Helina Jolly

Helina Jolly is a Researcher at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) within the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. She earned her PhD under the supervision of Terre Satterfield and Milind Kandlikar in 2022, focusing on Indigenous perspectives of conservation in Southern India. Her work bridges ethnography, traditional ecological knowledge, and environmental policy, with a specific emphasis on Adivasi communities and human-wildlife coexistence.

• Education: PhD (IRES, UBC), MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation (London School of Economics and Political Science)

Helina's research spans cultural burning practices, Indigenous-led conservation, and gender integration in environmental studies. She produced the ethnographic documentary Gidiku Vapathu (2020) and leads the Collective for Gender+ in Research at UBC. Her recent publications highlight disparities in ecosystem research and the potential for Indigenous stewardship in urbanized landscapes.

Helina has over a decade of experience in natural resource management across South Asia, collaborating with organizations like GIZ, Centre for Science and Environment, and Clinton Climate Initiative. She received the Commonwealth Scholarship award for her academic work.

• Email: helina.jolly@ubc.ca
• Personal website: www.helinajolly.com