Hills Wildlife Sanctuary | Saving Australia’s Wildlife Together
Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is led by Sanctuary Manager and Director Ben Dessen, who is a passionate conservationist, wildlife advocate, author and educator.
From classroom to conservation: How students are redefining stewardship
Who is Tintswalo Mukhari? She’s not a scientist or politician; she’s a high school student from St Catherine’s Convent in South Africa who is proving that youth can drive real environmental change. What is she doing? Together with her co-captain, Lesedi Kgarimetsa, Tintswalo leads the True Blue Recycling Club, a school-based initiative turning everyday waste
Guardians of the Javan gibbon: The team protecting an Endangered primate
Rahayu Oktaviani, an Indonesian primate conservationist, has dedicated her career to protecting the Javan gibbon, an elusive primate found in Java, Indonesia. Seeking adventure, she studied Forest Resource Conservation and Ecotourism at university and worked part time with NGOs (non-governmental organisations). Today, Rahayu runs KIARA (Yayasan Konservasi Ekosistem Alam Nusantara), which she created to ensure
From ants to elephants: Forgive Maluleke’s mission to protect nature from the ground up
Forgive Maluleke is a nature conservationist working for the South African National Defence Force. He roams the bush every day, protecting the plants and animals that live there. But he doesn’t stop there. During his weekends, he runs his own organisation called the Nhlalala Nature Conservation Project. Taking conservation into his own hands and with
Belonging to the bush: A South African conservation story
“Conservation is more like a passion than a career.” Forgive Maluleke spends weekdays as a nature conservationist with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and weekends running his own organisation – the Nhlalala Nature Conservation Project (NNCP). He walks miles through the South African bush, not just to protect nature, but to understand it.
Saving wildlife on the road – Where science and entrepreneurism meet
Have you ever passed by an animal that was run over on a highway? Have you ever wondered what impact those kills have on the conservation of biodiversity? Or better yet, whether anything can be done to prevent it? Fernanda Abra has… And today, she runs a successful consulting company that actively works to mitigate
Podcast | How to build a career in wildlife conservation with Dr Nick Askew
How aspiring and mid-career conservationists can land their dream roles and make a real impact, with Dr Nick Askew. What does it really take to build a meaningful, impactful career in conservation – and how can we better support the next generation of conservationists to succeed? Our very own Director, Dr Nick Askew, joins as
Podcast | Revolutionising ecotourism: Daniel Kaul on conscious travel for conservation
How Conscious Explorer is transforming travel into a powerful force for conservation and community development, with Daniel Kaul. Can travel be more than just an escape? How can tourism actively contribute to conservation and community well-being? And what does ethical, sustainable travel truly look like? Today’s guest is Daniel Kaul, founder of Conscious Explorer and
Conservation as a unifier – A vision for a sustainable, connected future
Scott Thomson’s journey from the fast-paced world of hospitality to the heart of conservation is nothing short of remarkable. Once a dedicated chef, Scott’s life took a dramatic turn following a life-altering injury that forced him to rethink his path. This unexpected twist led him to a newfound purpose, one where conservation and community are
From a corporate career to marine advocacy: How Nathalie Gil found fulfilment in conservation
For Nathalie Gil, President and CEO of Sea Shepherd Brazil, life has been a journey of profound transformations. From a corporate career advising global giants like Nestlé and Shell to leading conservation campaigns that save marine species, her story is one of courage, passion and redefining success. This is not just a tale of career
Podcast | From Intern to Conservation Leader: Richard Grimmett’s 40-Year BirdLife Journey
Lessons From Four Decades of BirdLife International: Richard Grimmett on Conservation Success and Challenges. How does a passion for birds turn into a lifelong career in global conservation? And what can four decades of experience teach us about the evolution of biodiversity efforts? Today’s guest is Richard Grimmett, Senior Conservation Adviser at BirdLife International, where
Seeds of change: Abubakar Ibrahim’s quest for youth empowerment, conservation and heritage preservation in Nigeria
The fight for youth empowerment, cultural heritage preservation, and environmental conservation is not always an easy one. It requires vision, resilience, and unwavering commitment to creating positive change, and Abubakar Ibrahim, founder and president of Nigeria’s Katsina Youth Transformation Network (KYTN), exemplifies all these qualities. The birth of the Katsina Youth Transformation Network (KYTN) In
From passion to action: Julius Kirumira’s journey to animal advocacy and conservation leadership in Uganda and beyond
In a world increasingly in need of champions for animal welfare and environmental sustainability, Julius Kirumira’s story stands as a powerful testament to the impact one individual can have. Uganda, located in East Africa, boasts a rich tapestry of biodiversity, from the vibrant wildlife of its savannas to the diverse aquatic ecosystems of its lakes.
