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.

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.

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.