IMPACT Madagascar

Hayley Westcott is originally from California, USA where she got her Bachelor’s degree from UCLA majoring in Geography/Environmental Studies and French. She spent her third year studying French in Lyon, France where she fell in love with the language. After she graduated, she took a gap year in Australia where she traveled, worked, and volunteered before pursuing a postgraduate degree. She then moved to Ireland where she completed her MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation at Trinity College, Dublin where her thesis was a study on ring-tailed lemurs. This is her first time in Madagascar, but it is where she has dreamed of living and working since she was a child. She is currently the Project Manager at IMPACT Madagascar.

Rakotondrabe Andriamihaja Rado is a trained primatologist. He completed his master’s thesis on the species Propithecus coronatus at the University of Antananarivo. He has participated in several international conferences, both in Madagascar and abroad, presenting research results on lemurs and their conservation. Having worked more than 10 years in lemur conservation, he has extensive experience in the field. At IMPACT, he assists in coordinating the Sifaka Conservation programme, as well as leading the conservation activities at Ankirihitra Ambato-Boeny site. Rado is also a member of Madagascar Primate Research Group (GERP).

RATSARALAZA Herisitraka obtained his postgraduate degree (Diplôme d’Etude Approfondie) in 2010 specializing in Applied Plant Ecology within the Department of Biology and Plant Ecology at the University of Antananarivo. Sitraka received specialized training in ethnobotany on the use of medicinal plants in rural areas. He has various experiences in plant ecology and botany. His various studies and investigations of lemur habitat since 2011 have allowed him to gain experience in biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and renewable natural resources, working alongside local populations and technical services. At IMPACT Madagascar, Sitraka is a botanist in charge of habitat restoration projects, as well as the management of Dabolava area. He is also a member of GERP (Groupe d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar.)

RAKOTOARINIVO Toky Hery began immersing himself in lemur conservation in 2007 when he was selected to follow a course entitled "Nursery in Primatology" organized by the Madagascar Primate Research Group (GERP). He got his master’s degree in Primatology in 2010. He began his professional career in 2011 focusing on lemurs and biodiversity conservation within the Sifaka Conservation programme. He has attended several international primatology conferences to present his research results. His areas of expertise are primatology, conservation biology, ecological monitoring, protected areas, and the transfer of natural resource management. He is in charge of the management of the Mahajeby and Vohitrarivo project sites at IMPACT Madagascar.

RAKOTOARISOA Andoniaina Harilala obtained his master's degree in Applied Physiology of Animal Nutrition from the Department of Animal Biology at the University of Mahajanga in 2005. Following his master’s studies, he worked in the field of aquaculture (shrimp farming) as a Technician Biologist in charge of the hatchery. He completed an advanced master’s degree on lemur ecology in 2011, after carrying out a study on the feeding behavior of the sympatric species Eulemur collaris and Lemur catta in the forest of Ambatotsirongorongo in Fort Dauphin. At IMPACT, he is responsible for research and conservation at our Madiromirafy site. He is a member of the Madagascar Primate Research Group (GERP).

After graduating from the Ecole Normale Supérieure, University of Antananarivo, with a degree in Natural Sciences, RUVA FIANDRY Fenomanana became a trained educator with great teaching skills. He also has extensive experience in the collection and analysis of ecological data. He has been working on various research programmes in Madagascar. At IMPACT Madagascar, he excels in his role as an Assistant Biologist where he is in charge of various activities including mapping through GIS, fieldwork, and environmental education programmes.

Mahefa ANDRIAMAVOSOLOARISOA is a junior conservation biologist. He got his master’s degree from the University of Antananarivo in 2018. His master’s thesis focused on the study of the fish community in the Melaky region of Madagascar. He is particularly interested in the Madagascar’s endemic fishes. After his postgraduate studies, he worked on different conservation projects including reptile monitoring, bird monitoring, and the monitoring of diurnal and nocturnal lemurs. At IMPACT Madagascar, he is in charge of the wetlands at our project sites.