Zinnie Cowing

As a researcher for Common Seas, Zinnie plays a crucial role in driving positive change by conducting qualitative and quantitative research to help shape government policy, influence cultural norms and make a lasting impact on the global plastic pollution crisis.

Zinnie comes from a consulting background in monitoring, evaluation research and learning (MERL). She has worked with numerous UK Government Departments including the FCDO and BEIS and international clients and development agencies such as USAID, World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She brings excellent knowledge of qualitative research, including conducting interviews and focus group discussions with local communities, collaborating with data collection partners and synthesising findings into engaging written materials for diverse audiences.

Zinnie’s upbringing on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia sparked her motivation to be involved in tackling the plastic pollution crisis. The Caribbean Sea is the second most plastic-polluted sea in the world and Zinnie is keen to drive research that reduces the threats that Small Island Developing States (SIDs) face from plastic pollution.