Laxmi AGGARWAL

Influenced by her upbringing near the Serengeti National Park, Laxmi Aggarwal has completed her PhD. researching illegal ivory markets in Tanzania, with a determination to inform policy dialogue and tailor mitigative approaches through locally collected data in line with local cultural nuances. As a principal investigator, Laxmi navigated the access to governmental gatekeepers to secure 67 in-depth interviews, 21 of which were conducted with active (n=11) and prison-based (n=10) elephant poachers.
Laxmi is currently a Conservation Policy Officer at BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International), having switched her focus to the illegal trade in timber and plants. She is also a Trustee at the Tanzania Development Trust, where she consults on philanthropic projects in Tanzania. Given the opportunity, she also continues as a guest lecturer, teaching green criminology and law, decolonised research methodologies, and sustainable tourism. Through TemboIworry she also continues to consult a single client on their ESG portfolio focused on community outreach, biodiversity conservation, and natural climate solutions.
Having developed an affinity for environmental preservation at a young age, Laxmi's academic and work experiences have been committed to sustainability. She holds a BSc in environmental science, with a focus on climate change and soil carbon storage in the Arctic. She later received an MA. in Environmental Law, centred on the complexities of Environmental Impact Assessments in East Africa. Laxmi's work experiences primarily include illegal wildlife trade, green criminology, sustainable agriculture, climate change and impact investment projects. Her experiences span diverse locations, including the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Nicaragua, China, and India.