Delegates
Alistair Sinclair General Manager
PROJECT
Vulpro
South Africa
Alistair is 60 years old and has been in nature conservation for over 40 years now. He started his career with the then Natal Parks Board until moving over to the private sector. He worked with crocodiles for many years, which he truly enjoyed. He has a deep passion for our natural environment and is saddened by it’s rapid decline, especially over the past two decades. He is very passionate about environmental education and the need to mentor university students so as to impart practical knowledge onto the future leaders in this field. He has just returned to South Africa after spending six years in Zimbabwe, five of which he spent as the conservator of a large conservancy. He started at VulPro on the 1st of December, 2023.
He is petrified of heights.
W: www.vulpro.com
Amos Gwema
Principal Community Conservation Liaison Officer
PROJECT
Bhejane Trust
Zimbabwe
Andrew Malherbe
Chief Operating Officer
PROJECT
Save the Rhino Trust
Namibia
Andrew works for Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT), the leading black rhino conservation organization in Africa. SRT’s approach challenges the conventional antipoaching narrative by putting local people first. As the C.O.O he is involved in strategic planning and setting up workable solutions to all sorts of operational challenges. He is interested in big picture thinking and innovative financing for conservation.
Fun fact: Andrew has just started playing the guitar again after a 15 year hiatus.
W: www.savetherhino.org
Amos Gwema is a born conservationist. He holds his work close to his heart and does not accept failure when it comes to conserving wildlife. He spearheads community conservation programmes and builds valuable links with marginalised community members who are key partners in his conservation work. Amos is a past winner of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award.
W: www.bhejanetrust.org
PROJECT CLAWS Conservancy
Botswana
Andrew grew up fascinated by nature documentaries of exotic wildlife in far off destinations. An American who grew up near Boston, wildlife conservation seemed an unlikely path until his study abroad trip to Kenya. There he saw the confluence of his greatest passions across culture, wildlife and problem solving.
With clear purpose, he was driven to return to Africa to make a contribution to the wildlife he was passionate about and the people living among Africa’s great predators. Since his 2001 leopard study in South Africa, Andrew has become a leader in leopard conservation. His PhD dissertation focused on leopard ecology and conservation on Namibian farmlands. In 2023 he led an international team for the IUCN Red List to assess the global status of leopards. He expanded his interests to explore non-lethal approaches to mitigate human-lion conflict in Northern Botswana for his organization the CLAWS Conservancy.
Andrew has co-authored over 20 scientific manuscripts. He is a member of both the IUCN Cat Specialist Group and advisor to the African Lion Working Group.
Andrew enjoys dancing Argentine tango and playing basketball.
W: www.clawsconservancy.org
DELEGATES
Andrew Stein Executive Director
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Dr. Anthony Mburu
Chief Operations Officer
PROJECT
The Maa Trust
Kenya
Having recently joined Maa Trust, Anthony is a first-time attendee of the Tusk Conservation Symposium. He has 24 years of experience in Management for Development and working for conservation NGOs. He also has a background in organisation development, community development, marketing and fundraising. His middle name Mwaniki, means one who hangs bee hives, in other words a beekeeper. Indeed he is, a skill passed down from his grandfather who he is named after.
W: www.themaatrust.org
BenJee Cascio
Director of Conservation Programmes
PROJECT
Lion Landscapes
Kenya & Tanzania
Benson
Kanyembo
Law Enforcement Advisor
PROJECT
Conservation South Luangwa
Zambia
Benson has devoted 30 years of his working life fighting for and protecting Zambia’s endangered wildlife. His career started in 1994 at the North Luangwa Conservation Project - Zambia, and he has worked for multiple organisations holding positions including a Porter, Village Scout, Community Scout, Wildlife Police Officer, Senior Instructor and Senior Wildlife Police Officer. Between 2003 and 2018 Benson helped train close to 1000 rangers in Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. He joined Conservation South Luangwa as Operations Manager in 2009, and in 2018 was promoted to Law Enforcement Advisor, leading all CSL anti-poaching law enforcement and wildlife rescue operations. His efforts have been recognised as the winner of the 2019 Tusk Wildlife Ranger Awards, the 2020 Paradise International Foundation’s African Ranger Awards, and 1st runner up for the Best Game Ranger in the 2020 Rhino Conservation Awards. He is currently the Game Ranger Association of Africa-Southern African Region representative. His love for conservation started when he was 10 years old, witnessing poaching firsthand; he swore that one day he would stand up for the wildlife and do something.
W: www.cslzambia.org
Berce
Nsafuansa
Disiki Programmes Manager
PROJECT
Okapi Conservation Project
Democratic Republic of Congo
BenJee Cascio is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA but has spent his entire professional life working in community development and 10+ years in Africa. He is permanently based in the Ruaha ecosystem in Tanzania and as Lion Landscapes Director of Conservation Programmes he oversees all of Lion Landscapes sites in Laikipia, Kenya, the Ruaha and Selous ecosystems in Tanzania, and South Luangwa in Zambia. He enjoys working with staff and stakeholders to come up with innovative conservation solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.
W: www.lionlandscapes.org
Berce Nsafuansa Disiki has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Ecology and Animal Resources Management from the University of Kisangani. He has been working to protect Okapi in and around Okapi Wildlife Reserve since 2015.
Since 2019 he has been the programme manager for the Okapi Conservation Project, DRC, Ituri province.
