At this years Whitley Awards ceremony, we announced and celebrated our 2023 Whitley Award winners at the Royal Geographical Society in London. Hosted by WFN Ambassadors Tom Heap and Kate Humble, the Awards were presented by WFN Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, in front of nearly 500 guests. The event also marked WFN’s 30th Anniversary, providing a truly special occasion to come together in celebration of the many partnerships which have made the charity what it is today; and which will continue to bring about significant change for wildlife and people as we look to the future.

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Meet our 2023 Whitley Award Winners

Please join us in congratulating our 2023 Whitley Award winners: an inspiring cohort of conservationists leading grassroots action to benefit wildlife, habitats and communities. 

Yuliana Bedolla, Safeguarding seabird nesting sites on Mexican Pacific Islands
Albert Salemgareyev, Building trust in data: Finding solutions for saiga and people in Kazakhstan
Tulshi Laxmi Suwal, People and pangolins: Mutually beneficial conservation in Central Nepal
Mamy Razafitsalama, Lifeline for lemurs: Protecting forests and livelihoods in Madagascar
Serge Alexis Kamgang, Local lion guards: Promoting coexistence in the Bénoué Ecosystem
Leonard Akwany, Community stewards: Securing a future for freshwater fish in Lake Victoria

Our 2023 Whitley Gold Award winner Dr Shivani Bhalla gave a moving speech at the 2023 Whitley Awards Ceremony about the power of community-led conservation amidst the growing climate and biodiversity crises. Shivani was joined on stage by six of her team members, who rounded out the evening with a Samburu blessing for all conservationists worldwide.

30 years of WFN - A conversation between Sir David Attenborough and Edward Whitley