Experience

Wildlife Conservation Network

• United States
• Environmental Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director, Lion Recovery Fund

  • Jan 2017 - Present



Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria

• Extraordinary lecturer

  • Apr 2008 - Present

  I have broad research interests which include funding for protected areas, predator conservation, wildlife-based land uses, illegal and legal wildlife utilization, ecotourism and the impact of policies on the efficacy of conservation efforts. I have a particular interest in developing incentives to promote wildlife-based land uses outside of protected areas, and developing partnerships for conservation between the private sector and communities, and the private sector and state wildlife agencies.



African Wildlife Conservation Fund

• Director of Conservation Programmes

  • Oct 2007 - Present



Panthera

• Policy initiative coordinator, Lion Program

  • Jan 2012 - Dec 2016

  I work as the Policy Initiative Coordinator for the Lion Program of Panthera. This work involves a variety of policy-related interventions to improve the conservation prospects of lions and other large felids. A key focal area of my work involves developing solutions to address illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade as a threat to lions and their prey. I work as the Policy Initiative Coordinator for the Lion Program of Panthera. This work involves a variety of policy-related interventions to improve the conservation prospects of lions and other large felids. A key focal area of my work involves developing solutions to address illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade as a threat to lions and their prey.



Various conservation NGOs

• Collaborative research scientist

  • May 2005 - Dec 2011

  I have conducted a number of research projects in conjunction with conservation NGOs in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Topics covered are diverse, but have included: Africa's protected areasThe illegal bushmeat tradeCommunity-based natural resource managementConservation policy and legislationWildlife-based land uses and game ranchingPredator reintroductions & metapopulation managementPredator conservation outside of protected areasTrophy hunting EcotourismHuman-elephant conflictLand-use planningLand reformSpecies specific projects including: cheetahs, elephants, leopards, lions



Tropical Resource Ecology Programme, University of Zimbabwe

• Research Associate

  • May 2005 - Nov 2008

  I developed a programme of applied conservation biology research in Savé Valley Conservancy in the South East Lowveld of Zimbabwe. Research topics included: Drivers, dynamics and impacts of the illegal bushmeat tradeThe conservation of African wild dogs in the Greater Limpopo TFCAThe conservation roles and impacts of the trophy hunting industry I developed a programme of applied conservation biology research in Savé Valley Conservancy in the South East Lowveld of Zimbabwe. Research topics included: Drivers, dynamics and impacts of the illegal bushmeat tradeThe conservation of African wild dogs in the Greater Limpopo TFCAThe conservation roles and impacts of the trophy hunting industry



Samburu-Laikipia Wild Dog Project

• Post-doctoral research scientist with the Samburu-Laikipia Wild Dog Project, Kenya

  • Jul 2003 - May 2005

  I worked as a post-doctoral researcher with the Samburu-Laikipia wild dog project in northern Kenya, gaining invaluable field experience in ecology, conservation biology and working with rural communities. Research focused primarily on the conservation of wild dogs in a mosaic of land uses comprising community lands and private ranches. Fieldwork addressed issues such as human-predator conflict, disease transfer between domestic dogs and wild dogs and developing incentives for predator conservation through ecotourism.