W: www.okapiconservation.org
DELEGATES
TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
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Beryl Makori, is a wildlife scientist, researcher and nature lover. She has a BSc in Natural Resource Management and an MSc in Wildlife Management. Beryl has worked with bats from 2010-2020 all over the world and with pangolins from 2020 to date in Kenya. She enjoys working with communities that live alongside wildlife.
Programmes
Manager
PROJECT
Pangolin Project
Kenya
One fun fact about Beryl is that she is a night person (very productive at night) and has coincidentally always worked with nocturnal animals all through her career.
W: www.thepangolinproject.org
Principal Marine Scientist and Programme Manager
PROJECT
Africa Foundation
Mozambique & Tanzania
East Africa and the Comoros Regional Director
PROJECT
Blue Ventures
East Africa & The Comoros
Carole is a transformational leader with experience from the private and international development sectors. She is a trained lawyer driven by values of inclusion, belonging, equity, sustainability and building strong effective teams.
Her value proposition is her passion and purpose which plays to her top strength of belief. She is passionate about sustainability and impact in the most marginalised communities while cultivating thriving connections and stakeholder management. She is especially fulfilled when her work allows her to leave the world in a better place than she found it by empowering teams to play to their strengths by reframing their unique experiences and perspective whether cultural or lived experiences.
W: www.blueventures.org
Camilla is a coral reef specialist with 15 years experience working in marine conservation to mitigate threats to critical marine habitats in the Western Indian Ocean. Her current role focuses on community-led efforts to conserve coral reef resources in Tanzania and Mozambique. She leads a team of community and conservation rangers that conducts research, raises awareness and implements local solutions to support governments in strengthening the conservation status of key island sites. She is a mum of two beautiful children and her passions are underwater photography and surfing.
W: www.africafoundation.org.uk
Founder and Director
PROJECT
Herp-Ghana
Ghana
Caleb Ofori-Boateng is the first Ghanaian to study and work for the protection of amphibians in Ghana. He founded HerpGhana, West Africa’s first amphibian and reptile conservation organisation. HerpGhana collaborates with government and local communities to protect priority amphibian habitats, raise nationwide awareness, and restore degraded habitats. Caleb is also at the forefront of amphibian research, and his work has resulted in the discovery of several new species to science and the rediscovery of populations that were thought to be extinct.
W: www.herpghana.org
DELEGATES
Dr. Camilla Floros
Carole Wanjau
Beryl Makori
TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
Dr. Caleb Ofori-Boateng
9
Cecile
Kayitanirwa
Botanist and Habitat Restoration Manager
PROJECT
Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association
Rwanda
Cecile is a trained botanist, adventurer and passionate conservationist from Rwanda. She currently works as a habitat restoration manager with Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association to restore key habitats and increase biodiversity in Rwanda. Cecile has overseen the production and planting of over 90,000 indigenous trees, the restoration of more than 70 hectares of natural forests in different parts of Rwanda which contributed to the increase of biodiversity, climate change mitigation and improvement of community livelihoods in Rwanda.
Cecile is dedicated to exploring innovative solutions to conservation challenges and implementing sustainable practices in her work.
W: www.rwandawildlife.org
Damian Bell
Executive Director
PROJECT
Honeyguide Foundation
Damian Bell is the founder and Executive Director of the Honeyguide Foundation, a grassroots organisation dedicated to fostering and sustaining communityled conservation initiatives in Tanzania. Honeyguide focuses primarily on Wildlife Management Areas, viewing them as social enterprises capable of providing meaningful outcomes for communities and wildlife. Honeyguide further invests in governance and management with the theory that when communities have good governance and management, investor confidence is secured, leading to long-term funding agreements. The overarching objective is to transform Wildlife Management Areas into thriving community-led conservation models, generating benefits for both the local population and the nation.
Tanzania W: www.honeyguide.org
David Kuvawoga
Operations Director
PROJECT
Painted Dog Conservation
Zimbabwe
Growing up in rural Chirumanzu and Zimbabwe National Parks, David developed an affinity for wildlife and all things natural. He realised early on in his career that to help conserve wildlife the following were critical: education and awareness, community development, training and development, resource mobilisation, proper management and a bucketful of passion. He studied a Bachelor’s Degree in Nature Conservation, from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa and is an Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leader (EWCL) USA Alumnus. He joined Painted Dog Conservation in 2015 having had eight years of experience as an Estate Manager at the Glenburn Lodge in South Africa.
W: www.painteddog.org
Derek Lubangakene
Project Manager
PROJECT Uganda Conservation Foundation
Derek is a diligent and results-driven project management professional with five years experience in protected area management and programme management. Prior to joining UCF, he worked in humanitarian aid, procurement and corporate brand management. He now manages parks and community livelihood projects across Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks. He has a great love for conservation, and is inspired to create a sustainable and lasting legacy for wildlife conservation in Uganda. Fun fact: His spirit animal is a honey badger.
W: www.ugandacf.org
DELEGATES
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Dr. Deo
Ruhagazi
Deputy Director
PROJECT
Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association
Rwanda
Chief
PROJECT
Friends of Bonobos
Democratic Republic of Congo
Dr. Deo is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. His first job was in a small animal clinic, but he dreamed of working in conservation. After volunteering with RWCA, Dr Deo worked as a Field Veterinarian and is now the Deputy Director. He takes the lead on the planning and implementing RWCA projects, but he also enjoys sharing his veterinary experience in all of RWCA’s projects. Dr Deo completed his Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Rwanda and has a Master’s degree in Public Health from Mount Kenya University.
