A Trinidad and Tobago national who worked there for 15 years on coastal and marine conservation in the Ministries responsible for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; later as head of the Coral Reef and Pelagic Fishes Regional Unit for the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM). Boris also led the Island Conservation Caribbean program on invasive species. Prior to that Boris spent 10 years in Asia, in the Philippines as Country Manager with the WorldFish Center, and Senior Scientist in programs in Asia, Pacific, Africa and the Caribbean. Later, worked with local NGOs in Vietnam focusing on plastics pollution, information systems, coastal and marine conservation, and community development.