Jackie Abell

Experience

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  The Open University

  Jan 1995 - Jun 2013

  Associate Lecturer

  Taught DD307, DXR222, DZX222, D845

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  Lancaster University

  Feb 2000 - Jul 2013

  Lecturer in Social Psychology

  Lecturer in social psychology.

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  African Lion & Environmental Research Trust

  Jul 2013 - Mar 2018

  Director of Research
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  Coventry University

  Oct 2013 - now

  Associate Professor in Psychology
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  Livingstone Lions

  Jun 2020 - now

  Founder

  With the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic still being felt around the world, it is safe to say that few people on the planet have been able to escape its effects. In Zambia, Southern Africa, the ban on international travel devastated an already fragile economy reliant on the financial benefits of tourism. Without visitors, the hospitality industry collapsed and a significant proportion of the local workforce lost its livelihood overnight. In the Dambwa Forest on the outskirts of the Zambian city of Livingstone, a group of 39 captive lions were also suffering. As part of a conservation programme welcoming volunteers from around the world, when its main source of income disappeared and the project was forced to close down, the lions faced an uncertain future.Livingstone Lions was formed at the height of the pandemic as an emergency response to keep the lions alive. Without the support of generous sponsors and donors, they would certainly have died of starvation. While the lions remain firmly at the heart of everything we do – as well as being our constant inspiration and motivation – a return to tourism has now allowed us to widen our focus.As Livingstone starts to rebuild itself, the long-term aim of our charity is to bring positive benefits to communities and increase awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation to the local economy. We are doing this by delivering conservation education programmes and by providing educational and life-skills programmes to empower local people and increase their employment opportunities.Livingstone Lions is a non-profit charity run entirely by volunteers. We are passionate about the welfare of the lions within our care and the wellbeing of their human neighbours, but we can’t do any of this without your help. Show less