Episode #118 with Grant Miller

The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

"And what ZSL and other senior NGOs do is we do conservation by consent. So the indigenous people, the local communities, it's their country, it's their forest, they have those rights. So we do it by consent and actually it's a really mature way to talk about it because there's a huge amount of old knowledge within that community about how it's been managed over the years and how we can learn. So, yes, we bring our science, we bring our ideas, we sit down, we talk them through what we propose doing, but we get the community to sign up to that because without their buy-in, without their commitment to it, you're wasting your time."
On today's episode I chat with Grant Miller MBE, Counter trafficking and law enforcement advisor with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Grant talks about his passion for the environment, including his career experiences and encounters during his travels across the globe within his current role within the ZSL, how he and his team approach cultural sensitivity within communities; issues surrounding trauma and mental health within the line of duty; the vital work that the local rangers conduct including the challenges of dealing with poachers and the illegal activity of trafficking; what's on the endangered species list, and other topics. Grant also talks about his time in the military and law enforcement, his Scottish heritage, and of course, he shares the quote that continually inspires him.
Grant has over 30 years’ experience working within UK Law enforcement structures. He rose from the uniformed ranks to a senior leadership role within the UK Border Force. His final ten years of service saw him lead the UK CITES enforcement controls at the UK Border. This entailed providing the strategic leadership to the Internationally recognised UK Border force Cites enforcement team.
In 2017 Grant was elected Chair of the INTERPOL wildlife crime working group, the first non police officer to hold this position. He was a co-founder of the globally recognised IWT enforcement operations under the “Thunder” brand. He has provided training for the World Customs organisation, Interpol, UNoDC, CITES Secretariat, EU life, The Durrell Institute and WWF. In 2019 Grant was appointed a member of the British Empire for services to the international protection of wildlife and wider border security. In 2016 Grant was awarded a World Customs Organisation
commendation from the Secretary general for his lead in the enforcement of the CITES Convention.
In 2014 Grant and his team won the WWF wildlife crime operation of the year, for the detection, investigation and subsequent successful prosecution of two offenders involved in the smuggling of San Salvador rock Iguanas from the Bahamas through the UK. Grant has trained on IWT Issues in over 20 countries globally.
Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!
I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.
If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [e-mail].
Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!