Enhancing leadership in organisational development among conservation organisations globally

I am the Founding Director of Conservation Leadership in the Department of Geography, and a Fellow of Churchill College, University of Cambridge.  I work to build capacity in conservation through interdisciplinary research and teaching that sits within both natural and social sciences, with a focus on large mammals that conflict with human interests.

“CCI’s learning and leadership programmes are enriched by the opportunity to bring conservation practitioners together in the classroom with students”

I am a Conservation Biologist with more than 25 years experience in NGO capacity development, teaching and research in ecology, ornithology and conservation. As a lecturer in Zoology at the University of Sierra Leone (my home country), I designed and introduced the  first conservation biology course into the curriculum of any University in Sierra Leone; and conducted the first comprehensive study of the rare White-necked Picathartes (Picathartes gymnocephalus) in West Africa. I served as  Regional Director of BirdLife International’s Africa Programme based in Nairobi, Kenya  for 10 years, leading and supporting a conservation programme spanning 23 counties. I am currently Global Director, Partnership, Capacity and Communities, BirdLife International, responsible for capacity development and coordination in a unique partnership of 117 NGOs across the world.

Over the past 14 years I’ve been lucky enough to focus on my passion for supporting conservation individuals and organisations, and sharing lessons learnt. Since 2009 I have been leading a team acting to build effective conservation capacity and leadership skills across FFI, its local partner organisations and beyond. Prior to this, I spent nine years managing the Conservation Leadership Programme, based at BirdLife International, having started my career undertaking wildlife conflict research and leading community conservation education and awareness activities in Africa. I have written materials and delivered training in organisational development for conservation NGOs, and supported capacity assessments and strategic planning for partner NGOs. With expertise in facilitation – and a love for motivating, and building engagement, enthusiasm and commitment for conservation, my work allows me to support a huge diversity of inspiring people in their work to protect biodiversity worldwide.

I lead TBA’s business and biodiversity programme, helping business to better understand and manage its impacts and reliance on biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. This involves working in partnership with a range of players including local communities, government and NGOs and requires a range of tools, capacity building, and training and on-the-ground solutions.Prior to this I was the Coordinator for TBA’s field-based ecology and conservation courses, running the training for young conservation practitioners and scientists in Uganda for several years. I have also taught tropical ecology and conservation and hold a doctorate in fire ecology. Throughout my career I have seen real gains that can be achieved through enhancing the capability and capacity of both individuals and institutions working on biodiversity conservation.