What inspired you to study wildlife conservation?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt a deep curiosity and love for animals and nature. I grew up going with my dad to the ranch, where he would tell me all kinds of facts about the animals and plants we saw. He taught me how to respect, admire, and care for nature. I could never stay quiet—every five minutes I had a new question, and he always had an answer.

Without a doubt, my biggest inspiration to study conservation has been my dad and my grandfather. My dad always told me stories of their adventures together—tracking animals in the Ethiopian jungle, exploring the Rocky Mountains of Alaska, or crossing the Altar Desert in northern Mexico. Everything my grandfather learned about ecology, food chains, sustainability, and respect for life, he passed on to my dad. And then my dad passed it on to me during our time in the mountains and out on the ranch.

Even though I always knew I wanted to work with animals, the decision to study wildlife conservation came later—during high school, when I was looking into possible careers. When I read that there was a degree literally called 'Wildlife Conservation', it felt like it was made for me. It just made perfect sense.

Why did you choose to study at the University of Sydney?

I always knew I wanted to study two things: something related to wildlife—like biology, zoology, or conservation—and something in animal production, since I grew up working with livestock alongside my dad. One of my dreams has always been to find ways to produce food and meat that can coexist peacefully with nature and even help enhance biodiversity. But in my home country, that would’ve meant doing two separate four-year degrees, which wasn’t really ideal.

My dad encouraged me to look overseas, not only to find a program that combined both areas, but also to gain life experience and independence by living abroad. I started searching for universities around the world where I could study both animal production and wildlife conservation at the same time, and eventually, my options narrowed down to just a few countries.

Then I found this degree—offered by one of the best universities in Australia, in partnership with one of the best zoos in the world, where 100% of the profits go toward conservation. Add to that the fact that it’s based in Sydney, one of the most liveable cities on Earth—it really was a no-brainer.

What is your honours project about?

I'm doing my Honours with Associate Professor Jaime Gongora and his NGO Peace with Nature in the Colombian Amazon. The project is all about capacity building—teaching and empowering former FARC guerrillas and local communities to care for biodiversity and create sustainable ways of living, like ecotourism.

In a place still healing from decades of armed conflict, I believe education is key. Like my favourite quote goes, “we can only protect what we love, love what we know, and know what we’ve been taught.” By helping people understand the value of their ecosystems, we’re supporting conservation that makes sense both culturally and economically.

My part is to analyse whether this education is actually working in the long term—looking at survey data, finding gaps in the way things are taught or measured, and figuring out how to make the program better so it can be shared and adapted in other parts of Colombia and the world.

What do you hope to do after studying?

After finishing my degree, I want to make the most of the opportunities that come with studying Wildlife Conservation in Australia. During my postgraduate visa, I hope to work with organisations I deeply admire, like the Australian Wildlife Conservancy or Bush Heritage Australia. I’m especially passionate about rewilding—bringing species back to their natural habitats to restore ecosystem function—and I would love to contribute to that kind of work here in Australia, while continuing to learn from some of the best conservationists in the world.

After spending a few years gaining experience, my goal is to return to my farm and apply everything I’ve learned to increase biodiversity and restore the ecosystem through sustainable agricultural practices. Long-term, I dream of starting my own NGO to scale up these efforts—educating communities, promoting coexistence with wildlife, and rewilding landscapes across Mexico, Colombia, and Latin America.

How did you become a wildlife photographer?

Growing up, I spent hours watching wildlife documentaries and flipping through my grandfather’s old National Geographic magazines. When I was 11, I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, a film about a wildlife photographer, and something just clicked. It felt like all these little pieces in my brain connected at once: my love for animals, hiking, and photography. That was the moment I knew I wanted to do wildlife photography one day.

I finally bought my first camera in 2020, after saving for years. That’s when my wildlife photography journey officially began. I don’t plan to pursue it as a career, but it’s a hobby that fits perfectly with my lifestyle. I love to travel and volunteer with conservation projects that inspire me, such as monitoring orangutans in the jungles of Sumatra, helping reintroduce jaguars and other species in Argentina, or working on a cattle station in the Australian Outback. You can imagine the kind of wildlife I’ve encountered in these remote places—and my camera is always with me.

Beyond just sharing the incredible animals I get to see, my goal with photography is to educate and inspire people. I want to use my photos to raise awareness, spark curiosity, and persuade others to care for and protect the wild places and species that still remain.

What’s it been like moving to Australia and studying here?

Moving to Australia has honestly been the best decision of my life. Being 14,000 kilometres away from my family and friends completely pushed me out of my comfort zone—but that’s exactly where the most growth happens.

Of course, there were tough moments—arriving in a new country, knowing no one, adapting to a different language, getting a job, and adjusting to university life. But these challenges taught me resilience and independence. Over the past three years, I’ve had the chance to travel across Australia and nearby countries, volunteering and working on conservation projects alongside people I admire.

Adapting to the education system took time—especially because, at least in the Faculty of Science, there’s a strong focus on independence. You get to decide how far you want to take your learning.

Socially, it was a bit of a culture shock at first. What helped me a lot was joining clubs and communities where I could do what I love with like-minded people. That’s where I found my closest friends and really started to feel at home.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to study wildlife conservation?

Besides going to lectures and staying engaged in class, asking as many questions as you can, talking to your cohort, and being curious, my biggest advice is this: volunteer. Volunteer as much as you can.

Volunteering not only gives you hands-on field experience and a big advantage in your future career, but it also helps you understand what working in conservation is really like. You learn so much—about nature, the field, but also about yourself. It helps you figure out what you’re passionate about and where you might want to focus your career later on.

Try new things, even if they feel outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to explore—we’re at the perfect age for learning and adventure, and what better way to do that than by helping others protect the planet?