My background is tourism, and as a child I wanted to travel the world, meet people and share cultural experiences. Today I share these experiences all over the world and learn so much from people in the conservation and tourism industry. I’m passionate about working with communities in rural areas — 80% of land in Africa is home to wildlife, natural resource users and poor communities that cannot be ignored by our decision-makers. Partnerships between Tourism and Conservation have made significant changes in rural Namibia, and I believe they can be used as one of the tools to address issues of development in Africa. I have dedicated myself to the Community Based Natural Resources Management Programme for the last 15 years in government and non-government agencies.

Herman Aindongo is from the Omusati region in northern Namibia. He holds a Master's degree in Natural Resources Management and Nature Conservation from the Namibian University of Science and Technology. Herman has a genuine passion for nature, particularly the vast rugged landscapes of Namibia, and he enjoys working with people. His journey at NACSO began in 2017 as an intern for the Donald Hamer Conservation Leadership Programme. He then took on the role of Adaptive Management Officer and is currently serving as NACSO's Natural Resources Working Groups Co-ordinator. Herman is dedicated to the success of conservation efforts in Namibia and aims to enhance the livelihoods of rural Namibians through wildlife conservation.

Kado Mushavanga is from a small village called Omega 1 in the Kavango East Region in the Bwabwata National Park. She is from the Khwedam speaking marginalised community. Kado holds an honours degree in Tourism Management from the University of Namibia. Having been born and raised inside a park, she always had a deep appreciation and an urge to learn more about the natural environment. She has also always been a traveller at heart, wondering what was out there beyond the horizon. So, when the time came for her to study at a tertiary level, she was decisive in choosing a course that would shape her career path and was in-line with the two things that she loved the most – the natural environment and travelling. Being fresh out of university, Kado believes that the Conservation Leadership Programme will give her first-hand, practical experience on the things that she studied. The CLP is an opportunity to broaden her understanding about field work and training, conservation principles and governance, and to gain leadership and management skills, as well as community engagement and collaboration, networking, and professional development. Kado is a youth that is very enthusiastic and eager to learn, which she believes makes her a reliable asset for the CLP and the CBNRM community. In the past Kado volunteered for the Kyaramacan Association to help them with secretarial tasks, while the position of Secretary was vacant and also assisted with the preparation of their 2020/2021 AGM.

Kakuputarua Kamaendo was born and bred in the Otuzemba Conservancy in the Kunene Region. His love and passion for nature led to him giving himself the nickname ‘Okuti,’ which means nature in Otjiherero. Kakuputarua enrolled in 2016 in the Namibia University of Science and Technology to study a Bachelors of Tourism Management. The following year he changed his course of study to a Bachelors of Natural Resource Management, after realising the qualification and skills in natural resource management would  help him fulfil his childhood dream. He is passionate about the CBNRM sector and improving the livelihoods of local communities who live with precious natural resources, but do not benefit enough from them. He fiercely believes that Namibia’s natural resources are abundant enough for local people to live well, if good leadership is put in place. As he joins the Donald Hammer Conservation Leadership Programme at NACSO, Kakuputarua looks forward to fulfilling his childhood dream of promoting nature conservation while helping local communities benefit from their natural resources. He will also use his internship as a learning opportunity and as an opportunity to network with key individuals in the CBNRM field for build a brighter future.

Josephine is an ecologist at heart and she was born and raised in Windhoek. She earned her Honours degree in Natural Resources Management from the Namibia University of Science and Technology. From an early age, her visits to her grandmother in the northern part of Namibia sparked a fascination and interest for the natural world and its critters. Josephine's passion lies in research and finding nature-based solutions to conservation issues. From the Donald Hamer Conservation Leadership Program internship, she expects to gain a deeper understanding of the practicalities of different solutions for improving human-wildlife co-existence. Her curiosity and love for nature are ultimately what fuels her enthusiasm to keep exploring different conservation perspectives.

A dedicated professional who is deeply passionate about advocacy work, constitutional democracy, and social justice. She holds an undergraduate degree and postgraduate diploma in governance and political transformation from the University of the Free State. Her ambition to make a significant and lasting contribution to transformative social change has guided her professional path. She is dedicated to using effective communication methods and stakeholder engagement to amplify voices, promote accountability, and generate positive social change within the environmental sector. She is currently employed with NACSO as a communications officer. 

For her work as the IDWG Coordinator, Viktoria brings a wealth of expertise and dedication. In January 2022, Viktoria started her career with NACSO under IDWG, taking on the crucial role of EbA coordinator, hosted by NDT. Acknowledged for her outstanding leadership and knowledge, in June 2023 she assumed the position of Interim IDWG coordinator and continued to provide crucial support until April 2024, all while being hosted by NDT.

Viktoria is a passionate environmental management and sustainable development. She has a thorough awareness of the complexities of environmental projects thanks to her academic endeavours and practical work experience in the sector.