“I have always loved the ocean growing up and found serenity in the water. My happiest place on earth is being on a boat out at sea, disconnected from the world. Even though I’ve felt a strong connection with the environment since I was young, life sometimes takes you on a different journey. My family is in the fashion business in France and, after starting my career there, I worked in luxury fashion for many years. In my late twenties, and after the sudden passing of my father, I started to question a lot of things. It was a wake up call that nudged me to reassess my life. My lightbulb moment came when I watched a documentary about shark finning. I saw a beautiful shark being finned and dumped into the water. It slowly drifted down to the seabed, still alive but completely helpless. I found myself in tears and felt a strong sense of empowerment - I knew I had to do something to protect our environment. So, with no prior experience in this field, I started to knock on doors. With a mix of determination and luck, I finally got a volunteer role at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 2014."
「我從細到大都特別鍾情大海，總會喺海上尋獲片刻寧靜。世界上最令我開心嘅事，莫過於揚帆出海，遠離世俗煩囂。雖然我自細對自然環境就有深厚嘅情感連繫，但人生旅途總不免事與願違。我屋企喺法國從事時裝生意，而我嘅職業生涯亦從法國開始。我喺高級時裝界打滾咗好幾年。我接近三十歲嗰陣，爸爸突然與世長辭，我不禁對所有事物都產生疑問。痛失至親令我重新審視自己嘅生命。我立志從事環保，其實係源於一齣捕鯊割鰭紀錄片。我目睹一條又一條鯊魚被人割下魚鰭，然後求其揼返落海。每條鯊魚慢慢咁沉入海底，雖然仲未死，但已經無辦法正常游動。我一路睇一路喊，同時深感肩負重責，因為我知道自己可以為環境保育出一分力。於是，我喺無相關經驗嘅情況下，毅然踏上環境保育之路。喺決心同運氣嘅幫助下，我喺2014年以義工身分加入大自然保護協會
環境保育副總監
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION
Marine Thomas
9:00 - 17:00
”Since then, I’ve worked with TNC on our youth education programme, fundraising projects, launched Hong Kong’s first oyster restoration project and now lead our entire Hong Kong conservation strategy. There is a huge gap in ocean conservation projects in HK and, in particular, oyster reefs - which are the most endangered marine habitat on earth, with over 85% global loss. Apart from getting hands-on to restore shellfish reefs, we also develop scientific research in partnership with the University of Hong Kong to help build awareness of the ocean systems and the importance of protecting these habitats - including their impact on water quality, biodiversity and coastal protection. We also aim to tackle policy gaps in marine conservation to drive the initiative forward and reach larger and longer lasting impact. Change doesn’t happen overnight and after seven years, we are now finally starting to scale up our restoration projects to make more sustainable and extensive change!"
”It’s been 10 years since my career shift and I’m so grateful that I now get to do what I love - I get to be outdoors in the ocean, work with young people, inspire where I can for a cause that is dear to my heart. As a mum of two, I can’t bear the idea of future generations growing up in a world without the beauty of nature. Nature is so powerful - it nurtures our wellbeing, health and minds. I would strongly encourage young people in HK to spend more time outdoors to connect with and be in nature. Kids growing up in our concrete jungle may initially feel very much outside of their comfort zones - but just give them a few minutes, and you’ll see them transform and set free! I believe that the first step towards wildlife conservation is for people to fall in love with nature. We protect what we love – and we can’t love what we don’t see, so let your kids run wild!”
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「從嗰陣開始，我就投身大自然保護協會嘅青年教育計劃以及各類籌款項目，亦致力落實全港首個蠔礁修復項目。現時，我主要率領全盤香港環境保育策略。其實，香港嘅海洋保育項目仲有好多不足，特別係喺蠔礁保育方面。到目前為止，全球超過八成半嘅蠔礁已經消失，係近乎滅絕嘅海洋生物棲息地。除咗親手修復蠔礁外，我哋仲同香港大學合作，聯手開發科研項目，設法提升公眾對海洋生態嘅認識，並普及保護海洋生物棲息地嘅重要性，包括了解蠔礁對水質、生物多樣性、海岸線保護嘅深遠影響。我哋亦計劃彌補海洋保育政策嘅不足，以推動更多保育項目，達至更深遠更持久嘅影響。我哋明白，改變唔會喺一夜之間發生。我哋團隊奮鬥整整七年，而家終於可以擴大蠔礁修復計劃嘅規模，締造更持續更全面嘅轉變！
「我入行已經超過十年。我好感恩可以做自己熱愛嘅嘢，譬如駕船出海、與年輕人共事、朝著內心目標不斷激勵更多人從事環保等等。身為兩個小孩嘅媽媽，我唔希望見到下一代喺失去自然美貌嘅世界中成長。大自然充滿力量，能夠滋養人類嘅福祉、健康同心靈，所以我非常鼓勵香港年輕人多花時間去戶外，試下同大自然連結，將自己置身自然環境之中。而家嘅小朋友多數喺石屎森林度長大，一開始可能會認為大自然係舒適圈以外嘅嘢，但請你畀啲時間小朋友適應，你好快就會見到佢哋嘅蛻變，繼而變得無拘無束！我相信，關心野生動植物保育，就係愛上大自然嘅第一步。我哋因熱愛而守護，而我哋無法愛上睇唔見嘅嘢。所以，請畀你哋嘅仔女喺野外盡情探索吧！」
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