Rachel Mulholland
Middle East Principal Scientist
Providing scientific and policy advice to UK Government, Regulators and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies on potential risks and impacts to the marine environment of a wide range of human activities in the context of Marine Spatial Planning.
Rachel is a Principal Scientist in the International Funding and Partnerships Directorate at Cefas. She is based in the British Embassy in Kuwait leading Cefas’ science delivery and engagement in the Middle East region and supporting UK Government science diplomacy and engagement on climate and the environment.
Rachel is working on projects across the Middle East focussing on climate, health, and environment resilience. Through this programme of work, Cefas is collaborating with partner organisations across the Gulf to tackle the shared environmental challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, enabling blue economies, and protecting human health.
Rachel has a background in environmental law, marine planning, and integrated coastal zone management. Her work involves providing scientific and technical advice to governments, regulators, and statutory nature conservation bodies, both in the UK and internationally, on the potential risks and impacts to the marine environment of a wide range of human activities.
Rachel has worked with the Welsh Government and Defra on marine spatial planning, the designation of Marine Protected Areas, and on policy and evidence development for offshore wind and marine renewable energy.
On behalf of Cefas, Rachel has led several UK Overseas Territories biodiversity projects in the Caribbean region on sustainable marine and fisheries management. She has delivered training and advice on environmental impact assessment, marine management and policy to governments and organisations around the world including in Kuwait, Oman, Antigua, Montserrat, and the British Virgin Islands.
