Mary E. Liao is a partner at Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo based in the Canada Office. She is the Conservation and Collaboration Specialist on the project and also the direct link between the Canadian partners and the local partners in Ghana and beyond.
Dr. Mary Liao draws on her extensive experience to advise on formalizing our valuable partnerships and stewarding our community conservation partnerships in Ghana. Her M.Sc. focused on feminist geography and environmental refugees in the informal market in Khartoum, Sudan. She then pursued her Ph.D. at Loughborough University, UK, examining the role of spirituality in international development in the water resources sector in Namibia. Mary has worked for over 20 years in international development with a focus on gender and social inclusion. Mary was a former Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Art, University of Calgary, teaching courses in the Development Studies Program.
She is a professional with extensive experience working within social policy and sustainability, particularly focused on supporting people to access the right information, tools, and advice about planning and managing change. She possesses excellent skills in developing effective relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds, at all levels both within and external to an organization to ensure effective and successful outcomes for the organization through the provision of excellent customer service; delivering a positive, and proactive approach. Mary is an innovative thinker who thrives on finding solutions. A skilled communicator able to work in diverse and challenging environments.