Q&A with Ana-Maria Pavalache
Read our interview with 2025 Cherry Kearton Medal and Award recipient, Ana-Maria Pavalache.
Ana-Maria Pavalache is the Cherry Kearton Medal and Award for contributions to the public’s understanding of the wider world through photography.
What did you want to be, or where did you want to work, when you were a teenager?
"Growing up in an ex-Soviet country on the shore of the Black Sea, I had limited access to the outside world but my imagination wandered far, inspired by my father’s work in Libya. I was drawn to remote places, to the margins of maps.
"I didn’t yet know what to call it, but I knew I needed to merge movement, meaning, and storytelling in a way that felt purposeful."
How did you get into this field of work?
"It wasn’t a straight path. I studied economics and began my career in banking and international organisations before returning to the natural world. My camera became a tool for observation, connection, and ultimately, transformation.
The more time I spent in remote landscapes and traditional communities, the more I realised that documenting these stories wasn’t just a passion, it was a responsibility. Photography became my passport to witness, listen, and engage deeply with the world."
What role do you do now and how would you describe your work?
"I balance my role in adult protection, working for the local government in Switzerland, with being a photographer, mountain leader, expedition collaborator, and conservation storyteller. My work lies at the intersection of ecology, culture, and human resilience.
I spend time in remote regions collaborating with scientists, local communities, and explorers to document the relationships between people and place. It’s about listening, moving slowly, and co-creating images with those whose lives shape the stories we rarely hear."
What has been the highlight of your career, regardless of how big or small, so far?
"One unforgettable experience was working with young Tajik women in their own mountains, guiding, photographing, and witnessing them “roar” for wildlife. With local support, we inspired them to value the ecosystems around them, recognise threats, and imagine themselves as future protectors and leaders.
"Another powerful moment was crossing Oman’s coastline in the Jewel of Arabia Expedition, retracing Bertram Thomas’s 1928 route. The journey intertwined ancient landscapes with youth-led visions of a greener future. When history, nature, and purpose align, you know exactly why you do what you do."
What are you looking forward to in the future? What’s next?
"I’m eager to continue working at the intersection of conservation and cultural heritage. There’s an urgent need and growing space for stories rooted in ecological wisdom and lived experience.
"I’m working on a project in the Swiss Alps that blends image, voice, and silence to reflect the fragile ecological balance of mountain ecosystems. And continue supporting inspiring projects in Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia. I hope to share these through exhibitions, books, and conversations that move hearts and minds."
I hope to leave behind stories that shift how we see the natural world and one another, stories that honour the quiet dignity of overlooked lives and the resilience found in wild places. I want to build bridges: between science and art, tradition and innovation, silence and voice. If my work helps even one person to look more closely, listen more deeply, and care more bravely—for people and for place—then I’ll have done something meaningful. The Earth is vast and open, and our presence and care can help shape its future.Ana-Maria Pavalache
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