Bruce McKinlay
Zambezi Elephant Fund Executive Committee Chairman
For 13 years Bruce McKinlay has been living in Zimbabwe with his wife and two children.
He was brought up and educated in South Africa, where he nurtured his two greatest passions, wildlife and sport.
Both allow him to broaden his horizons by competing and adventuring around the world!
Bruce has an Honour’s degree in the Biological Sciences from Rhodes University and has spent time working and travelling in the USA and Australia, now settled again in Africa.
He worked for an NGO in Malawi, (a project aimed at conserving the Nyika Plateau and Vwaza March Parks) and then moved into the corporate world.
These experiences have only enhanced his earlier passions – and it is through these that he has teamed up with the Zambezi Elephant Fund in an effort to help conserve the Zambezi Valley, an immensely important wilderness area.
Richard Maasdorp
ZAMBEZI ELEPHANT FUND co-FOUNDER
Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Richard Maasdorp has a deep love for the country of his birth, its people, its wildlife and its wild places. He takes his inspiration and his passion from one of the world’s last-remaining true wilderness areas – the Zambezi Valley – a wildlife-rich natural wonderland, which he is proud to call home. Richard grew up with parents who encouraged their children to participate in environmental and wildlife pursuits.
Rob Davy
Head of Operations
Rob comes to the Role of Head of Operations for the Zambezi Elephant Fund from a strong conservation background. Having worked in varying aspects of conservation in Zimbabwe, with a strong focus on Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation and Community Engagement, Rob is passionate about finding sustainable, long-term solutions to the many challenges that conservation faces today.
Rob arrived with ZEF having spent three and a half years living in a tent in the Mid-Zambezi Valley running a biodiversity management project, which included anti-poaching operations, infrastructural development and human-wildlife conflict mitigation. T
his experience and others have made him very familiar with the challenges faced both by conservationists and communities working and living in this diverse and special landscape; he is well suited to working with ZEF’s impact partners to achieve the most effective conservation outcomes possible.
Rob has a lovely wife, Steph, and two children, Eileen and Zack, who share his passion for conservation. They have lived with him in the bush and are often present on his forays into the wild.
Petronillah (Petti) Hwamiridza
Office Coordinator
Petti has called Zimbabwe home since childhood. With over 18 years’ experience in administrative support and office management, she has fostered a diverse skill set across various industries, including real estate, architecture, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).
Throughout her career, Petti has gained valuable exposure to accounting, initially integrating it into her daily responsibilities before transitioning into a dedicated accounting officer role. This journey has provided her with a strong foundation in organisational skills, office management, and effective communication.
As the Office Coordinator for Zambezi Elephant Fund, Petti applies her administrative talents to support vital conservation efforts. This role has given her a fresh perspective, distinct from the corporate environment, allowing her to engage more closely with people and deepen her understanding of wildlife and the natural world.
Laura Taylor
Zambezi Elephant Fund Marketing & Fundraising
Laura’s “day job” is in the safari office with Nicci, but whenever she can, her love of wild places, elephants and her country lead her to doing as much as she can for the Zambezi Elephant Fund’s efforts in conservation. Laura’s background is in advertising and marketing and her enthusiasm to keep learning and doing whatever is needed, especially on the awareness creation and fund-raising fronts, translates into passionate appeals and updates.
Voluntary Supporting Team
John Stevens
Zambezi Elephant Fund Founder and Technical Advisor
John was born in 1948 in Mutare in Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands.
His career in wildlife began with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, spanning seventeen years and including spells as Warden of two of Zimbabwe’s most significant game reserves: Matusadona National Park on the banks of Lake Kariba and Mana Pools National Park, in the spectacular Lower Zambezi Valley.
John left National Parks in 1981 to build and manage Chikwenya Safari Camp on the banks of the Zambezi River. In 1985, John and his wife, Nicci, launched John Stevens Guided Safaris Africa, a successful safari business and in early 2015 they and a group of like-minded individuals set up the Zambezi Elephant Fund.
Nicci Stevens
Zambezi Elephant Fund Administration, Marketing & Fundraising
Nicci and John, together with a group of like-minded individuals, started the Zambezi Elephant Fund in January 2015, with the aim of protecting the elephants, other wildlife and landscapes of the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe.
Nicci’s background in safaris and her extensive travels throughout Africa mean that her understanding of the importance of conservation and her love of wild places and animals come to the fore with great organisational, chivvying and networking skills.
