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Our founder and longtime CEO, Suwanna Gauntlett, has stepped down, and John Willis has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. His deep familiarity with operations ensures a smooth transition, and Wildlife Alliance will continue its steadfast mission to protect the Cardamom Landscape and the wildlife that calls it home.
Suwanna leaves behind a remarkable legacy. Before founding Wildlife Alliance, she had already built a career defined by bold conservation work – protecting rare tigers in Siberia, defending marine ecosystems in the Galápagos, and safeguarding Olive Ridley turtles in India. In Cambodia, she successfully lobbied to cancel large-scale agriculture and energy projects that would have driven catastrophic deforestation. Her dedication was recognized multiple times by the former Prime Minister, and her impact has been felt far beyond the forest.
What set Suwanna apart was her understanding that conservation and development are not competing interests: they are inseparable. Viewing deforestation-driven poverty as both a cause and consequence of environmental destruction, she built programs that addressed the two together. The agricultural community of Sovanna Baitong and the community-based ecotourism destination at Chi Phat stand as lasting proof of that approach. She never wavered from the conviction that protecting forests means investing in the people who live among them.
As John Willis and the team chart the path forward, that vision remains our foundation. We wish Suwanna well in the next chapter.
The post Leadership Transition at Wildlife Alliance appeared first on Wildlife Alliance.
Suwanna leaves behind a remarkable legacy. Before founding Wildlife Alliance, she had already built a career defined by bold conservation work – protecting rare tigers in Siberia, defending marine ecosystems in the Galápagos, and safeguarding Olive Ridley turtles in India. In Cambodia, she successfully lobbied to cancel large-scale agriculture and energy projects that would have driven catastrophic deforestation. Her dedication was recognized multiple times by the former Prime Minister, and her impact has been felt far beyond the forest.
What set Suwanna apart was her understanding that conservation and development are not competing interests: they are inseparable. Viewing deforestation-driven poverty as both a cause and consequence of environmental destruction, she built programs that addressed the two together. The agricultural community of Sovanna Baitong and the community-based ecotourism destination at Chi Phat stand as lasting proof of that approach. She never wavered from the conviction that protecting forests means investing in the people who live among them.
As John Willis and the team chart the path forward, that vision remains our foundation. We wish Suwanna well in the next chapter.
The post Leadership Transition at Wildlife Alliance appeared first on Wildlife Alliance.