UA31301 Impact of Giving A4 Book FINAL - Flipbook - Page 15
As an undergraduate political science student at
Queens University in Ontario, Canada, Rhianna
fought to include environmental issues in
political discussions, before going on to research
financial crime, focusing on how organised
crime groups finance their operations.
Now, Rhianna is combining her strong
understanding of organised crime and financial
structures with her passion for nature and
conservation to tackle the issue of environmental
crime in Antarctica. At the University of Adelaide
Wildlife Crime Research Hub, Rhianna is using
key legal frameworks to investigate the removal
of materials and species from Antarctica, tracking
what is actually being taken and where it’s going.
This includes the illegal removal of Antarctic
rocks, which are sold in auction houses, and illegal
fishing of Antarctic toothfish, mackerel, and krill.
Her work focuses on bringing together many
different forms of evidence to figure out what
is already known about these illegal activities,
whether existing regulatory bodies are addressing
the crimes, and how they are doing so.
Rhianna is excited to work within the
multidisciplinary team at the Wildlife Crime
Research Hub, which includes ecologists,
lawyers, forensic experts, and political
scientists. “The conversations we have here
are really interdisciplinary, and we’re all
learning to speak each other’s language.”
“When you’re addressing something as big as
environmental crime, focusing on one perspective
exclusively means you’re going to miss so much
valuable information and that’s such a shame
with something that matters so much.”
Wildlife Crime
Research Hub
Australia’s unique biodiversity is under threat from
illegal activities such as wildlife trafficking, the
introduction of invasive species, and the illegal
harvesting of natural resources. These crimes not
only deplete native wildlife but also pose severe risks
to our environment, agriculture, and the economy.
The Wildlife Crime Research Hub at the University of
Adelaide is leading the fight against wildlife crime.
• Globally, wildlife crime is worth $400
billion annually, and is often associated with
organised crime and other illegal activities.
Impact of Giving
“I remember thinking it was just the coolest thing
in the entire world,” she explained. “I grew up in
nature, and it’s always been so important to me.”
• Wildlife and environmental crimes are growing at
more than twice the rate of the global economy.
• Wildlife crime seriously endangers Australia’s
unique landscapes and biodiversity.
• These crimes ultimately exacerbate global
economic and social insecurity
“This scholarship is dedicated to Gillian
Hardman, who touched so many lives
with kindness, generosity, calmness and
integrity. Her unwavering commitment
to higher education will continue through
the Gillian Hardman Supplementary
Research Scholarship for postgraduate
students supporting the Fellowship project
‘Combatting wildlife crime and preventing
environmental harm.” Donor
The Gillian Hardman Scholarship has allowed
Rhianna to attend multiple interstate conferences,
building her collaborative network and gaining
insights from others working in environmental crime.
“The Scholarship has opened
doors and provided some
opportunities that I wouldn’t
have otherwise had. I hope my
PhD can start a conversation
about how we interact with
the Antarctic environment, and
work toward protecting this
extremely vulnerable continent.”
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