Ryana Johnson

Environmental Assessment Practitioner, experienced administrator and project manager with background in biodiversity conservation, emergency medicine, and adult education.

Project Manager and Environmental Assessment Practitioner (2022 – Present)

Project management of environmental impact assessments, synthesis and summary of expert reports, compilation of NEMA applications and management plans, conducting public participation processes, facilitation of social learning regarding development projects.

• Project Management, African Sustainability Academy, 2025.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, African Sustainability Academy, 2025

Communication and Advocacy Officer – Subtropical Thicket Project at Rhodes Restoration Research Group (2020 – 2021)

Design and implementation of communication strategy, data management, public engagement, participatory research, adult education, digital media management, budgeting and reporting as part of the DEA/NRM project to restore ecological infrastructure in the Thicket Biome.

• Social Learning Facilitation and Stakeholder Engagement in Natural Resource Management Contexts, Rhodes University 2021.
• Digital Media Management, Sol Plaatje Institute for Media Leadership 2020.

Communications Co-ordinator: Grazing and Fire Management Learning node – The Tsitsa Project at Rhodes Restoration Research Group (2018 – 2019)

Facilitation of stakeholder engagement processes, co-ordination and synthesis of inter-disciplinary research findings and co-ordination of social learning about the intersection of grazing and fire management on the ecological infrastructure of the high-altitude grassland as part of the DEA/NRM project to restore ecological infrastructure.

• Veld Management, Africa Land Use Training

General Manager, Port Alfred at Gardmed Ambulance Service (2015 – 2017)

Financial, human relations, fleet, stock and customer service management. Clinical oversight, quality assurance monitoring and evaluation: staff development, professional mentorship and career planning: clinical education, public education, on-the-job training.

Education Faculty at Professional Emergency Care (2011 – 2014)

Mentorship and professional development of adult educators, monitoring and evaluation of emergency care training centres throughout South Africa, delivering emergency medicine education and skills training in specialist resuscitation and trauma care in hospitals and pre-hospital settings.

Board member (during further study) at Emergency Care Training and Education Centre (2010 – 2013)

Strategic organisational guidance, planning and decision making, compliance and due diligence.

Office manager at Emergency Care Training and Education Centre (2010 – 2011)

Implement information management system, oversee daily administration by office staff, compile board reports.

Office administrator at Emergency Care Training and Education Centre (2008 – 2009)

Co-ordinate all daily administration, take board meeting minutes, manage stock and equipment, update training calendar, co-ordinate directors calendars.

Secretary & Communications Officer at Friends of Bathurst Nature CBO (2018 – Present)

Public engagement and environmental education, writing grant funding proposals, managing the annual Thicket Festival fundraising event, managing internal and external communications.

Committee member at Thicket Forum Science/Practice Meeting (2020 – Present)

Public engagement and environmental education, event co-ordination.

Master of Science in Department of Environmental Science – Rhodes University (2022 – 2024)

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Environmental Management, Department of Geography – UNISA (2021 – 2022)

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Management, Department of Geography – UNISA (2014 – 2018)