CURRICULUM VITAE

of

dr Marija Vugdelić

EDUCATIONAL PROFILE

September 2002 - June 2006 University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK - Ph.D. in Conservation ecology

Conservation of endangered species in cooperation with the English Nature

Winner of University’s Overseas Research Scholarship

September 1997 - June 2000 University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK – B.Sc. Ecology

Specialised in ecological processes and environmental protection

Degree obtained: First class                          

1993-1997 - Gymnasium “Slobodan Škerović”, Podgorica – Natural sciences; “Luca” diploma for excellence

1985-1993 - Primary school “Savo Pejanović”, Podgorica; “Luca”diploma for excellence

WORKING EXPERIENCE

October 2011 – present – lecturer, and Vice-Dean of School for Food Technology, Food Safety and Ecology, University of Donja Gorica, Montenegro

• Organising and teaching courses on biology, ecology and environmental protection on graduate and postgraduate levels
• Development and implementation of new educational programs
• Management of research and capacity building projects at the School.
• Running all aspects of the School’s operations (organization of teaching process, quality control, student admissions, day-to-day administration).       

December 2006 – November 2011 – Biodiversity conservation officer and a Chief ranger, National Parks of Montenegro - Skadar Lake

• Preparation of management plans for the national park and monitoring of the implementation.
• Implementation and monitoring of biodiversity conservation activities
• Management of the ranger department (25 rangers)
• Management of stakeholder relations
• Promotion and environmental education  

August 2006 – November 2006 – Coordinator for international cooperation, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning, Republic of Montenegro

• Monitoring of environmental projects with international organisations and execution of obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
• Part of a team preparing the second Environmental Performance Review for Montenegro (UNECE)

October 2002 – May 2006 Teaching assistant, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

• Teaching students at practicals
• Preparing seminars and leading small group discussions on topics in ecology and evolution
• Assessment of student coursework

March 2001 – September 2002 – Project Office Manager, Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Montenegro office

• Management of the project on cross-border environmental protection in countries of South East Europe (project design, implementation, monitoring)
• Establishment of first stakeholder networks and joint activities regarding nature protection on cross-border and regional levels
• Organisation of capacity-building and awareness-raising events regarding Skadar Lake in Montenegro and Albania
• Promotion of the region and its nature

August 2000 – July 2001 - Administrative Assistant, humanitarian organization Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), Montenegro office

• Monitoring the implementation of emergency assistance and capacity-building projects targeting refugees and social cases
• Office administration, including bookkeeping

CONSULTANCY ENGAGEMENTS

2022- UNDP Montenegro- National expert for the preparation of the National Adaptation Plan to Climate Change

2022 - Centre for Bird Protection and Research, Montenegro – Analysis of Management Effectiveness of the National Park Skadar Lake

2021- WWF - Preparation of the Nature Based Solutions Portfolio for the Living European Rivers Programme

2021 – Agency for Management of Protected Areas of Podgorica – Development of the Management Plan for Nature Park Komovi

2020-2021 The Nature Conservancy – Preparation of the Socio-economic Analysis for Nature Park Zeta River

2020 – UNDP Montenegro – National protected area expert for the preparation of GEF project document

2020 – Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism Montenegro – Nature protection expert for the preparation of the national spatial plan

2019 - Eco Ltd, Croatia - Consultant on the development of a study on value chains of Montenegrin agricultural products

2019 - Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism Montenegro - Lead expert for preparation of the 6^th national report to CBD

2019 - Centre for Bird Protection and Research, Montenegro - Development of the national action plan for elimination of illegal bird killing

2019 - GiZ Montenegro - Preparing and implementing the Training on Ecosystem Services Concept and Valuation for civil servants

2018 - GiZ Montenegro - Biodiversity conservation expert preparing the Consolidation Report of Concrete Conservation Actions and Monitoring Manual for Selected Species at Lakes Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar

2017 - IPBES - Contributing author to the Regional Assessment of Europe and Central Asia

