Dr. Kirstie Ruppert is Associate Director of Conservation Science, Community Engagement at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, where she leads the organization’s social science team. She specializes in the human dimensions of conservation, integrating research and collaborative planning into conservation strategies. Her work includes adapting conflict mitigation efforts with pastoralist communities in northern Kenya, linking women’s enterprise development to wildlife conservation, supporting demand reduction initiatives in Vietnam, and incorporating social data into recovery planning for sea otters along the U.S. Pacific Coast. Kirstie has benefited from engaging with IUCN HWCCSG resources and looks forward to continued learning from this global community.