Julie Clarke has 20 years of experience in human and earth rights. She has studied in environmental management, water resource management and NGO management through Wits University in SA and London University Wye and Imperial College in the UK. She has been involved in lecturing in several academic institutions across SA and worked for the Johannesburg municipality in policy and planning departments. She has served on numerous NGO boards and National Steering Committees and task teams concerned with planning, sustainable development, environmental and rural poverty issues and has represented South Africa in negotiations concerning the Convention on Desertification and helped South Africa to develop and implement its National Action Programme to Combat Desertification and Poverty. She has specialized in environmental work for the Development Bank of Southern Africa primarily in rural dryland areas. Currently, she is coordinating and managing the Drylands Fund on behalf of the Dept of Environmental Affairs and other key private sector and NGO stakeholders.