Deo likes to joke with friends and watch nature documentary films and football when not at work. As a proud husband and father, he enjoys being with his kids.
W: www.rwandawildlife.org
Elaine Hake
Director of Development and Communications
PROJECT
Lilongwe Wildlife Trust
Malawi
Fanny Minesi is the director of Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo (ABC). She was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has been immersed in wildlife conservation since childhood.
Since 2014, Fanny manages all of ABC’s projects and programmes including bonobo rescues and reintroductions, habitat protection, community development, and conservation education. She oversees a staff of more than 100 people in multiple locations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she was immersed in the bonobo conservation work of her mother, Claudine André. She has been recognized globally for finding the secret to saving traumatized bonobo orphans and for creating the world’s only bonobo rehabilitation centre and sanctuary, Lola ya Bonobo, during two civil wars.
W: www.bonobos.org
Dr. Gladys KalemaZikusoka
Chief Executive Officer
PROJECT Conservation Through Public Health Uganda
Elaine Hake leads fundraising and communications for Lilongwe Wildlife Trust in Malawi. She has over 15 years’ experience working in communications, campaigning, fundraising and policy in the not-for-profit sector, with a focus on conservation, gender and international development. She holds a BA in English Literature and Language from Oxford University and an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and has lived and worked in the UK, USA, Japan and Malawi. One of her current priorities at Lilongwe Wildlife Trust is developing a new educational and interpretive plan for Lilongwe Wildlife Centre that will guide new signage, exhibits and experiential learning experiences for school groups and the general public.
Fun fact: Elaine is trained in dog massage!
W: www.lilongwewildlife.org
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is Founder and CEO of a 20-year-old award-winning NGO, Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH). In 2015, she founded Gorilla Conservation Coffee to support farmers living around gorilla habitats.
An Ashoka Fellow, Mulago Foundation Henry Arnhold Fellow and National Geographic Explorer, her awards and accolades include: 2021 UNEP Champion of the Earth Award - Science and Innovation; 2022 Edinburgh Medal; 2022 Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize and 2023 Indianapolis Prize Finalist. She is also the African Primatological Society Vice President and is on the Women for the Environment - Africa leadership council.
In 2023, she published a memoir, Walking with Gorillas, about her conservation and leadership journey shaped by One Health.
W: www.ctph.org
DELEGATES
Fanny Minesi
Executive Officer
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Heather Arrowood Executive Director
PROJECT
OELO Gabon
Gabon
Heather Arrowood is co-founder and Executive Director of OELO (Organisation Ecologique des Lacs et de l’Ogooué). She’s a wildlife biologist by training, who came to Gabon for a short-term ecotourism project with WCS and then never left. Her Gabonese husband Cyrille says it’s the lake genie that trapped her, but her in-laws like to point out that Cyrille’s traditional healer grandmother specialised in medicine to keep your partner from leaving. Heather insists it’s the vast wilderness and incredible biodiversity (as well as some humans) who have kept her in the Congo Basin Forest for 14 years and she now has Gabonese nationality. She and Cyrille run a biodiversity NGO, OELO, partially funded by its ecotourism site, Tsam Tsam. OELO leads programmes in sustainable fishing and freshwater biodiversity conservation, changing consumer preferences for bushmeat from protected species, environmental education, community forestry, as well as ecotourism. In 2022, OELO was the first Gabonese organisation to win an Equator Prize for their initiative with the lake Oguemoué community, “Our Lake, Our Future.”
Fun fact: Heather has perhaps the only (French) horn in Gabon.
W: www.oelogabon.org
Ian Stevenson
Chief Executive Officer
PROJECT
Conservation
Lower Zambezi
Zambia
Ian was born in Australia, however since 1984 he has spent most of his life in Africa. Due to his passion for the bush and wildlife and his wildlife knowledge and pilot’s qualification, in 1997 Ian started working in protected area management, initially as a volunteer in the Lower Zambezi. Since then Ian has managed large projects in remote national parks in Ethiopia and Zambia. Ian returned to Lower Zambezi as the CEO of Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) in 2011. Although responsible for the overall management of CLZ Ian still spends a significant amount of his time in the bush with wildlife issues, patrol teams and flying.
Ian has made Zambia home and is humbled by the Zambian men and women who continue to put their lives on the line to protect the region’s natural resources and wildlife.
W: www.conservationlowerzambezi.org
Hoby Fanoharantsoa
Communications and Marketing Specialist
PROJECT
C3 Madagascar
Madagascar
Hoby Lala Razafimandimby Fanoharantsoa, Hoby for short, hails from the beautiful island of Madagascar. She currently serves as the Communications and Marketing Specialist at C3 Madagascar. Her professional journey is fuelled by a deep-seated passion for both youth empowerment and the preservation of marine biodiversity.
From a young age, her inquisitiveness about the environment, particularly trees and the intricate process of photosynthesis, guided her towards the study of geography. This early fascination laid the foundation of her commitment to environmental causes. Throughout her career, she has navigated various roles, each offering unique opportunities to make meaningful impact. Notably, she has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at conserving marine biodiversity, leveraging the energy and enthusiasm of youth and students.
She is dedicated to fostering awareness and understanding, especially among the younger generation, regarding the importance of preserving marine ecosystems. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of passion, curiosity and a commitment to making a positive difference in our world.
