OUR STAFF

JOHN STEWARD
CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

After spending 20 years as a Creative Director at some of the world's top advertising agencies, John left the corporate world in 2015 to dedicate his life to conservation.

It was on a South African volunteer vacation back in 2012 that John came face-to-face with the state of our planet's wildlife. He saw the daily struggles reserve managers and ecologists faced to keep the animals safe on shoestring budgets. He saw anti-poaching rangers with tattered uniforms, poached rhino skulls with machete scars, and snared animals that had to wait weeks for veterinary assistance. He also learned about the ever-dwindling numbers of animals due to habitat loss.

Unable to shy away from these issues, John decided to leave his corporate life in March 2015 to form Wild Tomorrow Fund with the intent of providing compassionate people around the world a way to make positive, long lasting change.

WENDY HAPGOOD
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

In 2015, Wendy left her 10 year international career in finance at Barclays and Citibank as a Director of Capital Markets Sales (FX) to dedicate her life to restoring the planet. Together with John, she helped to co-found Wild Tomorrow Fund while completing her Masters of Science in Sustainability Management at Columbia University's Earth Institute. She studied climate change science and policy, researched the intersection of poverty and rhino poaching, studied new methods for financing the green economy and helped be a part of NY State’s biggest ivory bust.

Wendy believes that biodiversity loss and climate change are two of the most critical issues facing our planet today, and finds hope in restoration and rewilding.

Wendy is now an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, teaching Sustainability Management and helping to inspire the next generation of stewards for our planet.

GREG CANNING
GENERAL MANAGER – AFRICA

Greg grew up in Johannesburg and knew from an early age that he wanted to live in the bush and work with animals. After completing a Diploma in Nature Conservation, he joined the South African Police Service where he spent 6 years before returning to the bush and continuing to study. After spending a number of years in various positions in South Africa he was appointed as the Ecology and Conservation Manager of a private island in the Seychelles, where he completed his Master’s degree on a little-known tarantula species. On his return from the Seychelles, Greg spent 3 years in Botswana, after which he moved to Welgevonden Game Reserve in Limpopo Province as the Research Coordinator, before being appointed the as the General Manager of Wild Tomorrow Fund. Greg has experience in setting up and running research programmes and managing game reserves as well as in guiding and is a Field Guides Association of Southern Africa Professional Trails Guide and assessor.

KEVIN JOLLIFFE
RESERVE MANAGER - AFRICA

Kevin was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. His early holidays with his aunt and uncle in Hluhluwe sparked his love for Zululand and determined the career he would later pursue. As the youngest of five siblings and the odd man out with the neighbourhood children, Kevin developed a passion for nature. Afternoons were spent exploring the Botanic Gardens where he honed his bird watching skills, collected butterflies and developed an interest in plants, including collecting and growing orchids at the age of seven, becoming the youngest orchid grower in South Africa for over 10 years. Kevin is currently writing and illustrating a book on the orchids of KZN and his vast knowledge has been put to good use while working with the Pollination Ecology department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Kevin was always determined to work in nature conservation. He attained a National Diploma in Nature Conservation from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where he met his conservationist wife. They have been working together ever since. He has worked at government run, Ndumo Game Reserve as well as a number of private reserves in KZN, the Western and Eastern Cape, Swaziland and Limpopo provinces. He was the conservation manager for Cousine Island in the Seychelles for five 5 years conducting in-depth monitoring of nesting Hawksbill sea turtles, sea birds and endangered land birds. From there he took up the position of landscape manager in the Bahamas, before returning to South Africa to manage a private nature reserve in the Western Cape. He is now proudly Wild Tomorrow Fund’s Reserve Manager at The Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve.

TORI GRAY
PROJECT MANAGER - AFRICA

Tori obtained a degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado. During this time, she visited Tanzania to study Political Ecology & Wildlife Conservation for a semester. After those 4 months living in Africa she knew she had found her lifelong passion for wildlife conservation.

After graduating in 2017, Tori embarked on a 6-month wildlife conservation internship. Three of those months were spent working on Wild Tomorrow Fund’s Ukuwela Conservancy.

This was just the beginning of Tori's journey with Wild Tomorrow Fund. Upon her return to the US she joined the New York team working on social media strategies, fundraising, event planning and more. After 2 years in the New York office, Tori headed for the field in South Africa as our Project Manager and Volunteer Coordinator and has been there since the start of 2020.

SIBIYA SIYABONGA
ASSISTANT RESERVE MANAGER

Siya joins us from KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife’s Tembe Elephant Park, where he was an Advance Field Ranger. During his time at Tembe, Siya was involved in successful confrontations with poachers. Siya also holds certificates in fire fighting, field training and firearms, and reserve guardianship.

ANNIC RATIHARISON
PROJECT & OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Annic was born and raised in Madagascar, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Growing up, she joined her community in cultivating a reciprocal relationship with the island. As a child, Annic’s vacations to the coast of Madagascar and her childhood love of BBC wildlife documentaries eventually blossomed into a passion for preservation of wildlife. Annic also developed a passion for philanthropy during her college years and began her career working with not-for-profit associations in her home country of Madagascar.

Annic strongly believes that people should serve as stewards to the earth, protecting and nurturing our rich ecosystem. Climate change and biodiversity loss represent the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable. Knowing this, Annic has actively sought ways to become more directly involved in advocating for our planet and its inhabitants. Annic is thrilled to have the opportunity to use her experience in business administration and accounting for the benefit of wildlife.

JAN KELWAY
VOLUNTEER BOOKKEEPER - AFRICA

Jan is a retired former Financial Director and has worked in accountancy for over 30 years.

She is passionate about African wildlife and has spent many years travelling and volunteering with wildlife conservation charities in South Africa. Having met John Steward during one volunteer stint she has supported Wild Tomorrow Fund’s work since it was founded, raising funds by selling cards featuring her own photographs taken while volunteering along with other hand made items.

Jan is now volunteering as bookkeeper for the South Africa office’s accounts and enjoys being involved with WTF’s conservation work in Kwa Zulu Natal.