With a background in scientific research (BSc Geology; MSc Applied Marine Science; PhD Genetic Ecotoxicology), Vikki has over 20 years of experience in event and project management in both the private and academic sectors. Prior to her current role of Project Manager, which was held previously at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Vikki fulfilled the role of Scientific Coordinator for the Secretariat of the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO), where she oversaw and coordinated numerous international research and capacity building programmes including the Nippon Foundation-POGO Centre of Excellence in Observational Oceanography, the POGO-SCOR Visiting Fellowship Programme, shipboard training cruises via the Ocean Training Partnership, and represented POGO on intergovernmental fora (such as the Group on Earth Observations). Many of these projects were in collaboration with scientists from all around the world including those within the regions of Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Having recently completed the management of, and contributed to the research outputs for, the £6.7 million grant for the UK Research and Innovation's GCRF Blue Communities programme, Vikki now provides project management support to Work Package 2 of the GCRF PISCES project, the NERC funded Bio-Plastic-Risk project, and is the Centre Manager for the Centre of Doctoral Training in Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources (CDT SuMMeR). Previously, Vikki also has experience managing multiple marine science research projects including those funded by the Nippon Foundation, the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Regional Development Fund via Interreg France-England Channel.
Earlier in her research career, Vikki also conducted laboratory and field-based research at the University of Plymouth over a period of 9 years, investigating the sub-lethal biological effects of contaminants (ecotoxicology) using biomarkers in marine invertebrates and delivered lectures and practical sessions to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as working on projects funded by the Environment Agency and UNESCO.