You might find her at an animal sanctuary or baking in the kitchen, but Jillian Fredericks most often has conservation on her mind. She grew up in Cape Town and after school, she pursued her tertiary education at the University of the Western Cape where she moved up through the system to earn her Master of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. She is currently placed with WWF as an environmental data management intern, where her work involves monitoring and evaluation, as well as geographic information systems (GIS). 

We asked her a few questions to find out more about her work, studies and inspirations:  

What are you passionate about?   

I am passionate about our environment (fauna and flora) and helping people, especially marginalised and vulnerable communities who depend on our natural resources. 

What inspired your choice of study? 

What inspired me was observing the changes in my dad’s garden that came with the changes in seasons. I was intrigued by how and why both animals and plants responded to these environmental changes. This led me to pursue a career related to the environment and nature. 

What excites you about your internship?

I am excited to work with data and GIS, and to expand my knowledge regarding this. I am excited to learn from those who are considered experts in their field, especially at an amazing organisation like WWF. What excites me too is being a part of a very supportive team and hopefully adding value to the team I am placed with. 

What are your expectations of this internship? 

I expect to be challenged but also supported when needed. I expect to gain and improve on various skills I require to excel in this internship. This includes my presentation skills, geospatial analysis skills, analytical skills, tool development skills and report-writing skills. In addition, I also expect constructive feedback from my mentor or any other experienced professionals for my own personal and professional growth.  

What contribution do you hope to make towards a future in which people and nature thrive? 

I hope to contribute by supporting local communities to live more sustainably while protecting our natural resources. I’m passionate about conservation and enjoy helping people understand the value of nature and how they can benefit from working with it, not against it. Whether it’s through supporting organisations with data tool development, geospatial analysis or data management, I aim to be part of solutions that create lasting change for both people and the planet. 

Who inspires you most and why? 

I am inspired by my sister Dr Jeanne Fredericks. She loves what she does and her quality of work remains constant throughout. She also gives back to local communities, especially youth, and she’s always available to provide advice whether for personal or professional growth.