I was born and raised in Switzerland, where I spent the first 39 years of my life living what many would consider a typical, privileged Swiss lifestyle – a good job, a successful career, financial stability, and plenty of material comfort. But a few years ago, I came to a life-changing realisation: despite having everything I was "supposed" to want, I wasn’t truly happy. I felt something was missing – a sense of purpose and a life lived in alignment with my heart.
Nature and safaris had always been a passion of mine, so I decided to take a leap of faith and follow that inner calling. I took a year off and enrolled in a professional field guide course in South Africa, with placements in Botswana and Zambia. I worked with children and communities in conservation education, capacity building, and research – and absolutely loved it. When the course ended, I knew I couldn’t go back to my old life in Switzerland. I had found not only my purpose, but also the love of my life – and a deep connection to Africa.
By chance, I discovered an opportunity at Sensing Clues, and after speaking with Jan-Kees, I realised it was the perfect bridge between my past experience and future goals. Today, I’m working part-time as an Impact Facilitator at Sensing Clues, where I manage marketing, communications, community engagement, and partnerships. Alongside this, I also help co-manage Kusasa, a donor lodge run by the Wild Tomorrow Fund, located in the heart of the stunning Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – where I’m now living.
I joined WildHub because I truly believe in collaboration. At Sensing Clues, we work closely with passionate individuals from around the world to co-create innovative, volunteer-driven solutions for conservation. I’m here to connect with like-minded people, exchange knowledge, and share work opportunities to create a bigger, longer-lasting impact – together and beyond the front lines. We’ll soon be launching free online events through Sensing Clues, and I’d love to share them with this community – so that passionate individuals can learn, contribute, and get involved in meaningful ways. I also hope to share the practical knowledge and insights I gained in the bush while training and working as a guide.
I’m always looking to grow, explore new ideas, and keep learning. True to my motto – "Driven by purpose, guided by heart" – I believe that a meaningful life begins with passion, purpose, and connection.
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.
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 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.