Krystel Mae Peñaflor

Featured on September 10, 2023

This week on Pinoy Scientists, we have Krystel Mae J. Peñaflor, a licensed forester, conservationist, and climate analyst currently working as an Environmental Health and Safety Officer at Kenelton Engineering Services.

KM graduated with a BS in Forestry specializing in Social Forestry and Forest Governance from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and worked as a Development Management Officer II at the Office of the Secretary, Climate Change Commission. While there, she undertook policy research on local adaptation planning for sea level rise on coastal cities and municipalities in the Philippines. This inspired her to later conduct her dissertation on the impact of climate-induced hazards and sea level rise on biodiversity in the Jersey Channel Islands through a stakeholder approach.

For her graduate studies, she received an international scholarship from the Jersey International Centre of Advanced Studies (JICAS) and won first place at the IELTS British Council. She obtained her MSc in Island Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Exeter, UK in partnership with JICAS while simultaneously completing her Climate Action Diploma from Anant National University in 2022.

In addition to her work at Kenelton Engineering Services, she also leads two co-founded youth organizations: Youth Climate Navigators and EmpoWoment Storytellers: Women for Climate and Biodiversity.

Some fun facts about KM:

1. She was inspired to do her best in life by watching Motocross. She’s a huge fan of Jersey rider #38-blue bike because it has both her favorite color and number.
2. Although she once got stranded on an island during a class field trip, she still loves island adventure hopping.
3. She keeps herself busy by applying for fully-funded international volunteering events & competitions. She got into 3 international events this year but went to only 2 where she won a YSEALI seed grant and first prize at AYSJ.