified divers

Research Assistant, McGill Bird Observatory                                                              
September 2006 — March 2009
St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
  • Extract birds from mist nets
  • Assist in identification, sexing, aging, tagging and releasing birds

Insect Ecology Laboratory Intern, McGill University                        
January — February 2011
St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada 
  • Collected and identified arachnids for a biodiversity study at McGill’s Morgan Arboretum and Molson Reserve
​
Research Assistant, ANAI Sea Turtle Conservation Project                      
May — June 2005
Limon, Costa Rica
  • ​Patrolled beaches for nesting sea turtles and assisted in data collection
​

Summary of Qualifications

  • ​MSc with a research background in marine conservation, conservation planning, and small-scale fisheries management 
  • Expertise in systematic conservation planning, marine spatial planning, small-scale fisheries, and social equity 
  • Proven ability to design and implement robust ecological and socioeconomic methodologies to support marine conservation initiatives 
  • Experience in developing and facilitating capacity building, training, and professional development workshops
  • Diverse experience working and teaching in an international context 
  • PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Emergency Oxygen Provider, and Digital Underwater Photography
  • Reef Check EcoDiver trainer
  • Highly proficient in ArcGIS, QGIS, Marxan, Marxan with Zones, Marxan Connect and Microsoft Office​
  • Proven competencies in project management, grant and scientific writing, research dissemination, cross-cultural communication, and stakeholder engagement and participation 
  • Skilled at working with a diverse range of stakeholders, academics, private sectors, governmental and non-governmental organizations 
  • ​Various experience working in physically and mentally challenging environment
  • ​Fluent in English, French, and Italian, as well as a basic knowledge of Spanish ​​
​​

Education

​Master of Science, Geography
2014 — 2018
Marine Protected Areas Research Group, Department of Geography
University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and environmental sciences), Wildlife Biology Major   
2006 — 2010
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Study Abroad- Marine Biology                           
Semester 1, 2009 
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia

D.E.C. in Ecological Technology                        
2003 — 2006
Vanier College, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
​

Publications & Reports


Kockel A, Ban NC, Costa M, and Dearden P. (2020). Addressing distribution equity in spatial conservation prioritization for small-scale fisheries. PLOS ONE,
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233339 

Kockel A, Ban N, Costa M, and Dearden P. (2019). Evaluating approaches for scaling up community-based marine protected areas into socially equitable and ecologically representative networks. Conservation Biology,
doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13368

Serra-Sogas N, Kockel A, Game E, Grantham H, Possingham H, & McGowan J (2020). Marxan User Manual. For Marxan version 2.43 and above. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Arlington, Virginia, United States and Pacific Marine Analysis and Research Association (PacMARA), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada https://marxansolutions.org/

Serra-Sogas N, Kockel A, Williams B, Watts M, Klein C, Stewart R, Ball I, Game E, Possingham H, & McGowan J (2020). Marxan with Zones User Manual. For Marxan version 2.0.1 and above. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Arlington, Virginia, United States and Pacific Marine Analysis and Research Association (PacMARA), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada https://marxansolutions.org/

Dearden P, and Kockel A. 2017. Review of the Saguenay Fjord National Park, and the Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park for Potential Tentative World Heritage Site Listing under Criteria (ix) and (x). Ottawa. Report to Parks Canada Agency.​

Conferences

Kockel, A., Ban, N., Costa, M., and Dearden, P. (June 2018). Evaluating approaches for scaling up community-based marine protected areas into socially equitable and ecologically representation networks. Paper presented at the 5th International Marine Conservation Congress; Kuching, Malaysia.

Kockel, A., and Dearden, P. (June 2016). Achieving equity in systematic marine conservation planning. Paper presented at Conservation Asia; Singapore.

​Kockel, A., Ban, N., and Dearden, P. (June 2016). Bridging the divide between systematic conservation planning and community-based conservation. Poster session presented at the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium; Honolulu, Hawaii.  
​​

Awards/Scholarships

2016/7 
  • First place prize in ‘Research Reels’ competition at UVic Ideafest
  • Dr. David and Dorothy Lam Scholarship in Geography ($500)

2015     
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Master’s Scholarship ($17,500)
  • Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies (FRQNT) Master’s Scholarship ($20,000)
  • Robin Rigby Trust, Saint Mary’s University ($11,250)
  • Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives Student Fellowship, University of Victoria ($2,500)
  • Ajaib Singh Sangha Memorial Scholarship ($2,550)
  • Graduate Award, University of Victoria ($2,000)
  • Dr. David and Dorothy Lam Scholarship in Geography ($500)

2014     
  • Graduate Award, University of Victoria ($1,000)
  • Student Fellowship, University of Victoria ($10,000)
  • Ajaib Singh Sangha Memorial Scholarship ($1,250)

​2009     
  • Universitas 21 (U21) Travel Award ($1,500)
​
​

Committees


CUPE 4163 Component 1 Steward for Geography/ University of Victoria
April 2016 – Present
  • Attend monthly CUPE steward council meetings and bi-annual CUPE meetings
  • Act as the liaison between CUPE 4163 Component 1 members in Geography and the union 

Organizer for 2016 Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference (PEEC)/ Bamfield Marine Science Centre
November 2015 – February 2016
  • Helped organize 2016 graduate student-led conference 
​
Geography Graduate Representative for Provost’s Diversity and Equity Steering Committee/ University of Victoria
May — June 2015
  • Acted as the liaison between Geography faculty and the graduate student body
  • Attended committee meetings
  • Raised diversity and equity concerns with the Faculty Board, as appropriate
​
​

Certifications & Skills 

  • ​Fluent in English, French, and Italian, as well as a good knowledge of Spanish 
  • Highly proficient in ArcGIS, Marxan, Marxan with Zones, Microsoft Office, and Word Processor
  • Reef Check EcoDiver Instructor (Indo-Pacific)
  • Professional Development Workshop Certification on learning and teaching in higher education (Learning & Teaching Centre, University of Victoria) 
  • PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and Specialty Instructor in Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Emergency Oxygen Provider, and Digital Underwater Photography
  • Emergency First Response Certification and Instructor (CPR/ AED/ First Aid - Infant/Child/Adult)
  • Wilderness First Aid certification 
  • Transport Canada Pleasure Craft Operator (boat license)
  • Double black dan in Jujitsu and Taekwando
  • Quebec Driver’s License​​