The Royal Commonwealth Society’s ACT Branch has announced that Georgia Troup, a PhD student from the ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society, is to receive the 2018 Phyllis Montgomerie Commonwealth Prize of $5000.

Georgia is a PhD student studying human-elephant conflict in Tsavo, Kenya, which is becoming more important as droughts last longer. Human-elephant conflict, specifically crop-raiding, has become a significant conservation concern threatening the long-term survival of the African elephant. Working in collaboration with Save the Elephants, a Kenya-based NGO, she study focuses on African elephants as a priority conflict species to advance our present understanding of ‘risky’ behaviour developed in mammals living in close proximity to human settlements. Specifically, her research investigates the social dynamics of crop-raiding elephants and the potential nutritional motivation for crop-raiding by elephants in this semi-arid area of East Africa.

On January 8th, 2018, the Minister for Foreign Affairs announced the appointment of Ms Bronte Moules as Australia’s next Ambassador to Zimbabwe, with non-resident accreditation to Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Zambia.

Ms Moules was most recently Deputy High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.

With regards to Zimbabwe, the Minister stated that ‘We look forward to developing our economic engagement in response to strengthening of rule of law and a more open and market-based investment environment. ‘
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With regards to all countries to which Ms Moules is accredited the Minister noted that ‘Our private sector engagement, especially in mining, is growing …. ‘

Ms Moules holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For more information see:
https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2018/jb_mr_180108.aspx