Conservation content

WildAid

Conservation Communications Writer | Dec. 2022 – July 2025

Wrote 800 to 1,500-word articles on endangered species, illegal fishing, biodiversity loss, coral reef conservation, and climate issues for donors and the general public.
Collaborated with ommunications teams and scientists to develop story structure, headlines, educational framing, and accurate scientific messaging.
Wrote public-facing content for WildAid on pangolin trafficking and illegal fishing enforcement in The Bahamas, translating complex conservation issues into compelling narratives.
Developed press releases about The Bahamas winning the Stop IUU Fishing Award and WildAid being named a finalist for the Earthshot Prize Revive Our Oceans category.

Photo credit: Naja Bertolt Jensen

Turning the Tide on Illegal Fishing in Bahamian Waters

Assignment: To use lecture notes written by Gregg Casad to create a narrative story about WildAid’s critical work to help The Bahamas curb illegal fishing. With expertise in advanced monitoring and surveillance, WildAid helped Bahamian authorities strengthen their enforcement of anti-poaching and trafficking laws.

Pangolin tail as the pangolin walks away

Photo credit: Geranimo

How One Local Conservationist is Protecting Cameroon’s Pangolins and Cultural Heritage

Assignment: To shape a transcribed interview with WildAid representative Jennifer Biffot into a character-driven story with conflict and resolution. The story illustrates the impact of Biffot’s successful conservation work with WildAid and Cameroonians to discourage the consumption of pangolins. Pangolins are essential for healthy forests in Central Africa and are highly sought after in the illegal wildlife trade.

Photo credit: Aline Bedard

Assignment: To show American readers that extinction is not just a far-away threat for animals in other parts of the world. Many endangered species live right here in the Unites States, in our oceans and in our backyards. This article focuses on some of the most endangered American animals, ranging from whales to wolves to bees to salamanders. For many species, climate change, loss of habitat, pollution, the illegal pet trade, and disease are among their biggest challenges.

On the Brink: 13 Endangered Species in the U.S.

White shark swimming directly toward camer

Photo credit: Nautilus Creative

8 Shark Facts, From Bellybuttons to Friendships to Environmental Health and Balance

Assignment: to research interesting shark facts to create a blog post for Shark Awareness Day.

"Heather is a fantastic researcher and writer, and her passion for conservation made her work shine even more."

Kaylyn Beck, Senior Social Media Manager, WildAid
"Heather was tasked with raising coastal awareness of the decline of our marine treasures . . . . It was her focus on the end product and creativity that allowed us to be so successful."

Vic Ferguson, Executive Director, World Federation for Coral Reef Conservation

Ecologists Without Borders

Marketing and Communications Committee Member | Nov. 2022 – May 2023

Designed a report template to help volunteer project managers create more consistent public-facing project updates.
Initiated development of a brand book and provided guideline copy in partnership with senior leadership and a designer.
Helped strengthen content consistency, brand alignment, and editorial guidance across volunteer-led communications.

Marine Conservation Network

Volunteer Communications Consultant | Sept. 2022

Advised senior leadership on website restructuring to better highlight programs, clarify mission priorities, and improve audience navigation.Aligned mission and purpose statements across platforms

World Federation for Coral Reef Conservation

Advisory Board Member | June 2022 – Aug. 2022

Developed a three-phase communications plan to increase awareness, build organizational authority, educate users, and support adoption of a GIS coral reef mapping platform.
Restructured website messaging for clarity and organizational objective alignment.
Advised senior leaders on editorial standards, content strategy, copyright awareness, and public-facing educational messaging.
Wrote educational blog content to help introduce coral reef conservation issues to broader audiences.

Professional Development

ARCTIC MELTDOWN, University of Colorado Boulder, July 2025

BUGS 101: INSECT-HUMAN INTERACTIONS, University of Alberta, July 2025

MARINE BIOLOGY, American Museum of Natural History, July 2025

TROPICAL FOREST LANDSCAPES 101: CONSERVATION & RESTORATION, Yale University, June 2025

INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY: ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, BIODIVERSITY, Rice University, May 2025

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, Dartmouth College, May 2025

BEHAVIOR CHANGE FOR CONSERVATION, TRAFFIC Learning, Sept. 2023

COMMUNICATING THE VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY, United Nations Development Programme, Learning for Nature. Sept. 2022

CORAL REEF RESILIENCE, The Nature Conservancy, July 2022

INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION, National Geographic Society, July 2022

REMOTE SENSING AND MAPPING FOR CORAL REEF CONSERVATION, The Nature Conservancy, June 2022