AWF Leadership Team

Andrea is responsible for AWF’s programmatic work with the business sector, shaping how financial flows for conservation in Africa make it to the ground, and overseeing AWF’s Program Design team. Bringing to the table 25 years of experience in landscape-scale conservation and development, Andrea develops pathways to sustainable growth, using nature-based business solutions and finance to drive a better future for people and wildlife. She is among the cadre of people creating a new generation of business models (working with the extractive, agriculture, and tourism sectors) that center around a regenerative relationship with nature and society. Prior to joining AWF, Andrea worked with IUCN, where she focused on sustainable financing for protected areas, business and biodiversity, and energy systems transformation.

Beth leads AWF’s marketing and communications efforts. She brings more than 25 years of experience working at the intersection of nonprofits, science, and media, with leadership roles at The Walt Disney Company, National Geographic, Conservation International, and Discovery Communications. Her work focuses on brand strategy, organizational storytelling, and leveraging marketing and communications for scalable impact. Beth holds a BA in English from Tufts University. 

With 25 years in strategy development, program implementation, and delivery across Africa, Charly is charged with delivering AWF’s global strategy and conservation results. He began as a researcher focused on the economics of forest resources and joined AWF in 2009 as senior program officer for the Congo landscape. He became known for high standards and a knack for motivating teams in difficult circumstances; thus, in 2015, he took on the role of vice president for conservation projects. As a senior VP today, he manages programs in dispersed, remote, and physically challenging geographies while strengthening community relationships and building strategic partnerships with public and private donors. He is a true advocate for a strong staff, community development, and impact. Charly holds an M.S. in international management and external trade from the École Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales in Douala, Cameroon.

Craig's experiences with wildlife and conservation began in 1973 as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire. As an L.S.B. Leakey grant researcher in the late 1970s, Craig studied mountain gorillas with Dian Fossey and, in 1987, became director of Rwanda's Mountain Gorilla Project, of which the African Wildlife Foundation was a sponsor. Craig has acted as scientific advisor for the award-winning IMAX film, Mountain Gorilla, and, with National Geographic, he surveyed the conservation status of mountain gorillas in the aftermath of Rwanda's civil war. Craig’s direct involvement with AWF began as a senior associate and member of AWF’s Board of Trustees. He became a full-time employee of AWF in 2001 and now serves as senior vice president.

Eric is responsible for institutional planning and priorities and all fundraising operations. He also leads AWF’s Executive Leadership Committee and supports the AWF Board of Trustees. His oversight across these areas ensures full and efficient day-to-day integration between fundraising, programming, and execution strategies and operations. Eric started his conservation work in the backcountry of U.S. national parks and later western Uganda. Over the past 20 years, he has played key roles in program design, addressing a diverse set of conservation strategies, and he engaged institutional partners with the Environmental Law Institute, Earth Day Network, Conservation International, and Rare. He has worked across Africa for more than two decades and has also worked in Southeast Asia and with island states.

Frederick leads AWF’s engagements with government and multilateral institutions across Africa, China, and Europe in close collaboration with strategic partners. Through his leadership, his team supports African governments in international negotiations that ensure conservation is at the center of development dialogues. His deep understanding of the CBD processes has been integral in aligning AWF’s 10-year strategic vision with the development of the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework. He is currently in the steering committees of high-level engagements within the continent, including the Africa Protected Areas Directors Network and the African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance. Fred strongly advocates for youth engagement, capacity-building, and network-building at all levels. Over the last 30 years, he has held key leadership positions with WWF International, Oxfam GB, and ADRA International. Fred holds a BBA, an MBA, and a certificate in International Development from Andrews University, Berrien Springs.

Philip, who has worked with AWF for more than 20 years, manages the conservation-science component of AWF's integrated conservation strategies, using landscape-scale, holistic approaches. As head of AWF’s species program, he oversees our conservation interventions designed to protect and benefit focal species as well as human populations. Philip represents AWF in international dialogues such as at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature commissions, working on matters such as species’ endangerment classification and status or how resources should be allocated to deliver long-term results. He is also a member of the Task Force on Kenya’s Migratory Corridors and Dispersal Areas as well as Kenya's National Giraffe Conservation Task Force. Philip’s extensive educational qualifications include an M.S. and Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University. He has authored numerous publications.

Richard provides strategic leadership for AWF’s finance and other administrative functions, including information technology, human resources, and facilities. Prior to AWF, Richard served in a variety of financial leadership roles in not-for-profit and for-profit companies in the health care, education, professional services, manufacturing, and basic materials industries. Richard holds an International M.B.A. from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and a B.S. in International Public Affairs from Oklahoma State University. He is a licensed CPA in the state of Virginia, and he has earned the right to use the CFA® charter designation. Richard began his career as a financial analyst with the Engelhard Corporation and has 30 years of experience in finance and accounting operations.