Description

Work Experience

Primate Carer & Section leader – Vervet Monkey Foundation, South Africa (June 2013-July 2015 & September 2016- January 2017)

·         Raised awareness and funding for the charity in the UK and South Africa delivering ZAR60,000 (£4,000) in additional funds on two separate occasions.

·         Managed and trained local staff and international volunteers including organising daily rotas and ensuring tasks are satisfactorily completed.

·         Conducted guided tours to newly arrived volunteers and members of the public.

·         Made several presentations to local communities on Vervet monkeys.

·         Successful integration of 40 Vervet monkeys

·         Detailed scientific behavioural observations carried out on all individuals.

·         Able to distinguish 400 individual Vervet monkeys including their background and individual needs.

·         Helped the VMF become the first sanctuary in Africa to be accredited by GFAS

·         Specific responsibility for a section containing 175 vervet monkeys including:

o   Food preparation, nutritional knowledge and general husbandry.

o   Health checks, monitoring behaviour, capture of sick/injured individuals and giving medicines.

o   Maintenance of four large electrified enclosures and a variety of closed smaller enclosures, building and enriching new enclosures all requiring basic woodworking skills.

o   Completion of detailed profile sheets.

·         Assisted in the capture, rehabilitation and release of several injured, wild Vervet monkeys

·         Hand raised over 30 orphaned Vervet monkeys including overnight care and feeding.

 

Temporary Accounts and HR administrator – E-zec Medical Transport (June/July 2016)

·         Purchase ledger administration and maintenance of spreadsheet database

·         Input data into SAGE software

·         Successfully renegotiated new contracts saving the company £2000

·         Co-ordinated recruitment process, conducted phone interviews and scheduled interviews.

 

 

Volunteer at Spirit of Freedom Rescue Centre, Peru (April/May 2016)

·         Worked with Coatis, Capuchin monkeys, Lions and Tigers rescued from South American circuses, completing husbandry and enrichment tasks.

·         Assisted with the transport of 25 lions to the airport.

 

Volunteer – Paradise Wildlife Park (May – June 2012)

·         Assisting with talks and shows for large groups of visitors and school groups.

·         General husbandry and food preparation for sections, including reptiles, birds, small mammals, farmyard and ungulates.

 

Chef – Bouverie Pub Gardens (November – January 2011-12)

·         Preparation of a wide variety of meals including roast dinners, self-made pizzas and falafel burgers.

·         High levels of hygiene in food storage and preparation

·         High quality food presentation

 

Education

Animal Behaviour BSc (Hons) Degree, University of Chester (September 2010-June 2013)

Grade – 2:1

Dissertation: Social development of juvenile Mandrills in a captive environment.

Modules studied:

·         Physiology and Behaviour – studied pain and stress in detail on a hormonal level to demonstrate non-human animal pain compared to human pain, as well as studying evidence for pain in fish.

·         Ethics and applied animal welfare – studied the history of animal welfare and rights based movements in the UK and modern philosophical arguments for both sides. Debated and discussed many ethical issues surrounding animals including the pros and cons of animal testing.

·         Animal cognition – studied intelligence of non-human animals

·         First two years of course studied pure biology.

·         All modules taught critical evaluation of research papers and appropriate citation methods.

 

A Levels: Maths, Biology, Psychology

GCSEs: Maths, English, English Language, Dual Science, Spanish, French, DT, ICT, RS, PE,

 

Hobbies and Interests

Travel, wildlife photography, sport, fitness and health

 

 

References:
 

Dave Du Toit

Director

Andrew Wickenden

Commercial Director

Vervet Monkey Foundation

E-zec Medical Transport

dave@vervet.za.org

andy.wickenden@e-zec.co.uk

Tel 01474 702444

56 Northdown Road, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7QW

matt-akister@hotmail.co.uk