Modi Pontio

Associate Director
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program

“I joined The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) in January 2020 as Associate Director, based in Lae Morobe Province. Papua New Guinea.

Prior to joining TKCP, I undertook short consultancies for several organizations including The United National Development Program (UNDP) to conduct Lesson Learnt for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 4 project and the Asian Development Bank supporting the Government (Conservation and Environment Protection Authority) on the Coral Triangle Initiative whilst studying for my Bachelor’s Degree in Management from the Divine Word University.

Before that I was engaged as Deputy Country Director from 2014 to 2017 by Population Services International where my main role was supporting the organization to roll out the GEF funded Malaria program throughout PNG. From beginning of 2010 to the end of 2013 I served as the PNG Marine Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society to oversee the Marine Research program in New Island and Manus Province. My career in Conservation actually began with Conservation International when I was hired as a Community Engagement Trainer for the Community-based Coastal and Marine Conservation Program in Milne Bay, PNG, a program funded by GEF and implemented through the UNDP. This role developed my interest for community-based conservation and earned me the Conservation Action Award from Conservation International in 2006.”