Board of Trustees
David Elliott, Chairman
David Elliott holds a BSc in Biological Sciences and an MBA from Cambridge University. Apart from one of ACF’s Trustees, he is currently Chief Executive at The Future Forest Company and has been the CEO for Trees for Cities.
David Fox, Trustee
David grew up in Kenya, is the Chair of the African Bird Club and involved in conservation projects with community-based organisations. He is a qualified lawyer with a wealth of strategic and governance experience having worked for the UK Government for many years.
Arend de Haas, Secretary
Arend is a conservation ecologist with +20 years of experience with wildlife and community development projects. His research and field experience areas include primatology, ungulate ecology, nocturnal animals, GIS, biodiversity and vegetation mapping in Africa, Asia and Europe.
Caroline Bault, Trustee
Caroline’s background is in financial services and investments working for large complex international organisations over the past 30 years. She has a strong interest in both sustainability and social investments.
Louis Nkembi, Trustee
Louis Nkembi has over 23 years of experience in conservation, rural development and community-based approaches. His field experience areas include great apes, forest management, protected area management, education and capacity building.
Joseph Musimbi Tambwe, Trustee
Joseph dedicates himself to nature protection activities by focusing on the well-being of forest communities in the eastern, northern and central provinces of Congo. His work includes the involvement of communities in the work of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Natur (ICCN).
Anne Varney, Treasurer
Anne is a Chartered Accountant with extensive financial expertise from Corporate Finance at Deloitte to CFO roles in industry. She joined ACF as a Treasurer in February 2024. She is also working with the African Bird Club and the Thin Green Line Foundation, driven by her lifelong passion for wildlife conservation and firsthand experiences witnessing the crucial work of rangers in Africa and Asia.
Jason Roberts, Trustee
Jason Roberts, originally from the Yarra Valley in Australia, launched his international career in the United Kingdom before relocating to the United States in 1991. Now back in Australia, Jason focuses on his wildlife, landscape, and animal art, establishing himself as a prominent artist in the conservation community. His work has been exhibited worldwide and recognized in numerous publications and prestigious art shows.
Terry Harnwell, Trustee
Raised in Africa, and founder of the organisation in the United Kingdom, Terry managed projects in East Africa since 2001. She has 30+ years of management and communications experience in Africa, Australia and the UK.
Board of Directors
Arend de Haas, Conservation Director
Arend is a conservation ecologist with +20 years of experience with wildlife and community development projects. His research and field experience areas include primatology, ungulate ecology, nocturnal animals, GIS, biodiversity and vegetation mapping in Africa, Asia and Europe.
Julien Brethiot, Programme Director
Passionate about wildlife since a very early age, Julien’s motivation towards fauna and flora conservation knows no limits. With multiple field experiences across the globe and a taste new discoveries, his experiences include reptiles, avifauna and large predators alongside wildlife rehabilitation-relocation, camera trapping, reforestation, morphometry and education.
Joseph Musimbi Tambwe, DRC Programme Director
Joseph dedicates himself to nature protection activities by focusing on the well-being of forest communities in the eastern, northern and central provinces of Congo. His work includes the involvement of communities in the work of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Natur (ICCN).
Michele Robson, Communication Director
Michele, a conservation-focused business leader, has advanced environmental strategies, founded a gorilla NGO, and pioneered anti-poaching and sustainable agriculture initiatives. She collaborates globally, integrates Web3 into conservation, and supports protected areas and humanitarian efforts across Africa.
Programme Managers
Mahah Vladimire, Education Programme Manager
Mahah Vladimire is a conservationist with over 7 years experience in environmental conservation and education. She holds a MSc in Landscape ecology and Nature Conservation. Vladimire has also over the last 3 years been involved in Social Enterprise Development and co-operatives.
Eugene Dongmo Alontsi, GIS Specialist
Eugene is a Cartographer and GIS Expert focusing on the application of GIS, mapping and spatial analysis for conservation and natural resource management. He has a passion for community based conservation as well as for transferring his skills through workshops and his Academic teaching positions at the Universities of Dschang and Buea and the Institut Universitaire de la Côte in Douala.
Honorary Member
Daniel Taylor, Wildlife Artist
Canadian Artist Daniel Taylor is internationally renowned for his expressive portraits and wildlife paintings in oil and acrylic. Daniel is working closely together with the African Conservation Foundation on a project called ArtSavingWildlife which aims to raise awareness and funds for the conservation of Africa’s most endangered species.