Japan-based documentary storyteller James Whitlow Delano has made Tokyo his home for over three decades while pursuing his passion for environmental issues, human rights and indigenous cultures. Delano has reported from every continent, including Antarctica. His widely published and exhibited photographs have led to four award-winning monograph photo books, including, “Empire: Impressions from China” and “Black Tsunami: Japan 2011”. Projects have been cited with the Alfred Eisenstadt Award (from Columbia University and Life Magazine), Leica’s Oskar Barnack, Picture of the Year International, NPPA Best of Photojournalism, Festival PhotoReporter en Baie de Saint Brieuc. Among the permanent collections where Delano’s photographs and/or books are represented include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and La Triennale di Milano.

Mankgodi Hlongwane is currently employed as a senior biodiversity and conservation specialist at the City of Ekurhuleni municipality. Serving in the department of Environmental Resource and Waste Management within the Environmental Protection, Resilience and Project Management division. In this role, Mankgodi’s main job purpose is to contribute to the planning, development and coordination of environmental conservation policies and practices, providing sound advice and support in natural resource management. She has over 20 years’ experience in the biodiversity sector. Mankgodi holds BSc Honours in Environmental Management; National Diploma in Nature Conservation; Masters in Governance in the field of public sector monitoring and evaluation. She is currently MSc candidate with a research focus on invasive alien species. Mankgodi has a wide range of experience in environmental management, rehabilitation of ecosystems, wildlife management, stakeholder engagement, protection of natural resources, adapt to and implement changes in policy, laws, regulations, initiatives, and relevant industry practices, making recommendations accordingly as well as provide input into governance and risk management processes, systems, and legislation within biodiversity sector. 

I have been working for tiger conservation since 2009. My main focus is on human tiger conflict and especially on human dimensions of human wildlife conflict. I am ecologist by training. I finished my PhD on wildlife ecology and conservation from Wageningen University, the Netherlanda in 2023.