HANNAH LONIKA GENTLE

PROGRAM MANAGER, RESEARCH FELLOW, CONSULTANT, EDUCATOR and GUIDE

I hold a Master of Science degree with experience in international food biodiversity, sustainability research, water conservation programme management, and nature therapy. I’ve worked with a diversity of stakeholders across multiple continents, from indigenous groups, local farmers and corporate funders to government agencies, foundations and global UN partners. My responsibilities cover all aspects of designing, budgeting, building and facilitating environmental programmes that are collaborative, community-based and focus on real world impacts.

I am a personable, professional and passionate team player with discipline and motivation to work independently as needed. As a contractor, consultant, educator and guide, I build rapport and value with people from all walks of life. Through effective role modeling and communication, I inspire and motivate people to express themselves safely and authentically. I am able to navigate complex environments to encourage systemic change that benefits all by listening to all points of view while maintaining integrity, creating harmony and improving efficiency.

My experience with Foundations and grant providers is both vertical, from community-rooted to global outlook, and horizontal, from pre-programme situational analyses to collation of national programme reports for global communication and distribution. My breadth of travel, research and programme management experience helps me understand cultural and ideological nuances related to food, food system sovereignty and socio-economic structures that collectively safeguard overall wellbeing.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Programme Management and Design
Relationship Building
Facilitation and Collaboration
Identifying Opportunities
Creating Efficiencies
Effective Communication
Community Empowerment
Inclusive Decision Making
Local-to-Global Capacities

EDUCATION

Master of Science, Human Nutrition : University of Otago

Agriculture, Economics and Nature : University of Western Australia

EXPERIENCE

PROGRAMME MANAGER, WATERSCHOOL
Swarovski Foundation/Earthwatch Institute
Australia with travel to Austria

managed end-to-end delivery of two national
environmental conservation and education programmes
via Global CSR and Philanthropic Foundation funding
designed water literacy and empowerment programme
incorporating Head, Heart and Hands model, and First Nations water perspectives, storytelling and expertise
coordinated online and in-person educational experiences to provide foundational knowledge, develop skills, facilitate expert access, and share unique perspectives created, resourced and facilitated in-person workshops
engaged 4000+ students and 100+ teachers in first 2 years
built and maintained relationships with a diversity of stakeholders: students, teachers, First Nations Elders, local delivery partners, corporate volunteers, Trade Commissioners, Foundation representatives and Trustees
doubled programme funding following success of pilot programme and secured a three-year funding cycle managed templating, production and final editing of promotional media for global distribution

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH FELLOW, BIODIVERSITY FOR FOOD & NUTRITION PROJECT

Bioversity International : Rome, Italy with travel to Kenya and Türkiye

collaborated on multinational project with UN agencies and local governments in Brazil, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Türkiye aiming to mainstream biodiverse foods into local food systems to improve human, environmental, social, and governmental outcomes

attended UN conferences and global workshops as an organisation representative

co-wrote background paper Healthy People, Healthy Planet, and hosted cross-disciplinary workshop with world-

leading experts in sustainable global food systems

facilitator and reporter for Kenya workshops – successfully linked smallholder farmers with schools to

improve farmer livelihoods and nutritional value of school feeding programmes

created four national profiles highlighting nutritional value of biodiverse foods and examples of education

and behaviour change initiatives to improve availability, accessibility and utilisation

developed globally-relevant content for a free-to-access ecourse on mainstreaming biodiversity

TECHNICAL EXPERT – PACIFIC NUTRITION-SENSITIVE FOOD SYSTEMS

Independent Consultant : Remote contract with focus on Fiji and Samoa

conducted situational analysis of food and nutrition security across Pacific region, inclusive of gender, youth

and disability factors

sourced and combined relevant health, environmental, cultural and political information utilizing local,

regional, national and global databases to show key indicators and main trends over time

RESEARCH CONSULTANT – MULTIPLE SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS

Ecosystems Consultants : Nationwide, New Zealand

conducted extensive critical analyses of existing global, national and local agricultural sustainability

assessment frameworks, including indicators and metrics, to advise best practices and considerations for the

New Zealand Sustainability Dashboard

used online citizen-shared data to advise government agencies on best ways to increase uptake, change

perceptions, allocate funding and incentivise electric vehicle purchases in New Zealand

estimated nutrient composition of seabirds to track nutrient fluxes in breeding colonies on NZ islands to

accelerate ecosystem restoration by select species for translocation, supplementary feeding and predator

protection – included broad-ranging literature review, regression modeling and drafting scientific paper

REGIONAL MANAGER – YOUTH LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE & RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL TRAVEL

World Challenge : Australia with travel to Nepal

managed a three-million dollar portfolio of 40+ schools across Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales

implemented new systems and procedures, and drove new business development within the Oceania region

gave informative presentations to large audiences to strengthen partnerships with high value clients

curated immersive journeys to developing countries with high school students and teachers

leadership team for 21-day Nepal expedition including Annapurna Base Camp and Chitwan National Park

FOREST THERAPY GUIDE – INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED

Self-Employed : New Zealand

guiding individual and group Forest Therapy walks in biodiverse nature settings

research partnerships and nature experiences for physical, mental, emotional, psychospiritual wellbeingE X P E R I E N C E

INDEPENDENT NUTRITION & HEALTH CONSULTANT

Self-Employed : New Zealand

nutritional assessment and support for the Triathlon New Zealand team during altitude training

nutritional tracking and advice for Athletics New Zealand youth and para-athletes

online and in-person consultation relating to overall health and well-being and sports performance services

nutrition presentations and services for corporations, schools and private organisations

guest speaker at international and national conferences

NATIONAL TOUR MANAGER & GUIDE

G Adventures : New Zealand

Led 15 to 21-day international group tours throughout New Zealand : guide, driver, service provider,

relationship management, administration and on-ground bookings

C O L L A B O R A T I O N S & P U B L I C A T I O N S

EAT/Bioversity International/Stockholm

Research Centre Writeshop

Bioversity International : Rome, Italy

Co-host, publication author and facilitator

Agricultural Biodiversity for Nutrition

Scheerer, L., Borelli, T., Hunter, D., Collins, S., Gentle, H.

Policy brief : Why agricultural biodiversity matters for

nutrition. Bioversity International : Rome, Italy

Committee on World Food Security (CFS)

UNFAO : Rome, Italy

Delegate for Bioversity International

Sustainable Agriculture

DeClerck, F., Gentle, H., Gordon, L., Kennedy, G. Healthy

People Healthy Planet: linking diets to food production

landscapes. Background paper to guide discussions at the

EAT/CGIAR write shop. Rome, Italy

Technical meeting on Mapping of Nutrition-

Sensitive Interventions in East and Southern

African (ESA)

IFAD : Rome, Italy

Delegate for Bioversity International

Swarovski Foundation 10th Anniversary Event

Swarovski HQ : Wattens, Austria

Presenter and workshop facilitator

Target Setting in Sustainability Assessment

Whitehead J.; Lu, Y.; Still H.; Wallis, J.; Gentle, H.; Moller H.

Target Setting and Burden Sharing in Sustainability

Assessment beyond the Farm Level. 12th European

International Farming Systems Symposium. Harper Adams

University, UK.

Sustainable Transport

Gentle, H., Moller, H., Myall, D., Ivanov, D. How can Flip the

Fleet more effectively encourage people to buy EVs?

FlipTheFleet.org