Feisal Malik

wildlife film maker, Visual Africa Films Ltd
Jézumèvo Ephrem AKPOLI

PhD student, Université d'Abomey-Calavi

I am currently a doctoral student in the LMI SHUNT International Mixed Laboratory program on the sustainability of the hunting system in the Dahomey Gap (Benin). This is part of the collaboration between the Research Institute for Development (IRD) and the Laboratory of Applied Ecology (LEA) of the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC). I am currently doing my research on the conservation of the habitats of this hunting system. I am a research assistant at the Applied Ecology Laboratory at the University of Abomey-Calavi. Thus, from 2022 to 2023, I was a facilitator in a project to restore sacred forests in South Benin.
Elly Omondi

Animal care Officer , CCF

I am highly skilled and dedicated professional with a strong background in wildlife care and a wide range of training in a Animal husbandry ,farming and Animal behaviour .i have a passion for working with wildlife and deep understanding of their unique needs and behaviours .with extensive knowledge and hands on experience ,I am committed to providing exceptional care and ensuring the well being of animals under my supervision.
Emmanuel IZABAYO

Research Assistant, Dian Fossey gorilla fund.

My area of interest in primate behaviors, not only because I have a background in zoology and conservation but also as someone who spent most of my time with primates. Moreover, I have some skills related to people vs wildlife conflict around PAs. currently, I'm working as a research assistant in mountain gorilla behavior data collection at Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund | Rwanda.
Esther

Community Outreach Manager, Save The Elephants

Monica Yap

Transformation Coach, Accenture

I am passionate to conserve wild life. preserve what is left and sustain the future. I may bring value with my transformational work for the last 30 years in IT. I have been a transformation coach in software and business industry for almost 20 years, my expertise is to help companies finding their obstacles and transform their ways of working into a collaborative, respectful, integration of diversity and human centric culture.  I have been coaching to executives, managers, to software developers in shifting their mindset towards how to work with each other, while adopting new lean and agile practices and mindsets.  I often serve as a strategist to the executive in how to make these cultural changes into reality and build a path to for implement the changes. Most my agile transformations in IT in many companies across different industries were in complex domains (see Cynefin framework), where cause and effect can only be deduced in retrospect, and there are no right answers. These transformations are cultural and thinking mindset shifts, requires human behavioral changes. The solutions often required experimentation and redefining solutions based on introspections and continuous feedbacks.  The magnitude of the transformation ranges from 4000 to 40,000 people in the organization.  I believe and proven I have the skillset to: help people looking at the problem from a different perspective use Lean Startup and experimentation for creating effective conservation solutions facilitate people with conflicting views to come to a common solution design a strategy to change the culture define a path to reach the end goal
Nkusi Gerald

Founder & CEO, Food Forests Africa Movement

As a promoter of culture and diversity, Gerald Nkusi is a travel ecopreneur with Adventure Afrika and founder of Home of Kigezi (a Museum of Living Culture and Natural History), Nkunga Eco Village, and the Food Forest Africa movement. His roots and home are in Kisoro, a part of the Kigezi region in Uganda. Starting as a waiter trading long nights of work for education at the famous Makerere University 2006 and a US Exchange Alumni-IVLP 2017, he has transformed into a local and global actor in the cultural heritage and conservation space. Gerald's Food Forest Africa movement is revolutionizing the use of small and waste spaces for food, health, education and environment to help counter food insecurity, poor nutrition, and the degradation of natural resources. 
Diana Kibuuka Nakayima

Conservation Educator , Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre

I am Diana a Conservation  Educator at Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre - Entebbe Zoo. My major work there  is communicating  Conservation Education through photography, videos ,recorded audios. and writing story pieces. My professional background is in Mass communication majoring in Journalism but with passion in Environment,Climate change and wildlife issues - That's why most of my stories will always rotate around those 3 subjects. I am also and adventurous person who loves exploring new interesting places, and more so if there's something for me to learn.
Nyoma David Dilly

Program Coordinator , South Sudan Wildlife Society

Am a passionate, transparent person who wishes to see wildlife and humans thrive together in harmony. I graduated from the Department of Wildlife Science, University of Juba in South Sudan. Am interested in networking with people from different backgrounds and experiences, learning necessary skills needed to contribute significantly to conserving wildlife, sharing ideas. I voluntered with South Sudan Wildlife Society as a conservation education officer from 2019 to 2020, from 2021 until today, am volunteering as a Program Coordinator.
Ezekiel Chebii

Research assistant , Lake Bogoria National Reserve

I am freelance research assistant and conservation educationist. Interested in community sustainable projects 
Lynn Von Hagen