W: www.c-3.org.uk
Isa Gedi Programmes Lead
PROJECT
Northern Rangelands Trust
Kenya
Isa Gedi’s life started from very humble beginnings in rural North-Eastern Kenya, Garissa. He is a passionate conservationist with over 12 years’ experience working in the field. In 2012, he first joined the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy as a founding community manager and later joined the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT). Isa has been instrumental in the development of NRT member conservancies, playing a leadership role in governance and the devolution of NRT programmes to various satellite regional offices of NRT from coastal to northern Kenya. Isa is currently the programmes lead at NRT and oversees the design and implementation of programmes.
He holds a BSc in Natural Resource Management from Kenyatta University, MPhil in Conservation Leadership from Cambridge University and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Kenyatta University.
W: www.nrt-kenya.org
DELEGATES
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Jealous Mpofu
Chief Tracker
PROJECT
Painted Dog Conservation
Zimbabwe
Jealous Mpofu joined PDC as a tracker in May 1998. Since then he has been a constant force, absolutely devoted to the painted dogs. Tasked with keeping track of the various packs of painted dogs in our immediate area, his job is arguably one of the most challenging and significant. He drives out each day, confident in his acquired abilities with radio telemetry, his expert tracking, his inherent bush skills, and his intimate knowledge of the painted dog’s behaviour.
He always finds them, and will often camp out in the bush for several days until he sees them, particularly when he knows there may be an injured dog in the pack. Jealous has received recognition, being awarded both the Disney Wildlife Conservation Hero Award and the Van Tienhoven Award for Conservation. For Jealous, every dog matters. He is the Tusk 2023 Wildlife Ranger Award winner. He has saved the lives of dozens of dogs through his dedication and commitment.
W: www.painteddog.org
John Kamanga
Executive Director
PROJECT SORALO
Kenya
Julie Razafimanahaka
Executive Director
PROJECT
Madagasikara
Voakjay
Madagascar
A researcher by training, Julie qualifies herself as an adventurer and is passionate about people and nature. As a child she grew up in the city of Antananarivo where her permanent address is. However she feels her best, when she is out in the rural villages, learning from and discussing with people living near the forests with lemurs, bats, frogs and wild tree species. She recognises the challenges in reconciling biodiversity conservation and human development. She is personally convinced that education is the best arm to fight climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty. To succeed, education needs to be adapted to the audience and the context. This is why multiple approaches are needed.
Fun fact: As a child, Julie loved doing crochet but forgot about it for many years. She has revived this passion for a year now and goes everywhere with yarn and a crochet!
W: www.madagasikara-voakajy.org
John is currently the Executive Director of SORALO with over 15 years experience in community conservation and leadership. He was the 2020 winner of Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa. His key areas of focus are creating an enabling environment for coexistence between people and wildlife both from a policy and livelihood perspective.
W: www.soralo.org
PROJECT
Mount Kenya Trust
Kenya
Laila Kassam is a seasoned professional in the field of conservation with over eight years of dedicated experience. As an integral member of the Mount Kenya Trust, she seamlessly integrates her financial background and operational proficiency to enhance the organisation’s capabilities in managing substantial grants and navigating complex projects.
Laila’s strategic approach to conservation involves leveraging her extensive project management skills to ensure the efficient execution of initiatives aimed at preserving and sustaining the natural environment. In addition to her financial and operational contributions, Laila brings a wealth of experience from impact investing in operations strategy, enterprise development, and performance improvement, reflecting a holistic approach to conservation that goes beyond traditional boundaries.
Laila holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the United States International University (USIU) and a certificate in carbon finance from the Renewable Energy Institute UK.
Laila is a proud owner of five rescue dogsall from different parts of Kenya.
W: www.mountkenyatrust.org
DELEGATES
TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
Laila Kassam
Head of Finance and Operations
13
Lawrence Riungu
Head Of Community Development Programme
PROJECT
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Kenya
Lawrence is a passionate conservationist with extensive background experience in Agriculture and Agricultural economics. Born and brought up in Meru countyKenya. He attended his basic education locally and is currently doing an MSc in Project Planning and Management. He is a passionate farmer and likes to spend most of his time off work in his dairy farm. He has diverse skills in community mobilisation, group dynamics, sustainable community development, resource mobilisation and management, conservation of biodiversity, monitoring and evaluation, capacity building and advocacy. He believes that every small effort contributes to the bigger picture of sustainable development and conservation. Whether implementing small eco-friendly practices in his farm, sharing best practices and knowledge with others or actively participating in community initiatives each individual commitment makes the difference.
W: www.lewa.org
Lesley McNutt Director
PROJECT Coaching Conservation
Botswana
Lesley is an anthropologist and educator whose career has focused on advocating for social, cultural and behaviour change. Through Wild Entrust, the Botswana based conservation organisation she co-founded with her husband, Lesley’s work promotes co-existence between communities and wildlife by empowering people with food security and wealth security via enterprise development and education. Her primary focus is inspiring young people to be “Kids who Care” - about themselves, each other and their natural world through her Coaching Conservation - Learning from Wildlife programme. Coaching Conservation started in the village of Shorobe in 2004 as an idea to help children build empathy for wildlife and has grown to reach over 60,000 children with their sports-based programme that elevates wildlife to the status of mentor and coach for life skills and for sports skills.
Fun fact: the first time Lesley was in this part of the world was in 1988 when she helped Tom Butynski, from Zoo Atlanta, to habituate one of the first gorilla troops in the Impenetrable Forest.
