WHO
WE ARE
OUR
STORY
About us:
Hwange National Park (HNP) is Zimbabwe’s largest natural reserve, spanning approximately 14,650 square kilometres in the western part of the country, just an hour’s drive south of Victoria Falls. Renowned for its remarkable biodiversity, HNP is home to more than 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 species of birds. It also plays a vital role in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA)—one of the world’s largest conservation landscapes—covering nearly 520,000 square kilometres across five countries: Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
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The Conservation and Wildlife Fund (CWF) was established in 2017, when conservationists and key stakeholders around HNP came together to address critical challenges facing the region’s wildlife, habitats, and local communities. CWF operates in the landscape along HNP’s eastern boundary, which includes national forests, communal lands, and privately owned ranches — each supporting a rich array of wildlife.
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CWF works collaboratively with government agencies charged with protecting biodiversity, and supports other conservation efforts in the region, including those led by established research institutions.
OUR
TEAM .
LEAD
Debra Ogilvie-Roodt
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Debra has always had a deep connection to wild places and understands the importance of protecting these places, not just from an ecological perspective, but from a human flourishing perspective too.
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She brings 20+years' global, experience building and leading organisations in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, which has provided Debra with a unique perspective on how NPOs can secure their long-term sustainability. She has championed initiatives that foster educational advancement, environmental conservation, gender equality and financial inclusion.
Debra now brings this experience to CWF where she feels she can have more impact working closer to some of the problems she is motivated to solve, including human wildlife conflict. She takes time to understand the complexities and nuances of the social environments people find themselves in and is mindful of the many moral dilemmas we face working in conservation.
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FIELD OPERATIONS MANAGER
Matty Hone
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Matt has dedicated his life to wildlife conservation and feels deeply privileged to protect the country’s natural heritage. With a lifelong passion for the bush, wildlife and conservation, he now leads ranger teams and drives holistic conservation strategies across the diverse landscapes of Hwange.
Matt is the driving force behind every on-the-ground initiative, from coordinating anti-poaching patrols to refining operational and ecological conservation strategies. His calm, disciplined leadership and unwavering commitment ensure that ethical and ecological preservation remain at the heart of every mission.
Bringing with him 16 years of military experience, Matt has served in operational conflict environments and holds extensive expertise in combat medicine, combat tracking, firearms instruction, advanced communications and signals. His experience, professionalism and passion for conservation have equipped him with the qualities needed to effectively command and mentor a highly capable ranger unit.
Driven by purpose and a deep respect for wildlife, Matt continues to play a vital role in safeguarding Zimbabwe’s wilderness for future generations.
FINANCE & OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION
ANTI-POACHING SCOUTS
Our team of dedicated rangers is made up of committed individuals, the majority of which come from nearby communities, and have grown up in the Hwange area with wildlife as their neighbours.
Our rangers know the importance of protecting and conserving the heritage of the Zimbabwean people and they put their lives on the line to do so. Our rangers not only act as protectors, but also as educators, spending time in the communities surrounding the areas we operate in to listen to what the challenges may be and helping the communities to understand and realise the value of the wildlife and their habitats.
Tamlyn Sutton
Tamlyn was born and raised in Zimbabwe. With two decades of global experience, she provides corporate and entrepreneurial expertise essential to support the CWF Lead and Field Operations in Zimbabwe ensuring they have everything they require to carry out their important work safely and effectively. She shares her wealth of knowledge and is dedicated to conservation and fostering a sustainable environment for future generations to cherish.
OUR
PARTNERS.
CWF is an integral part of the Hwange community. We have built strong partnerships with stakeholders across the ecosystem, including partnerships with state entities such as Zimbabwe Forestry Commission, research organisations like WildCru, and other organisations carrying out critical conservation work in the area such as Painted Dog Conservation and Friends of Hwange .
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