My journey into wildlife protection began with a cat named Cheekoh, whom I adopted while in Costa Rica. Cheekoh wasn’t just a pet—he was the catalyst that opened my eyes to the incredible world of wildlife. Through him, I met my husband, and we quickly realized we shared a deep love for animals and a shared vision: to protect endangered species.
That love for animals, sparked by Cheekoh, became the foundation for everything I do today. Together, my husband and I have dedicated our lives to using our technical skills—my background in innovation and his expertise in technology—to help protect endangered species. Our journey, from adopting Cheekoh to creating innovative solutions for wildlife protection, has been a story of love, learning, and commitment. I’m thrilled to share this passion with others, especially the next generation of conservationists.
As the Executive Director of Kashmir World Foundation, I lead a dedicated team focused on wildlife protection and conservation. We use cutting-edge technologies to combat poaching and safeguard endangered species. With a robust network of scientists, researchers, and conservationists, KwF is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to protect wildlife, utilizing AI, drones, and other advanced technologies. Through global collaboration, we create new strategies to monitor ecosystems, prevent illegal activities, and ensure a sustainable future for our planet's most vulnerable species.
Learn more about KwF's Internship Program.
Flavia Manieri
WildHub Community Advocates Coordinator|Interdisciplinary Researcher, Uppsala University
Since July 2025, I have been serving as the Community Advocates Coordinator at WildHub, where I coordinate initiatives to engage, support, and empower our community advocates in advancing WH’s mission.
Beyond WildHub, I wear a few different hats. I work as a researcher and lecturer in Sweden, teaching courses on environmental law, political and historical ecology, and disaster risk management. I also mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students, collaborate with faculty members, and contribute to ongoing research projects.
I’m passionate about giving back through volunteer work. I support a few conservation and animal welfare organisations with research and advocacy to help drive positive change. When I’m not working, you’ll find me hiking forest trails with my dog or enjoying a good cup of coffee.
Ana Di Pangracio
Biodiversity Director and Deputy Director, Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN)
Lawyer (University of Buenos Aires). Specialised in environmental law (Argentine Catholic University). IUCN Councillor (2021-2025). Member of the UNCCD CSO Panel (2022-2024). Observer at the UNCCD Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought (2022-2024).
Biodiversity, human rights and gender. A passionate advocate for nature protection with an ecosystem and human rights-based approach. Naturalist and birdwatcher. Over a decade experience working in civil society organisations and networks, as an environmental consultant, lecturer and editor.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-edonga-67197aa/
Vimbainashe Eunick
Conservationist, Conservation education practitioner , WildEdZim Consultancy
My name is VImbainashe Eunick Chitauro, a conservationist from Zimbabwe specializing in Conservation education. From a young age, I have been passionate about working with wildlife, and as I progressed in my career, I have come to understand the crucial link between wildlife and communities.
My goal is to educate and equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills to become future custodians of biodiversity, carrying forward the important work already being done. With over 4 years of experience in the conservation field, I have had the privilege of educating over 5000 children and community members on conservation matters.
I am eager to connect with conservationists from around the world to make a significant impact together. I believe that through collaboration, we can make a difference in preserving our planet's wildlife and natural resources.
Hi all! I am currently Fauna & Flora Internationals (FFIs) Senior Programme Manager for Conservation Capacity and Leadership. I have a lovely broad remit, but at its heart my job is to support FFI staff and partners strengthen skills in establishing, managing and supporting FFIs conservation work. I do this in lots of ways- designing and running training events, supporting the application of new skills/learning to peoples work, setting up mentoring relationships and peer to peer learning groups, organising exchange visits, work shadowing, master classes etc. We have a big focus on knowledge management in FFI, so don't just focus on how to bring in new knowledge and learning into our organisation, but how to share and apply all the incredible knowledge and skills our 400 strong team already have
I have an MSc in Environmental Technology and PhD in Anthropology from UCL where I specialised in human-environment interactions, with a stint as a Teaching Fellow in Human Ecology (maternity cover). Prior to joining FFI, I spent a number of years working in the Central African Republic to assess and improve the integration of conservation and development in the Dzanga-Sangha region, and following gorillas up and down volcanoes in Rwanda with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Before joining FFI's Conservation Capacity team in 2013, I spent 5 years in FFI’s Africa team, co-ordinating and managing projects in Liberia, West Africa.
ANYANG OMARIA KENNETH
RANGELAND SECURITY ASSISTANT, TAITA TAVETA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCIES ASSOCIATION
Founder and Chair of Clean Coast Outer Hebrides, we do so much more than beach cleans! We campaign and educate, inform and inspire about marine environment issues including Climate Change.
I live near one of the best places in Europe to see the widest range of whales and dolphins from land, I am a Shorewatcher for Whale and Dolphin Conservation WDC, have trained for British Divers Marine Life Rescue BDMLR, a volunteer with the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, am a licensed drone pilot, and go wild swimming.
I occasionally earn a crust by wildlife illustration and have illustrated for the RSPB and SNH (or whatever they call themselves these days) and am so successful as a public speaker that people have paid to hear me talk - I'd have thought that they would pay to shut me up!
Hi, I’m really excited to be attending this course as I want to career switch into Conservation and Project Management will help me on this journey. I currently run my own animal first aid business and I am half way through a Masters in Applied Wildlife Conservation at Anglia Ruskin University. Looking forward to meeting everyone on the course!
Data, databases and apps ( Claris FileMaker ) for nature conservation and sustainability research. Funding expertise as a bonus
My background is mainly in species conservation, education and capacity exchange. I researched mother-young interactions in gorillas and chimpanzees, in captivity and the wild. After that, I worked for three years in Indonesia, where I developed and implemented youth ambassador and community engagement programmes on local and regional scales. I co-founded WildHub, a community of nature conservation professionals, in 2020 and work as their Community Lead. I am furthermore on the Advisory Board of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent where I obtained my PhD on capacity development for conservation in 2022.
I have a broad range of experience in the management of natural resources, landscape restoration, agriculture, wetlands management and conservation, GIS and remote sensing, data analysis, peace and conflict resolution, and research projects with an emphasis on water quality, aquatic system management, and the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. Through advocacy for policies, conservation education, and conservation projects, I am passionate about preserving the natural world and preserving threatened species. I have delivered superior research services in collaboration with government agencies, religious institutions, and International, regional, national, and local NGOs.
Shelley acts as community manager for the two growing networks that sit alongside the core Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership teaching programme; the University of Cambridge Conservation Leadership Alumni Network (UCCLAN) and the Conservation Leadership Transformation Network. The management of these two networks delivers two of the three goals set out in the Masters in Conservation Leaderships ten-year strategy; to catalyse the impact of the UCCLAN; and to establish a Global Conservation Leadership Community of Practice.
Shelley is a former archaeologist, who moved into the communications sector and has been specialising in external affairs and communications at the University of Cambridge for the last 15 years. Shelley is a brand specialist with extensive experience in delivering large-scale communications campaigns for the University’s high-profile events such as the Cambridge Science Festival, alongside training staff and students from across the University in to how to engage audiences both in person and online.
Ana Yi Soto is a specialist in communications and cooperation for development. Her 12-year professional experience spans the non-profit and private sectors, including NGOs such as Conservation International and Wildlife Conservation Society. She is knowledgeable in rural development, conservation programs, and youth movements across Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
In 2007, she co-founded the International Network of Students for Peace, RED ESPAZ Peru, and on Earth Day 2023, she launched Crea Planeta, a creative agency for planet restoration based in social marketing and behavioral insights. Ana is a Peruvian national and lives in Madagascar, close to the Makira National Park.