At the African Conservation Foundation, our team is made up of people with a shared commitment to protecting Africa’s wildlife and supporting ecosystem restoration. Working together with local communities, researchers, and conservation partners, we focus on practical, long-term approaches that help protect biodiversity while supporting sustainable livelihoods and healthy ecosystems.
ACF Team
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David Elliott
Chairman
David is Executive Director at Humane World for Animals UK. He has previously been CEO of the UK charity Trees for Cities, as well as CEO of the Future Forest Company and One Tribe Global. He is also a Trustee of the Shark Trust, the Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust, and previously the International Tree Foundation. David holds a BSc in Biological Sciences, a BSc in Politics and International Relations, and an MBA from Cambridge University.
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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.
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Arend de Haas
Secretary / 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.
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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.
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Louis Nkembi
Trustee
Louis Nkembi has over 26 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.
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Joseph Musimbi Tambwe
Trustee / 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).
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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.
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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.
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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 for new discoveries, his experiences include reptiles, avifauna and large predators alongside wildlife rehabilitation-relocation, camera trapping, reforestation, morphometry and education.
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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.
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Meryl Wingfield
Trustee
Meryl is a chartered environmentalist focused on improving businesses’ environmental and social practices. She currently works in development finance supporting businesses across Africa, South and Southeast Asia. She has previously been a trustee of Surrey Wildlife Trust and founder of a small arts charity.
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Mahah Vladimire
Education Programme Manager
Mahah Vladimire is a conservationist with over 12 years experience in environmental conservation and education. She holds a MSc in Landscape ecology and Nature Conservation. Vladimire has also over the last 7 years been involved in Social Enterprise Development and co-operatives.
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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.
