Meet The Team

Sharanya Kanikkannan

Sharanya Kanikkannan is Senior Human Rights Specialist for WCS’ Rights and Communities team, working across WCS global programs to assist in the application of a Human Rights Based Approach to conservation. She supports WCS staff to assess human rights impacts and protect the rights of individuals and communities, such as access to natural resources or land tenure, as well as upholding WCS’ obligations to the specific rights of Indigenous Peoples, and marginalized groups.

Prior to joining WCS, Sharanya worked as a human rights advocate with a diverse background in human rights monitoring, counter-trafficking, women’s rights and gender-based violence, and capacity strengthening for police and military. She has significant experience in high-conflict, low governance contexts, with both government and grassroots community organizations in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Sharanya holds a J.D. (Juris Doctor) from Yale Law School, and a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) from the University of Oregon.