W: www.coachingconservation.org
Kenamurire
Kasaona
‘Chief Lucky’ Advocacy Manager
PROJECT
IRDNC
Namibia
Kenamurire Kasaona, commonly known as Chief Lucky, has played a pivotal role in actively engaging communities, and coordinating visioning exercises to contribute significantly to the development of various conservancies in the Kunene landscape. Proficient in conflict resolution, advocacy, and fostering positive relationships with traditional authorities, Chief Lucky has taken the lead in the groundbreaking Kunene People’s Park initiative within the Kunene Region in Northwest Namibia. With exceptional skills in community and stakeholder engagement, he has successfully facilitated numerous community-based conservation events.
W: www.irdnc.org.na
Lynn Clifford
Chief Executive Officer
PROJECT
Wildlife Action Group
Malawi
Originally from Ireland, Lynn has dedicated 19 years of her life working in conservation projects in Western and Eastern Africa.
Lynn is the Director of Wildlife Action Group, a Malawian NGO working to support the Government of Malawi, under a 20 year conservation concession agreement. In 13 years she has grown the project from a small 12 man team into a successful professional operation employing 124 staff, with 11 strategically placed satellite camps, 135km of solar powered electric fence ensuring food and personal security to local populations and wildlife. There have been no records of any elephant poaching in both reserves for six years. The project focuses on law enforcement, mitigation of human wildlife conflicts and community development through the creation of income generating projects. It also offers environmental education reaching 16,500 children and carries out research and park infrastructure development.
The impact of the work shows massive natural regeneration of the forest and all wildlife populations increasing, including that of the African Elephant.
Lynn is terrified of spiders.
W: www.wildlifeactiongroupmalawi.org
DELEGATES
TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
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Mark Saunders Executive Director
PROJECT
Malilangwe Trust
Zimbabwe
Mark Saunders was born in Triangle, Zimbabwe, where he grew up. As a youngster, some of his best memories are of times spent in the bush, visiting Gonarezhou National Park and Lone Star Ranch, (which later became The Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve). He is now a Board member for both.
Mark has been the Executive Director of The Malilangwe Trust’s operations since November 2010. He is dedicated to creating sustainable revenue streams that fund conservation, research, and community outreach initiatives in the south-eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe. Mark is strategically involved in a greater African portfolio which includes Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Mark has four children with whom he shares his fondest hobbies - being a keen fisherman and a devoted Springbok rugby fan!
W: www.malilangwe.org
Matt Becker
Chief Executive Officer
PROJECT
Zambian Carnivore Project
Zambia
Matt is the CEO of the Zambian Carnivore Project (ZCP), a field-based organisation whose mission is to conserve large carnivores and ecosystems through conservation science, action, coexistence and development of local leadership. ZCP works across 5 ecosystems in Zambia together with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and 34 other conservation partners. In addition to large mammals Matt also worked on beetles and penguins.
W: www.zambiacarnivores.org
Michael Keigwin MBE
Founding Trustee
PROJECT
Uganda Conservation Foundation
Uganda
Michael started UCF in 2001 and today the organisation runs projects in Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls and Kibble Forest National Parks. UCF’s approach is to help the Uganda Wildlife Authority succeed, resolving critical limitations to their success.
Mike’s greatest pleasure is seeing the UCF and UWA’s teams achievements.
Fun fact - he used to coach Uganda’s 15s and 7s rugby teams leading to their winning of various Africa Nations Cups and participating in the World Cup 7s. All of this with barely any funding.
W: www.ugandacf.org
Park Warden
PROJECT
Maputo National Park
Mozambique
Miguel Gonçalves is a Park Warden at Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve and Maputo Special Reserve.
Born and educated in Mozambique, Miguel studied Marine Biology at Eduardo Mondlane University. From 1998 to 2000, while a student, Miguel also worked as a Mathematics teacher. He was also part of a team that was involved in the Mozambique Coral Reef Monitoring Program. Together with WWF, Miguel led Mozambique’s first trials in turtle excluder devices. He has been the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve (PPMR) Park warden since 2008 and, also, Maputo Special Reserve Park Warden since 2017 (MSR). In 2021 The Maputo National Park was declared as a combination of both MSR and PPMR.
W: www.parquemaputo.gov.mz/en/
DELEGATES
TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
Miguel Gonçalves
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Dr. Moreangels
Mbizah
Executive Director
PROJECT
Wildlife Conservation Action
Zimbabwe
Dr Moreangels Mbizah is a conservation biologist working at the intersection of conservation and community development. Moreangels has a Doctoral Degree in Zoology from the University of Oxford, where she studied African lions. In 2018, her work on lions was featured in a National Geographic short film, ‘One Woman’s Remarkable Journey to Protect Lions’.
Moreangels is the Founder and Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation Action, an organisation focusing on strengthening the capacity of local communities to reduce the negative impacts of human wildlife conflicts on community livelihoods and conservation of wildlife. Moreangels’ work is currently focused on finding and applying innovative ways to promote human-wildlife coexistence and socio-economic development of communities living adjacent to wildlife areas. In 2019 Moreangels was awarded with a TED Fellowship and gave a TED talk “How Community-led Conservation can Save Wildlife”. Moreangels is a Mandela Washington Fellow and is passionate about inspiring and mentoring Africa’s next generation of conservation leaders. Moreangels is among some of the few people in this world that have set foot on the white continent.
