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Starting today, the African Leadership University, through its School of Wildlife Conservation (SOWC) will host the first Business of Conservation Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.

An ALU initiative, the innovative conference will bring together leaders from conservation as well as the intersecting industries, to promote best practices, strengthen networks and partnerships, and collectively tackle the challenges of saving Africa’s wildlife and its habitat.
During the 3-day gathering, over 300 participants from 35 countries will explore different facets of Africa’s greatest competitive advantages. Additionally, participantswill learn how the wildlife economy is providing tangible socio-economic benefits to communities, providing jobs, and ultimately serving as the most powerful incentive for conservation. The programming strives to drive tangible commitments in five areas: Policy, Leadership, Livelihoods, Technology,

and Investment.
Top African CEOs, political leaders, technologists, investors, entrepreneurs,

and innovative

conservationists will explore practical avenues to economic growth in Africa through wildlife conservation:
Leaders in Government: Eugene Mutangana, Head of Conservation for the Rwanda Development Board; Rakotoarijaona Mamy, Director of Operations, Madagascar National Parks; Property Mokoena, Executive Manager for Parks, South African National Parks; Madyo Couto from the Mozambican Ministry of Tourism; and representatives from the Tanzania National Parks Authority.
Leaders at the Frontline of Conservation: such as Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, Kaddu Sebunya, President of African Wildlife Foundation; Julie Williams Director of Tourism at Virunga National Park (DRC); and Fred Nelson,founder of Maliasili.
 
Leaders in Business: such as Arnold Meyer, an investment banker turned conservationist; and Phillip Ihenacho, a Nigerian entrepreneur developing an unusual protected area in Nigeria.
Leaders in Conservation Tourism: Jeroen Harderwijk, co-founder of Asilia; Calvin Cottar, CEO of Cottar’s Safari Camps; John Mason, CEO of Zaina Lodge in Ghana; as well as senior leadership from SingitaWilderness Safaris and &Beyond
“This conference will explore the intersection of business, economic development, and conservation,” says Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO, African Leadership University. “The conference will seek to open up new conversations about how to bring entrepreneurial energy and vision to African conservation.”