An insight into the life of Helena Sims, a nature advocate |06 October 2017
Recently chosen to speak at the 8th International Conference/AGM for the Association of Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA) is testament that Helena is one of the leading women in the marine field in the Seychelles.
She is currently the only Seychellois full time staff leading the Seychelles' marine spatial planning initiative which seeks to identify and declare 400,000 square kilometres of ocean into managed and protected areas by 2020. Once completed, it will be the first in the Western Indian Ocean and the second largest in the world.
Helena describes herself as an open minded, fair person but with strong principles and ideals. She enjoys nature, particularly the ocean and hence also likes swimming, snorkelling and SCUBA diving.
“I am often considered a person of very strong principles and personality. I can come across as domineering with an attitude at first! However, once you get to know me, I am fun and down-to-earth. I can be quite calm and compassionate especially in difficult situations - a trait that I find has helped me through many challenging times both in the personal and professional realm,” she explains.
Studies at the James Cook University
Helena attended the James Cook University in Townsville, Australia where she studied Marine Biology, one of her childhood dreams.
“At the time, it was rated the best university for tropical marine biological studies and I support this rating completely,” she says.
In describing the challenges she faced while at university, Helena admits that she found it hard to study away from home and could not wait to get back to Seychelles.
“I was very homesick but quickly decided to turn that into a strength and make the trip worthwhile. I worked extra hard and graduated with flying colours. I still aspire to finish my PHD but all in due course.”
When asked about her work, Helena explains that she has over 10 years of experience working in Marine Conservation Biology and Project Management.
She adds that past work includes working for the Research Section of the Seychelles National Parks Authority as a Project Coordinator for the Green Islands Foundation, a non-government organisation (NGO) and managing a 4-year GoS-UNDP-GEF Protected Areas project. She is also a certified PADI Divemaster and has some experience working in dive centres.
Currently, Helena works as the Project Manager of the Seychelles Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) initiative with The Nature Conservancy, an international NGO. It is a government-led process aimed at supporting the sustainable, long-term use and health of the waters throughout the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Speaking about her personal life, Helena says that she comes “from a very small family of strong- hearted people who are witty with colourful characters. The conversation at the dinner table was and never is boring... that is certain!”
“I have a little boy who is 8 and whose personality is indescribable. He is on the autism spectrum but I do not allow that to define him. We work hard to provide him with an environment that allows him to be himself but also to make the most of the gift he was born with. He is very clever, a bubble of laughter and a joy to be with,” she explains.
A finger-count of close friends
Although she has many friends, Helena says that only a finger-count of those are close friends whom she has had since her childhood years and feels lucky to have maintained such close and strong friendships throughout the years.
In terms of challenges, Helena feels that everyone in this world has had their fair share of challenging moments but she feels that despite being hard, they are the most important moments as they shape us into the person we become each day.
She adds that she does not wish to dwell on the past but looks forward to what the future will bring and embraces every challenge. In this light, she urges other women in Seychelles to do the same by standing proud and embracing who they are.
When asked about her dreams, Helena answers by saying that she has had some grand plans in the past but with time and experience, those have changed.
“You grow to understand that the truly important things in life are often the simplest but at the same time the most difficult to achieve. And that simply is to be happy come what may. That is my goal”.
Helena’s advice is to work for everything you want in life and to never give up.
“I believe in people who work hard and commit to reaping the fruits that they sow. We need to find strength in our own weaknesses and trust ourselves to absorb the impacts, learn, grow and keep going. It is only by having a positive mind that we can truly be happy”.