My Story
When I was at school, a career aptitude test revealed that except for a couple of kids, my classmates’ best life chances were to be achieved by aiming for clerical administrative careers. Being educated at an London inner city school – as the daughter of first generation immigrant parents studying alongside many children from different Asian backgrounds – a job involving a desk top computer was the height of ambition. But my working life went on to span market trading, cleaning, and selling double glazing under the pseudonym ‘Gail’. I also briefly worked as an accounts assistant for BBC news anchors and almost auditioned as a weather reporter. My route to marine and fisheries social sciences was far from linear.
One day, a poster of a scuba diver stopped me in my tracks on the way to the science block, and after that my career path as a marine and fisheries scientist started to take shape. After an initial pull towards studying the impacts of oil and gas extraction on marine animals, at the University of New South Wales, Australia, I became fascinated by human–ocean interdependence. As well as following this as an area of research, I had fun with it too – enjoying fishing, scuba diving, paddleboarding, and kayaking.
I started to realise that those who engaged with research in the government and environmental ngos were mainly educated at selective schools and were affluent, with a very different background to my own. Perhaps for this reason, I encountered challenges to finding opportunities in the sector – in recruitment processes, academia, and as a practitioner. I watched from the sidelines with the odds stacked against me as a working-class woman of colour trying to carve a path for myself. The words of an influential fisheries scientist struck a chord “you are a woman of your own destiny. If YOU don’t seize opportunities, someone else will”. As I progress in my career and reflect on my those words, I have come to realise that discriminatory behaviour was preventing me from progressing in already seized opportunities.
Because of my love of oceans, I have been committed to working in this field for many years. As well as gaining my PhD at the University of East Anglia, I have worked at a world leading marine and fisheries laboratory, central government and at government agencies, and consultancy as a marine and fisheries policy and evidence expert.
My hope is that BLOC provides space for people of all backgrounds to work together for the sake of our oceans.
Founder
Gurpreet Padda
Research interests
Gurpreet’s previous research has included areas such as South Indian women in the fisheries industry and the impact of oil based drilling muds on sea urchins. Gurpreet’s PhD was on environmental justice in North West Norfolk cockle fisheries.
Her research interests span Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity, and Justice and Access (DEIJA) approach to fisheries and marine opportunities. Other interests expand gender, decolonisation of ocean sciences, small scale fisheries and inclusive marine sustainable development.
Who we are
i I’m Gurpreet - a Sikh Punjabi woman.
My early years were spent in Wolverhampton and Southall, West London. Having lived in Norwich for the past 12 years, I was appointed Norwich City Councillor representing Lakenham, and have sat on the Scrutiny Committee, Sustainable Development Group and Climate and Environment Emergency Executive Panel – all people and nature related. Having a young adventurous family who spend the summer months kayaking along the river Wensum, I am delighted to be appointed as board member on The Broads Authority National Park.
I completed my PhD in Environmental Sciences at UEA. During the day I lead evidence on fisheries management, marine conservation, licensing, planning and strategic renewables for the Marine Management Organisation, a regulatory body of Defra. Previous employment includes policy advisor for Defra, and marine and fisheries scientist at Cefas.
As founder of Black Ocean Citizens I aim to tackle systemic racism and marginalisation of communities in marine sciences and management.
Lynda
Hi I’m Lynda
I am a seasoned campaign manager working on a range of international food security and health campaigns. For the Everyday Health Group, I spent over a decade running multiple front-facing forums across UK, Australia and Canada designed to enhance engagement among marginalised communities.
I am driven by empowering grassroots social enterprises drive positive behaviour change supporting women's health, wellbeing, mental health across global markets.
Ariadne
Hi I’m Ariadne
I’ve recently completed my degree in media and photography from Nottingham. Having graduated with a first class honours, I have been experimenting with a range of media techniques aimed at helping grassroots organisations improve promotional material, including vlogging and marketing.