Podcast | Rewilding Europe: Frans Schepers on restoring nature at scale
How do you transform landscapes, restore biodiversity and reconnect people with nature – all at scale? And what does it take to build a pioneering conservation initiative from scratch? Today’s guest is Frans Schepers, co-founder and Executive Director of Rewilding Europe. Frans has dedicated over a decade to leading rewilding efforts across Europe, turning ambitious
Podcast | From campaigning to chairing: Tony Juniper’s journey in nature conservation
How can campaigning lead to transformative leadership in conservation? And what role do cross-sector partnerships play in scaling biodiversity impact? Today’s guest is Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England and one of the UK’s most prominent voices in nature conservation. He’s been described as ‘the most effective of Britain’s eco-warriors’ and ‘one of the top
Podcast | The power of trees: Sir William Worsley on conservation, climate and careers in forestry
Today’s guest is Sir William Worsley, Chair of the Forestry Commission (England). Sir William shares his rich experience in forestry management, conservation, and the evolving mission of the Forestry Commission since its founding in 1919. In our chat, we discuss the Commission’s role in afforestation, timber production and wildlife conservation, and the importance of balanced
Podcast | Leading Europe’s biggest conservation charity | Beccy Speight
What does it take to lead one of the world’s largest conservation organisations through a time when 41% of UK species are in decline? And how can today’s conservation leaders inspire millions to fight for biodiversity? Today’s guest, Beccy Speight, CEO of the RSPB, offers her insights into what it takes to manage over 1.2
Podcast | Snakes, rainforests and rock ‘n’ roll | Romulus Whitaker
Today’s guest is Romulus Whitaker, a renowned herpetologist and conservationist often referred to as the “Snake Man of India.” Romulus shares his lifelong passion for snakes, conservation and the incredible biodiversity of India’s rainforests. In this episode, we discuss what drew Romulus to snakes, especially the King Cobra, his experiences in the rainforest, and the
How to work in Pangolin conservation with Kelsey Prediger
Kelsey Prediger is a passionate wildlife biologist who works in Namibia to conserve Pangolins. Originally from Michigan, USA, Kelsey followed her passion to make a meaningful impact for wildlife conservation with an unexpected career pathway shifting from veterinary medicine to wildlife management. She moved halfway around the world and her adventures led her to jump
Shark fin supernova: Hong Kong’s response to a global crisis
In the bustling waters of Hong Kong, a silent crisis unfolds beneath the surface. Stan Shea, Marine Programme Director at Bloom HK and ADMCF stands at the forefront of a huge challenge to protect the region’s marine life from the devastating effects of overfishing and unsustainable practices. Born and bred in Hong Kong, Stan faced
Podcast | From bartender to Gorilla guardian | Greg Cummings
How passionate individuals can transform their careers and save wildlife, with our guest Greg Cummings. How can someone transition from being a bartender in London to leading an organisation helping to protect Gorillas – one of the most charismatic species on the planet? And how can they raise millions of dollars in the process –
Podcast | Connecting to conservation from the corporate sector | Raoul Bollen
How can corporate professionals contribute to conservation efforts? What skills can they bring from the boardrooms of the private sector to help wildlife charities specifically to develop and grow? These are some of the topics we discuss with today’s guest Raoul Bollen. Raoul has been on a career journey from the corporate sector, from leading
How a miniature monkey is changing Northern Colombia’s relationship with nature
Have you ever caught yourself feeling too small to make a difference? It’s a common experience among conservationists and, considering the severity of global issues including biodiversity loss, resource exploitation, and climate change, it’s not surprising we feel overwhelmed. However, focusing on individual conservation stories it’s easy to see big changes can come from small
‘Giving back to Nature’: A conversation with Helen Neave, co-founder of ‘Make it Wild’
The majority of environmental news is dominated by depressing, defeatist narratives that describe the decline of nature in every corner of the planet, with humans commonly blamed for this destruction. Helen and Christopher Neave challenge this, as 14 years ago, distressed by the environmental situation, they decided to take action. Although now ‘Make it Wild’
Podcast | Cristianne Close | Deputy Global Conservation Director WWF International
In this episode, we speak with the Deputy Global Conservation Director at WWF International, Cristianne Close. Cris describes herself as ‘passionate about creating positive change in the world, especially aiming to make the impossible, possible’. We discuss how she gave up a fast-paced corporate career to follow her purpose and work in conservation. Now,
Podcast | Biodiversify-ing businesses and beyond with Michael Burgass (Director of Biodiversify)
Increasingly, the private sector is taking a growing interest in their impact on wildlife, and this could lead to a much-needed step change in conservation efforts. But why do companies care about nature? How can they assess and minimise their impacts? And what sort of jobs are opening up for conservationists seeking to work in
Working together to fight species extinction | An interview with Asian Species Action Partnership
There are many threatened species in the world, but Southeast Asia’s Critically Endangered species are particularly vulnerable to extinction. With limited conservation attention on these species in the region, the IUCN SSC Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP) was formed to end species extinctions of birds, amphibians, mammals, freshwater fish, and reptiles. ASAP is a partnership
Podcast | Patience Thody | Deputy Chief Executive The Wildlife Trusts
If you’ve spent time in the UK and visited a local nature reserve, then chances are you’ve been to a site managed by one of the 46 individual Wildlife Trusts that collectively represent 2,000 staff, 35,000 volunteers and nearly 1 million members. Helping to coordinate this huge force for nature is the Royal Society of
From the corporate world to the African forests – how modern conservation is everyone’s ‘business’
After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2005, Canadian Aram Kazandjian took the expected route into the corporate sector. Fast forward 12 years and he was living in a national park in Sierra Leone as Manager of Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Aram shares his route into conservation and discusses how typical ‘business’ skills are
Unlocking your power for conservation with Dr Rebecca Jefferson
If you are passionate about wildlife and conservation, you have probably wondered about the role people can play in conservation. You are not alone. Dr Rebecca Jefferson, Marine Social Scientist, Founder and Director of Human Nature asked herself the same question when she was seeking a career in ocean conservation. Since Dr. Jefferson was a