W: www.wildlifeconservationaction.org
Dr. Olivier
Nsengimana
Founder & Executive Director
PROJECT
Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association
Rwanda
In 2014, Olivier designed a unique conservation project to abolish the illegal trade of the endangered Grey Crowned Cranes in Rwanda and won the Rolex Award for Enterprise which allowed him to start implementing the work. He established Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) in 2015 with the aim to apply home-grown solutions to protect and restore threatened wildlife and wild places.
Since beginning the project, the population of Grey Crowned Cranes in Rwanda has more than doubled. Using a model of community conservation and targeting the problem from all angles; through involving communities, creating jobs in conservation, improving livelihoods, education and raising awareness, habitat restoration and reducing threats to wildlife, Olivier believes this positive change can be sustained. He and his team are now using what they learned with cranes, and applying it to other threatened species in Rwanda including bats, Sitatunga antelope, Shoebill and African Grey Parrots.
Olivier is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and has a Master of Veterinary Science, Conservation Medicine from the University of Edinburgh, UK.
W: www.rwandawildlife.org
Nachamada
Geoffrey Country Manager
PROJECT
African Nature Investors Foundation
Nigeria
Nacha is currently the Country Manager for ANI Foundation in Nigeria. Established in 2017, ANI Foundation was founded by African professionals committed to bringing best-practice nature conservation to West Africa. ANI aims to catalyse the participation of African opinion leaders in conservation and to demonstrate that private sector investment in protected areas can enable them to become engines for development locally and nationally. His areas of expertise include law enforcement and security, HWC management, protected area management, community-based conservation, partnerships, government relationships, and fund raising. Before joining ANI in 2022, he worked for WCS in Yankari Game Reserve for about a decade where he helped set up what was arguably the best managed protected area in the country and one of Yankari’s rangers went on to win the Tusk Africa Ranger Award. As a finalist for the Tusk Conservation Award in 2017 himself, he has had the opportunity to network with several partners over the years and share experiences. He has an MSc in Primate Conservation from Oxford Brookes University, UK
W: www.africanatureinvestors.org
Penny has been with Tusk, co-ordinating PACE since 2016. Prior to that, her home was in Central Africa carrying out soils and forest ecology research, then grassroots social conservation, much on primate, trees and wood energy issues. Her particular interest is making the knowledge and insights of conservation experts available, accessible and appreciated by lay people. She has thoroughly enjoyed using PACE to get VulPro’s message into schools across Africa in 2023, and looking for more species and ecosystems to bring in to PACE.
PROJECT
PACE
UK
W: www.paceproject.net
DELEGATES
SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
TUSK CONSERVATION
Penny Fraser Co-ordinator
16
Administrative and Research Assistant
PROJECT
Cameroon Biodiversity Association
Cameroon
Prudence is an interdisciplinary young female conservationist from Cameroon working in the field of conservation and environmental sciences to understand the interactions between social assessment for protected areas and environmental assessment to promote coexistence for human-wellbeing, nature and biodiversity. She holds a MSc in Environmental Sciences from the Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences (IBAYSUP Yaounde, Cameroon). She currently work at CAMBIO/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a conservation NGO, where her main duties are to contribute to effective community-based conservation.
She has several service leadership experiences, including student leadership roles, moderating oral presentation sessions at an international conference, and volunteering in several NGOs including the Red Cross Society, Student4Student.eve and urban waste recycling projects. These positions have offered her the opportunity to build her leadership, interpersonal, and crosscultural communication skills, understand how to manage conflicts, build teams for successful projects, and contribute to the scientific community at various levels.
W: www.eboforest.org
Impact and Learning Manager
PROJECT
Grevy’s Zebra Trust
Kenya
Redempta joined Grevy’s Zebra Trust in July 2022 as Impact and Learning Manager. She is a Conservation Technology expert with experience in Monitoring and Evaluation. She is a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Botany and Zoology from the University of Nairobi. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Science at Kenyatta University. Redempta’s previous experience includes working as a GIS and Data Coordinator and Northern Kenya Conservation Officer at Space for Giants. She has also worked with Kenya Wildlife Service as a Research Assistant. If Redempta was not in conservation, she would be in the real estate business.
W: www.grevyszebratrust.org
Rachel McRobb was born and raised in Zambia and after schooling in Swaziland and South Africa, she returned to Zambia to work at first in the tourism sector and then in conservation.
Twenty years ago Rachel made the Luangwa Valley her home and is the CEO and a cofounder of Conservation South Luangwa, a local NGO working to protect wildlife and support people in South Luangwa Valley. Under the guidance and leadership of Rachel, CSL employs over 140 staff from the local community. Their holistic approach includes a wide range of protected area management support including community based rangers, law enforcement training and equipment, K9 teams, aerial support, a wildlife veterinary rescue unit, and a large scale human wildlife conflict co-existence programme, community snare patrols and community game drives.
Zambia
Rachel is a WE Africa fellow from the first cohort of 2021 selected Women for the Environment and a Tusk Award finalist 2019.
Fun Fact - Rachel loves adventuring outside and is a mum to 2 dogs, 2 cats and a baby bushbuck!
W: www.cslzambia.org
Sam has been a programmes manager at Honeyguide since 2015, responsible for Honeyguide’s overall programme management, delivery and reporting. He is leading a team of 40+ champions driving Honeyguide’s core mission of proving that sustainable community-based conservation is possible and critical to wildlife survival in Tanzania.
PROJECT Honeyguide Foundation
Sam’s passion lies in leveraging technology and innovative business approaches to improve conservation outcomes, particularly in community-led initiatives. With a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from Sokoine University and an MBA for conservation leaders from the African Leadership University, Sam combines his academic prowess and practical experience to drive impactful change in the African conservation landscape.
