Bonn, 4 March 2015 - Kerryn is based at the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in Johannesburg, South Africa and currently works in a partnership between the EWT and the International Crane Foundation. Her dedication to the African cranes sees her travelling across the continent and beyond – always on the go and looking for opportunities to set up new projects and to tackle the manifold challenges that so many of the African cranes face. She is also on the Steering Committee of the Wetlands International/IUCN Crane Specialist Group and is actively involved in international crane conservation issues such as the development of a global Crane Conservation Plan. Kerryn is the chief compiler of the International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Grey Crowned Crane, which is expected to be adopted by the AEWA Parties at their 6th Meeting this coming November. The Secretariat is also delighted to announce that Kerryn has agreed to take on the role of Coordinator for the soon to be established AEWA Grey Crowned Crane International Working Group. It should come as no surprise then, that Kerryn’s favourite AEWA species is none other than the majestic Grey Crowned Crane!

“AEWA is really important in that it provides the opportunity to achieve government and specialist buy-in into activities focused on securing species and their habitats.  It brings everyone around the same table to develop priorities for conservation and encourages collaboration and commitment”, says Kerryn.

“AEWA is really important in that it provides the opportunity to achieve government and specialist buy-in into activities focused on securing species and their habitats.  It brings everyone around the same table to develop priorities for conservation and encourages collaboration and commitment”, says Kerryn who added that her favourite memory related to AEWA was the workshop that was held in Rwanda for the development of the Grey Crowned Crane Single Species Action Plan.  “It was so exciting to see government officials, crane experts and specialists debating issues and finding common ground in developing actions required to secure the future of this species!”