2017 – UNDP Montenegro - National expert developing training curriculum on climate change for primary and secondary school teachers and educators

2016 – 2017 ZaVita, Slovenia - National expert on preparation of the Transboundary diagnostic analysis - Thematic report on biodiversity and ecosystems for the Drin River Basin

2016 – 2019 Global Water Partnership Med, Greece - National expert on preparation of the Thematic report on nexus (water, energy, food, environment) within the project “Enabling Transboundary Cooperation and Integrated Water Resources Management in the Extended Drin River Basin

2016 – UNDP Montenegro - National expert on preparation of the Management plan for the Botanical Garden Dulovine, Montenegro

2016 – Giz Montenegro - Organiser and lecturer at the Regional Summer School on Biodiversity and Environmental Reporting, Ohrid, Macedonia

2013 – 2014 – CEED, Office for Sustainable Development, Montenegro –preparation of the Platform for the National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2014-2020 – responsible for the environmental issues

2013 – 2014 – UNDP Montenegro - national expert on the preparation of the National Biodiversity Strategy with Action Plan 2014-2020 – data collation, incorporation of the Aichi targets, stakeholder feedback management, preparation of strategy text and action plan

2009 – 2014 – UNDP Montenegro – national expert for projects on strengthening the protected area system. Directly participated in the establishment of the first regional parks in Montenegro, introduction of ecosystem services concept, improvement of management capacities and financial planning of protected area authorities

2012 – Green Home, Montenegro – national expert preparing two comprehensive studies on Skadar Lake, as a basis for the management plan of the Lake as a cross-border Biosphere reserve  

2012 – CEED, USAID, Montenegro – Preparation of the Strategic Development Plan of the Municipality of Plav 2012-2016, section on the environment

2011 – EcoBiosfera, Mexico –assessment on potentials for development of sustainable tourism and conservation volunteering program in El Triunfo Reserve buffer zone in cooperation with local grassroots organizations

2010 – UNESCO, Montenegro – Consultant on launching the Public Use Planning process in world heritage sites in Montenegro

2010 – GTZ Montenegro – Consultant for the preparation of the Strategic management plan for National Park Skadar Lake

2008 – UNDP, Montenegro – Consultant on the preparation of National Biodiversity Strategy with Action Plan until 2015

Publications:

1. Vugdelic M (2022) – Klimatske promjene – sto se to mene tice. ISSP Montenegro
2. Vugdelic M, Martinovic A, Pajovic I, Drobnjak J, Milic J (2021) – Socio economic analysis of the Nature Park River Zeta, The Nature Conservancy
3. Vugdelic M, Batakovic M, Pajovic I, Vukovic A, Milic J, Knezevic M, Martinovic A (2018) - 6th National Report of Montenegro to the Convention of Biological Diversity, The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro
4. Vugdelic M. (2013) – The evolutionary past of humans – the lesson for the future of education, Education and Development, pp110-116, Institute of Social Sciences – Centre for Economic Research, Serbia
5. Vugdelic M, Drobnjak J. (2013) – The past and the future of protected areas - global and Montenegrin perspectives, Proceedings from the   3rd Climate Change, Economic Development, Environment and People Conference, Podgorica 
6. Vugdelic. M.(2012) – From biodiversity to economy – there is only one oikos, Enterpreneurial Economy, Vol. XVIII, pp113-125, Montenegro
7. Vugdelic M, Goodacre S, Smith H, Hewitt G. (2004) - Preliminary analysis of the genetic structure in the fen raft spider Dolomedes plantarius (Araneae: Pisauridae), Conference: 21st European Colloquium of Arachnology At: St. Petersburg, Volume: Proceedings of the 21st European Colloquium of Arachnology
8. Pulevic V., Vugdelic M.(2001) - Yew (Taxus baccata L.) in flora and toponymy of Montenegro, Razprave SAZU, XLII-2, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana

Author of the video course on ecosystem services: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dShZyf5U61U&t=18s