Tanzania W: www.honeyguide.org
DELEGATES
Redempta Nduguta
Rachel McRobb Chief Executive Officer
PROJECT Conservation South Luangwa
TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
Samwel Shaba Programmes Manager
17
Sonja Lipenga
Manager of Conservation Programmes
PROJECT
Chimpanzee Conservation Centre
Guinea
Sonja is a conservation biologist and registered nurse. She grew up in Austria and graduated from the University of Vienna by obtaining an MSc degree in Conservation Biology.
Throughout her professional career in biology, she worked in Sub-Saharan Africa observing bonobos in the jungles of DRC, investigating human-elephant conflict in Malawi and mitigating human-carnivore conflict in the Tanzanian bush. Witnessing life, death and the struggle to receive adequate healthcare in the remote communities she worked with inspired her decision to become a nurse. She was thereby able to offer professional support whenever needed in the field or maternity ward where she worked for over three years. Her profession led to some very unique moments from carrying the freshly chopped head of a lion to catching urine from wild bonobos, resuscitating new born babies, to admiring placentas after birth - “they look like the tree of life, just beautiful!”
Currently she is based in Guinea with her family where she works as the Manager for Conservation Programs for the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre.
W: www.projetprimates.com
Teresa Jahangir
Project Manager
PROJECT
Lamu Marine Conservation
Project
Kenya
Teresa was born and raised in Kwale county, a small village called Perani bordering Tanzania. Her passion for marine and turtle conservation started when she was in high-school. Her first snorkelling trip to Watamu Marine National Reserve made a transformative change on her career choice. She studied her first degree at Kenyatta University, graduated with Bachelor of Science in Coastal and Marine resource management, thereafter, worked with some organization before she embarked for her MSc. in Aquaculture in Belgium.
Her career has been exciting and adventurous. Her extroverted nature shines through as she expresses genuine love for people. Beyond her professional pursuits, Teresa finds solace in swimming, diving, trying new menus, teaching kids, learning new culture, travelling and fishing.
Teresa’s impactful work revolves around fishermen (elders and youth), and all stakeholders in the fishery value chain who interact turtles and other marine megafauna such as whale-sharks. Teresa views her work as more than a profession‚ it’s a journey of wellness and healing, fostering harmony between communities and the marine environment.
W: www.lamcot.org
Susie Weeks
Executive Director
PROJECT
Mount Kenya Trust
Kenya
Susie is the Executive Director of the Mount Kenya Trust which was formed in 2000. Mount Kenya Trust is a valued partner of the major governmental and private Mount Kenya stakeholders. Susie spearheaded the ambitious Mount Kenya Elephant corridor project construction with Mount Kenya Trust and its partners.
Susie was born and raised in Kenya and has worked exclusively in Kenya and Tanzania. She has practical experience with developing and managing a diverse number of conservation programmes including security management, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, corridor development, forest restoration, and fire-fighting coordination. Susie is a member of the National Bongo Task Force, a Kenya Wildlife Service Honorary Warden and part of the Mount Kenya-Aberdare Fire Management Committee.
Fun Fact: I talk in my sleep
W: www.mountkenyatrust.org
Theresa Sowry
Chief Executive Officer
PROJECT
Southern African Wildlife College
South Africa
Theresa Sowry is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC). She holds a Master’s Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Botany, and has lived in the Kruger National Park since starting her post- graduate degree in 1996. She is an avid conservationist and passionate light sport aircraft pilot.
Theresa became the CEO of the SAWC in 2012 (although she has been working at SAWC since 2002). She believes wholeheartedly in an inclusive and holistic approach to conservation, with people needing to be part of the conservation success story.
Being married to a section ranger in the KNP, Theresa really does understand the challenges facing todays dedicated conservationists, and her position at SAWC helps ensure the SAWC addresses current needs in their training programs. A major part of these challenges is that people need to benefit from wildlife areas, if there is no benefit, there will be no ownership.
Fun Fact: ABBA maniac!
W: www.wildlifecollege.org.za
DELEGATES
CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
TUSK
18
DELEGATES 19 TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
Tusk Team
Nick Bubb
Chief Executive Officer
UK
Nick Bubb has recently taken over from Charlie Mayhew as Chief Executive of Tusk. Prior to this, he spent 10 years as the Business Development Director at Fauna & Flora International (FFI), where he also helped to run several of their regional offices.
After graduating with an engineering degree from the University of Exeter, he spent 10 years as a professional sailor, before working in finance as an investment manager.
Over the years he’s sailed around the world several times, including once non-stop, and has also sailed from the UK to New Zealand with his young family.
It was Nick’s long-term interest in marine conservation, combined with an expedition to Antarctica in 2012, which eventually lead to him pursuing a career in wildlife conservation.
In contrast to some of his career highlights, Nick has finally had to accept that his 10 year old son, is now a faster runner than him!
W: www.tusk.org
Dan Bucknell
Executive Director
UK
Dan began working in conservation in Cameroon, first at the Limbe Wildlife Centre in 2000, and then as a research assistant for the Cross River Gorilla Research Programme in 2002. From 2002-2009 he worked for the Gorilla Organization, initially as Grants Manager, and then as Regional Programme Manager. From 2009- 2014 he was Head of Conservation and Campaigns at Elephant Family, from where he joined Tusk as Executive Director in 2014.
