Wilderness Foundation
NGO in Port Elizabeth

The Wilderness Foundation South Africa's mission is to protect and sustain African wilderness and wildlands through integrated conservation and education programmes, scientific, biodiversity, the benefits of which support cultural, economic and spiritual values.

We are a Conservation organisation working to protect and sustain all life on earth for current and future generations. Wilderness Foundation Africa works from its base in South Africa to protect and sustain wildlife and wilderness through integrated conservation and education programmes. Whether it is direct action anti-poaching in the field, large landscape wilderness management, or developing rising young leaders from disadvantaged communities for a career in conservation, the Wilderness Foundation has over 45 years of results. The Foundation was established in 1972 by conservation pioneer Dr Ian Player, who led the team that saved the white rhino from extinction in the 1960’s, an action-legacy that the Wilderness Foundation continues today, working against wildlife crime and combating the rhino poaching crisis. He is a professional accountant, with experience as an investment banker in the United States of America and was Chairman and CEO of Msinsi Holdings (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. He sits on a number of Boards in South Africa, bringing expertise in corporate governance and enterprise risk management. He has various qualifications and extensive work experience in planning, design and development fields and has always infused his work with a strong conservation ethos. Nick has held positions with the Kwazulu Natal Provinical Government, the eThekweni Municipality, Mirage Leisure and Development as well as Sun International. She has emerged as a leading figure in pro-poor microfinance for rural women in South Africa. She chairs the WBD Trust Fund for SA Women’s Economic Empowerment and is a Trustee or Director of several national and international boards which promote social and economic development. Neo is Director of the SCAW Metals Group and has been an executive at the IDC for 12 years, establishing a division for Marketing and Corporate Affairs and Business Development (Africa). Neo is also non-executive Director and Chairman of the Monarch Hotel, Rosebank, Gauteng. He also worked as the Eastern Cape Development Corporation’s regional manager (ECDC) in its Mthatha office before being seconded by the ECDC to the Presidential Project Team, where he served as economic development co-ordinator and team leader from 1995 to He was the deputy vice-chancellor responsible for teaching and learning at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, and has more than twenty years of management experience at a university. He is currently the African representative on the executive committee of the International Society for Business Economics and Ethics (ISBEE) and a board member of EthicsSA. He is the past president of the Business Ethics Network of Africa (BEN-Africa), where he led partnerships in 21 African countries. Nomkhita Mona was the Group CEO of SAFCOL and was appointed in Before that, she was CEO of the Eastern Cape Tourism Board. Mona brings a magnitude of unique experience to SAFCOL, from a wide variety of sectors. She is the first black woman to be appointed on the Board of Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Holdings (South Africa). She is the former Deputy President of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. In addition to the above achievements, she previously served on the board and was a trustee of the Wilderness Foundation Africa, as well as a member of the Oliver Foundation board. She is a Commissioner of the Eastern Cape Planning Commission. Wilderness Foundation Africa is made up of a team of dedicated individuals who share a great passion for the conservation of our planet.