Lara is a PhD Candidate at Heriot-Watt University examining corporate social sustainability and fisher wellbeing on board fishing vessels in wild capture fisheries. Her research aims to identify best practice and bridge the academia-industry divide, and she is supported by Tesco, Hilton Seafoods, Global Seafood Alliance, Sustainable Fisheries and Communities Trust, and Marks & Spencer. Lara’s background is in sustainable development and marine socio-ecological systems, and she holds an MSc in Marine Systems & Policy from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in International Development from Duke University. An advocate for sustainable development, Lara has experience supporting community-led projects and conducting participatory research within Latin America, Africa, and South Asia. Prior to starting her PhD, Lara supported the development and transition of the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard, a third-party vessel certification focused on fishing crew welfare.