Dan’s family name Bucknell is allegedly an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “deer-keeper”!
W: www.tusk.org
Charlie
Mayhew OBE
Founder & President
UK
As the founder of Tusk in 1990, Charlie has now spent over three decades in the African conservation sector helping the charity to raise over $150M to invest in its partner projects. In January, he handed over the CEO reins to Nick Bubb, but will remain full time in his new role as President with a focus on developing and maintaining key donor and corporate relationships. Charlie is chair of the judges for the Tusk Conservation Awards and is a Trustee of the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust. His early career was spent as a DJ! He then set up a small boutique financial services company, which he sold 20 years ago.
W: www.tusk.org
Sarah Watson
Director of Programmes
Kenya
Sarah moved to Africa a month after finishing University - she has a BSc Hons in Biological Sciences from Bristol University. She was only meant to stay for six months, but over twenty years later, she’s still here. Sarah has worked for Tusk for over 20 years now, organising the charity’s annual marathon held in Kenya and is now Director of Programmes.
She works from an office at the bottom of her garden on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy surrounded by her menagerie of children, snakes, cats, rhino, and dogs. Sarah recently took up Ultra Marathon running (she says it’s her only way of escaping emails), and she has recently returned to University to do an MSc in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health.
W: www.tusk.org
TUSK TEAM
TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION 22
Adele Emmett
Head of Fundraising
UK
Upon graduating University with a BA Hons in History, Adele worked in theatre and the music industry before moving out of London 18 years ago to live in Somerset with her young family. At this point she found her dream job and has been heading up the fundraising team at Tusk ever since.
Until very recently, Adele was able to do the splits!
W: www.tusk.org
Anna Hunt
Head of Philanthropy
UK
Anna Hunt is Head of Philanthropy at Tusk, managing relationships with Major Donors and Charitable Foundations. She joined the charity in 2017 from the fundraising division of WWF-UK where she worked for six years. Anna has always been passionate about wildlife conservation. She has a degree in Zoology from Swansea University and a Masters in Behavioural Ecology from Manchester Metropolitan. She spent the early years of her career at Marwell Zoo in the UK where she had many interesting experiences from hand-rearing a tiger, giraffe and red panda to transporting animals to other zoos around Europe. While at Marwell, Anna had the opportunity to volunteer for five months with a conservation partner in Zimbabwe, assisting with rhino monitoring operations and small antelope research. This seeded her love of Africa.
Anna lives in Surrey, UK, with her husband, two daughters and two dogs.
W: www.tusk.org
Bernadette Clemens
US Development
Executive
USA
Bernadette Clemens holds a B.A. from Barnard College of Columbia University and M.A. from Case Western Reserve University. After starting her career in the performing arts, she advanced in a nonprofit development career managing university presidents’ and deans’ development globally. Bernadette has led strategy on comprehensive, coordinated institutional major gifts programs and managed advancement teams at universities, services, arts and cultural organizations overseeing directors of major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, annual fund, planned giving, donor relations, development communications, membership, and events. She has personally secured numerous principal and major gifts in her career.
Since 2022, Bernadette has served as US Development Executive for Tusk, accelerating African-driven conservation. When she was completing college, she asked her parents for the graduation present of experiencing an African safari. She didn’t get it, but later in life had that wish fulfilled.
W: www.tusk.org
Ivy Wairimu
Ivy Wairimu Wanjira is Tusk’s Africa Programmes Manager and has worked for the charity since 2019. Prior to Tusk, she worked for the Northern Rangelands Trust, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy as well as Ol Pejeta Conservancy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Information Technology from Strathmore University, Kenya and a Master’s Degree in Media and Public Relations from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.
Africa Programmes Manager W: www.tusk.org
Fun fact: I never forget a name or a face!
Kenya
TUSK TEAM
TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION 23
Julie Cure
Head of Finance
UK
Julie joined Tusk in 2016 as Head of Finance. A Chartered Management Accountant with over 25 years experience, Julie decided early in her career to specialise in non-profit and has worked for the BBC (Management Accountant) and the Australian Trade Commission (Grants Assessor) amongst others. Julie lives in Dorset with her two daughters, horse and sheep. Always happier outdoors, Julie spends as much time as possible hiking and horse riding in all weathers and generally avoiding four walls.
W: www.tusk.org
Robyn Brown Communications & Content Assistant
UK
Robyn has been at Tusk for just over a year, as communications and content assistant. Prior to Tusk, she worked at an environmental farming charity across the Southwest of England. With a degree in Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University, Robyn qualified as an Advanced Open Water PADI diver and found a keen interest in tracking technology. This led to an internship with Save the Elephants at their Elephant and Bees research centre, where Robyn decided she wanted to go into communications, specifically for African conservation. Born in South Africa, she has always appreciated wildlife, the outdoors and swimming.
W: www.tusk.org
Winfred Nduati
Africa Events and Project Assistant
Kenya
An event curator with a passion for conservation. Before joining Tusk Trust, Winfred worked at Ol Pejeta Conservancy where she was tasked with curating content for long stays guests and creating different itineraries. At Tusk, she assists with planning the Lewa Safari Marathon, Tusk Conservation Symposium, Tusk Conservation Awards and the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.
Fun Fact: I’m normally regarded as a he due to my name, but I’m a beautiful she.
W: www.tusk.org
TUSK TEAM TUSK CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM 2024 - EVOLUTION IN AFRICAN CONSERVATION
24
Kelly
