Profile 1: Lawrence Hislop - CliC

Lawrence Hislop is from Montreal, Canada and has more than ten years of international experience leading UN and EU funded projects, and has produced many environmental assessments and related communications products. From 2009-2014, Lawrence led the Polar and Cryosphere programme at GRID-Arendal in Norway and collaborated on projects with the Arctic Council, University of the Arctic and UNEP-linked activities in Polar and mountain regions. He was also on the management team of the Himalayan Climate Adaptation Programme (HICAP) from 2011 - 2014 and initiated long-term research on environmental impacts in Nepal, India, Pakistan and China.

In addition to his research work, Lawrence also produces documentary photography, films and infographics.

• 1. What are the primary responsibilities and tasks in your current job?

  As director of CliC (http://www.climate-cryosphere.org/) my job requires a mix of skills related to science management, organizational management, administration, finance, and communications. CliC has a scientific steering group that develops a science plan, and I administer the secretariat office which runs projects that achieve the science plan goals. I mainly do project planning and budgeting for different types of funded activities and follow up on correspondence from potential new partners. I manage the CliC network of researchers and look for fundraising opportunities to support projects that have few resources.

• 2. How did you get this position?

  Before working at CliC I had a few years of research management experience working on Arctic and high mountain environmental projects. I managed longterm projects with UNEP, and Arctic Council, EU and Indigenous Peoples organizations and mainly did communications and outreach related to environmental assessments. I also led communications work for the Himalayan Climate Adaptation Project (HICAP) with a biennial budget and staff responsibility (5-7 experts). A mixed environmental research background and recent management experience led to CliC contract.

• 3. Had you always intended to pursue a non-academic career? If not, what led you to it?

  Yes, I knew I would go a non-academic route myself, but I hoped to work on the periphery of academia and environmental research with a wide community. My current and previous jobs have allowed me to link directly with academics and support projects, workshops and events related to polar research.

• 4. What would you have done differently to be better prepared for your current position? Which choices in the past were successful?

  I think most of my career decisions have benefitted year after year and have led to more responsibility and a diverse portfolio of activities. Taking on small managerial tasks and collaborating with 1-2 others in teams helped boost opportunities for later managing bigger groups. The only thing I would have done differently is get more education/training on project management and making presentations.

• 5. Are there opportunities in your working place for candidates having a PhD degree?

  Yes, there are opportunities although CliC itself is only a two-person secretariat office. A CliC staff position may come up every 4-5 years. But generally, in this industry there are 4-8 good entry to mid-level research/management jobs that come up every year. A PhD in some kind of cryospheric research would be a strong benefit for anyone wanting to work at the CliC project office.

• 6. Do you have any advice for working towards this career?

  I found it a good experience to work in an organisation of 30 or more people when I started and this let me get an overview of different positions and personalities. I have also mainly worked on international projects and this has been a benefit in organisational learning and in developing an extended global network. I am trying to keep active in on-line media and follow technical trends where possible.