 My name is Candice Bartlett. I grew up on a cattle property in Belboro, which is a regional part of New South Wales. I became passionate about animal conservation and studied a Bachelor of Animal Science at Western Sydney University. In 2014, I applied for the New Colombo Plan and was awarded a scholarship to study overseas for my last semester. I studied in Hong Kong at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Studying overseas through New Colombo Plan equipped me with a new sense of confidence. I undertook electives in marine biology and cultural studies, which helped me develop a new respect for diverse ways of life and prepared me to enter a role which involves travel overseas. Following the New Colombo Plan, I completed my honours research in citizen science and then applied to work at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, which is Australia's leading agricultural research for development agency. In the fisheries team, I particularly love our wild fisheries body of work, where we're addressing challenges such as restoration of coral reefs, management of vulnerable, rain-sharp populations and helping fish migrate through physical barriers along riverways. Through my current role as a research program officer for fisheries, I get to stay engaged with the Indo-Pacific region. For example, next week I'm off to Laos and Myanmar to contribute to our research along the Mekong River. I think it's important to foster relationships in the Indo-Pacific region. The marine environment is a shared resource and by working beyond borders, together we can learn how to manage our oceans sustainably and conserve a diversity of life below water.