I was incredibly fortunate to have grown up in Africa’s conservation sector, travelling to multiple protected areas across the continent, and witnessing conservation performed at scale. Through this exposure, I have become acutely aware of the roles of governance, management and finance in successful conservation, which are as critical as the science. In pursuit of such skillsets, I decided to do my undergraduate degree in Finance and Accounting, complemented by a postgraduate Honours degree in Marketing and Communication from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. I utilised both foundational degrees in my final research project which focussed on developing a new mechanism to generate funding for conservation areas, that blends philanthropy and immersive tourism. The highlight of my professional work thus far has been my involvement in Conservation Solutions, Africa’s leading rewilding and translocation specialist. The work has involved some of the most ground-breaking wildlife translocations ever undertaken in partnership with various state, community and non-governmental organisations.

With my specific interest in conservation at the nexus of science, management and finance, I decided to pursue Oxford’s MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management. I am currently (as per 2024) working on my Master’s dissertation under the supervision of Dr. Darragh Hare and Dr. Sue Snyman from the African Leadership University, School of Wildlife Conservation. My dissertation intends to investigate conservation practitioners’ perspectives, from various Zambian conservation organisations, on potential financial instruments to respond to human casualties resulting from conflict with wildlife. Ultimately, I see myself pursuing a career back in the African conservation sector, but I wish to equip myself with a few more critical skill sets before doing so.