PhD, Job Searching

I was Research Fellow at Auburn University studying human-elephant interactions (now alumni!). I have completed my work in the Tsavo Ecosystem of Kenya studying wildlife mitigation measures and working with local and Indigenous communities to understand the drivers of conflict in complex social-ecological systems. I have a wide variety of inter-disciplinary interests including structured decision making, restoration and rewilding, community-based conservation, conservation management and planning, and all things associated with addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. Currently job searching and planning to relocate!
Suhail Bashir

Environmental Consultant, WildHub Community Advocate, ENS Environmnetal Consultancy Sharjah

Experienced Environmental Engineer/Consultant with a proven track record of leading successful environmental initiatives and delivering sustainable solutions. My expertise encompasses a diverse range of areas, including Baseline Studies, Environment Impact Assessments (EIA/IEE/ESIA), Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Environmental Conservation & Sustainability. Currently, I am making a significant impact as an Environmental Engineer/Consultant at one of the leading Environmental Consultancy, specializing in preparing comprehensive environmental study reports for clients primarily from Hamriyah Free Zone Sharjah and Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority Dubai. These reports play a crucial role in promoting environmental compliance and sustainable practices within the industry.
Gbénou Justin DIDOLANVI

Program Manager, BEDD NGO

 I am an Ecologist by training. My research interests have focused on : Relations between protected areas and local communities; Wildlife conservation; Community Building; Environmental governance ; Conflict management ; Climate change.
Anne Sleeman

Founder and CEO, WatchSpotter Data Collection Research Hub

With experience in Marine Animal Rehab., Rescue and Research coupled with a nerdy love of data, data science and all things technology, my data collection software company, WatchSpotter is the cumulation of my life’s work. From the hallways of the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center at the University of New England, my affinity for caring for marine animals was fostered and grew. Being tasked with the center’s life support systems and flow thru animal pools further opened my eyes to water quality, fecal coliforms, and bio-loads.  I was the primary research technician in a multiphase study: Protecting the Saco River: Tracking non-point fecal pollution to its species source. Upon leaving UNE, I traveled to the Southern Great Barrier Reef Australia to work on an international research team focusing on population dynamics for three cetacean species. Once back stateside, I sharpened my Software UX skills working as a software consultant for Centersoft Technologies. After a brief stint volunteering for the Dolphin Photo ID program at Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, I was hired to join the team. I split time the first years at FAU HBOI between the Harmful Algal Bloom lab and the Dolphin Population and Assessment Lab. Settling in as a Research Assistant for the latter as well as a first responder for the Marine Mammal Rescue Team. In working with the Dolphin Population and Assessment Primary Researcher, along with other industry collaborators, I soon became the PIs data analyst and was paramount in the creation and development of the programs state of the art cloud-based SQL database platform. I worked as a liaison between the research program and software architects to assure ease of use, maximum data output and advanced analytics. The software is still used by the newly formed team today.  At the end of 2019 it was time for me to branch out on my own.  In the spring of 2022, WatchSpotter was born. My idea was to create a customizable SaaS application that could be used by researchers worldwide. Data is data- scientific questions need to be answered. My contingency was that no matter what the research topic- if the research brings people into the field-whether scientists, volunteers, or citizens, they are there to gather data-to answer questions. I knew that the two biggest challenges facing many environmental research groups were time and money. It would not be feasible for most nonprofits or other environmental institutions to pay for custom software- which often runs in excess of $150K nor do they have the time to wait for such programs to be complete.  These known challenges fueled the customization and simple UX that make up the WatchSpotter platform. When I’m working with Environmental Science or software, I enjoy being outside in the woods or at the beach, volunteering and hanging with family and friends.
Kate Evans

Founder & Director, Elephants for Africa

I am a passionate conservationist and research biologist with over 20 years of experience working in Southern Africa. Here I have spent time researching the insects of the Namib through to the hippos, lions and elephants of Botswana. These experiences have given me a solid understanding of the challenges of field research, large mammal conservation, the complexities of resource competition and the importance of stakeholder relationships. My research interests focus on the social and ecological requirements of mammals in the context of a human landscape as we seek long-term conservation solutions. I have been pursuing this through active research on the African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana), previous work on African lions (Panthera leo), Samango monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis labiatus), hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibious) and meerkats (Suricatta suricatta). Recent trends and my own personal observations have highlighted the importance of individuals and social ecology in the long-term conservation of mammals. I believe having a holistic approach to conservation, understanding the social and ecological needs of both wildlife and humans living alongside, we will move towards human-wildlife coexistence and effective long-term conservation measures. I independently created and founded both my Masters and PhD studies and then founded the Charity and NGO Elephants for Africa; thus have expensive experience in project management, fundraising, communications and budgeting. My work has received international recognition personally and through Elephants for Africa for our research (Georg B Rabb Conservation Award) and education (Silver Medal Global Good Awards) programmes. I am a Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre member and a member of the KAZA elephant sub-working group and the Elephant Specialist Advisory Group.