#EmbraceEquity

6 March 2023

Alumna Josheena Naggea
Honours degree of Bachelor of Science - 2015
Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management) - 2014

Alumna Josheena Naggea is living proof of what her alma mater instilled in her — striving to better the world through her chosen field of expertise. She dedicated the last few years of her life to understanding people’s connection to nature and how we can all come together to protect the environment for future generations.

We had the chance to spend some time with the Mauritius-born change maker and gain perspective on the need for equity and the power of inclusiveness to counter challenges facing the planet. As we celebrate International Women’s Day along the theme of #EmbraceEquity, Josheena’s work is exemplary in highlighting the importance of equity at multiple levels.

In her field, Josheena has contributed towards advocating for equity in environmental conservation and gender equity in the field of sciences by breaking through many traditional stereotypes. At a high level, she has set an example for more women to participate in the sector, particularly at the nexus of science and policy. Today, Josheena is also an advocate for gender equity and female participation in that nexus.

Having decided to engage in a male-dominated field, Josheena credits the success of her early career to the many female mentors who supported her in her career choices. Josheena believes that more women must be incentivised to choose careers that are less conventional and that women must find adequate support to occupy leadership positions irrespective of their chosen field.

What should one do at the individual level to bring the necessary changes in the world, particularly climate change?

There is space for everyone to do something. A simple measure is to initiate conversations around the topic. For instance, during the Wakashio oil spill in Mauritius in 2020, the ripple effect caused by people from all walks of life coming together to protect the island, our coastline, and marine life was remarkable. It brought the much-needed change in terms of environmental consciousness one would otherwise experience after substantial awareness effort, time and other irreversible losses. We need more cross-sectoral collaboration in combating global challenges. Key measures include empathising with others’ challenges, connecting to support environmental stewardship initiatives, and being willing to learn to respect and protect the environment in a sustainable way continuously.

Josheena further expressed that moving forward, she aspires to continue involving various targeted communities in creating awareness of the impacts of climate change and how we need to focus on nature-based solutions. She feels particularly inclined to educate young girls who will emerge as agents of change to shape the next generation.

One thing you could tell your younger self

It is going to be alright eventually. You just keep taking small steps in the direction which aligns with your career and personal objectives. More often than not, we tend to overthink our choices and the consequences it may entail before even taking action.

When asked about her most memorable moments in Monash, she beamed with joy: “My numerous field trips and the holistic learning I got to experience at Monash University will always remain close to my heart. I reflected on my experience and thought, wow, you are doing plenty of cool stuff you did not even dream of doing. Like visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site Gunung Mulu in Borneo, the national park Taman Negara with its tropical rainforest aged atleast 100 million years, etc."

It was great to know that many new initiatives are in the pipeline for our alumna. She is focusing her energy and effort on continuing to nurture the oceans, marine life, and coastal livelihoods. In her postdoctoral journey as a Hoffmann fellow with the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions and the World Economic Forum, she is looking at innovation in the ocean space, particularly for small-scale fisheries and aquaculture.

Josheena said it wasn't a walk in the park during her environmental advocacy journey. She was very mindful and reflected about the under-representation of people advocating for the same issues, thus realising that she needed to be there, be in the space and do what needed to be done while also making space for more people from under-represented backgrounds.

One change to witness in the world

We need more compassion and understanding to improve collaborations and nurture innovation to address the growing challenges our planet is facing. Troubles start when people act out of selfishness. “We must harness openness and empathy to prioritise compassion over passion. Passion can be self-centred, whereas compassion helps to bridge gaps and include everyone along the way to bring a huge change that benefits everyone. Compassion over passion!”

Josheena leaves the readers with this thought: “There’s a time to sow and time to reap. The waiting process is where you will have to be patient.”

We believe that every reader out there will be able to get some inspiration from Josheena’s dedication, and may we all be mindful and nurture our connection to nature.