University of Oxford
11a Mansfield Rd
OX1 3SZ
UK
Administrative Officer
Jessie D'Urso
Background
My work focuses on community-led biodiversity monitoring – working with Indigenous Communities in Kenya and Thailand on community advocacy and protecting rare, and locally useful species. I specialise on the end-products of biodiversity monitoring – on analysing the data-products, and returning them to communities in useful ways to support livelihoods and advocacy. When I’m not in the field, I can probably be found volunteering in the glasshouses at the Oxford Botanic Garden!
Current research
My work sits within our Conservation, Equity and Rights Theme, focusing on participatory mapping and community-led biodiversity monitoring. This work is part of the Transformative Pathways project, which aims to support collective actions towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. As well as co-developing and co-designing Indigenous-led monitoring projects, I am also particularly interested in understanding how we can braid together diverse knowledge systems, and ways of knowing and understanding nature at local, national and global levels.
Brief CV
2026 – Present – Administrative Officer, ICCS
2022-2026 – MBiol Student at Keble College, University of Oxford. My thesis studied participatory mapping and community-led biodiversity monitoring alongside our Transformative Pathways project.
Internships: Rights-Based Conservation Intern in the Conservation Equity and Rights Theme in Summer 2025. Bat Biodiversity Intern at Thomas Valley Environmental Records Centre in December 2024. Ecosystem Restoration Intern at Keble College in Summer 2024.
Volunteering: Glasshouse Propagation Volunteer at the Oxford Botanic Garden. Student Outreach Officer for Keble College.
Awards: Jonathan and Amanda Phillips Award for Contributions to College Life.