About us

Who we are

About us

Who we are

Our mission

Our mission is to deliver high-integrity nature finance solutions in real-world conservation settings. Through long-term, partnerships on the ground – beginning in Zimbabwe’s Protected Area Network – we aim to create scalable models that protect biodiversity, support livelihoods, and inform the future of global conservation finance. 

As part of this mission, AWE established the Chewore Conservation Trust in Zimbabwe to lead the management of the Chewore South pilot project. The Trust serves as the local implementation vehicle, working in close coordination with local communities, national authorities, and credible conservation partners.

As part of this mission, AWE established the Chewore Conservation Trust in Zimbabwe to lead the management of the Chewore South pilot project. The Trust serves as the local implementation vehicle, working in close coordination with communities, government authorities, and conservation partners.

Our name and values

Our name stems from our shared awe for nature.

Research shows that experiencing awe – rather than fear or doom – is more likely to motivate positive action. In facing the twin biodiversity and climate crises, we believe that fostering wonder, respect, and connection is essential to driving meaningful change.

 

This appreciation for something so much greater than ourselves inspires our commitment to protect it. It also underpins the values shown here, which guide how we collaborate, innovate, and work pragmatically to secure a thriving future for nature and people alike.

Our core values

Our Name and Values

Our name stems from our shared awe for nature. Research shows that experiencing awe – rather than fear or doom – is more likely to motivate positive action. In facing the twin biodiversity and climate crises, we believe that fostering wonder, respect, and connection is essential to driving meaningful change.

 

This appreciation for something so much greater than ourselves inspires our commitment to protect it. It also underpins the values shown here, which guide how we collaborate, innovate, and work pragmatically to secure a thriving future for nature and people alike.

Our core values
Meet the Team

Geneva Team

Aaron Murphy

Head of Strategy
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Sue Phillips

Strategic Advisor
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Gregor Pipan

Conservation Finance Advisor
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Michael Hacking

Director
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Chido Munyati

Strategic Advisor
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Aaron Murphy

Head of Strategy
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Gregor Pipan

Conservation Finance Advisor
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Michael Hacking

Director
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Chido Munyati

Strategic Advisor
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Sue Phillips

Strategic Advisor
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Zimbabwe Team

Blake Muil

Field Operations Manager
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Netsai Dube

Head of Accounts
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George Manyere

Chewore Conservation Trust Trustee
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Dr Paradzayi Tagwireyi

Head of Research
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James Egremont-Lee

Head of Conservation
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Prince Chikwara

Research Assistant
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Mark Griffiths

Chewore Conservation Trust Trustee
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Simba Sandram

Project Manager
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Blake Muil

Field Operations Manager
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George Manyere

Chewore Conservation Trust Trustee
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James Egremont-Lee

Head of Conservation
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Mark Griffiths

Chewore Conservation Trust Trustee
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Netsai Dube

Head of Accounts
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Dr Paradzayi Tagwireyi

Head of Research
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Prince Chikwara

Research Assistant
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Simba Sandram

Project Manager
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UK Trustees

Erica Austin

Trustee/Director
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Patsy Shannon

Trustee
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William Stancer

Trustee/Director
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Erica Austin

Trustee/Director
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Patsy Shannon

Trustee
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William Stancer

Trustee/Director
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Inspired and driven by our shared awe for nature

Proudly partnered with

Aaron Murphy

Head of Strategy

Aaron works on building international partnerships in nature finance and developing the foundation’s strategy. With a background in economics, he is focused on turning big ideas into action to tackle the biodiversity crisis.

Sue Phillips

Strategic Advisor

With three decades in international media, Sue has held senior roles at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Al Jazeera, where she built and led global news bureaux. She has since applied her communications expertise to African conservation, working with the African Wildlife Foundation and co-founding Wildlife Workshop, a conservation journalism training programme for journalists in Tanzania and Kenya. Sue is a Patron of the Borneo Nature Foundation and serves on the boards of News-Decoder and the Frontline Club. 

Gregor Pipan

Conservation Finance Advisor

Gregor is a native of Slovenia, where he grew up and developed a lifelong passion for nature and the outdoors on the edge of the Triglav National Park in the Julian Alps.  His fascination with African landscapes and wildlife has led him to merge his two-decades-long career in finance and investment management with nature conservation and restoration. In recent years, he has been involved with numerous initiatives and projects that introduce nature topics into financial frameworks, strategies, and financial mechanisms and instruments.

Michael Hacking

Director
Michael’s love of Africa permeates his business and philanthropic activities. In 1998, Michael founded Mocoh, a leading African trading company reputed for its integrity and focus on empowering partnerships.
Michael established the mc2h foundation in 2017, with a mission to boost literacy in West Africa. Collaboration with local partners enables primary-aged children in remote and often underserved communities to gain literacy skills.
AWE represents the continuation of Michael’s lifelong passion for Africa and his desire to invest in impact initiatives across the continent.
Chido Munyati

Chido Munyati

Strategic Advisor
Chido Munyati is Director for Africa at the World Economic Forum, where he leads the regional agenda and fosters public-private cooperation. A qualified attorney admitted in New York, Chido previously practiced law at Swiss firm Froriep and worked at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He is a graduate of Hofstra Law School, where he received a full academic scholarship. A 2017 Global Leadership Fellow, he was named among the “Top 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent” in 2023.

Blake Muil

Field Operations Manager

With over 30 years in conservation and tourism, Blake oversees daily field operations and logistics, ensuring smooth implementation across CCT’s Zimbabwean project area.

Netsai Dube

Head of Accounts

Netsai leads CCT’s finance and administration in Zimbabwe, bringing over a decade of experience in financial strategy, systems management, and administrative oversight.

George Manyere

Chewore Conservation Trust Trustee

George is an entrepreneur and investment banker with significant experience in mergers & acquisitions deals in Zimbabwe and sub-Saharan Africa. George was previously an Investment Officer in Global Financial Markets with the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group. After IFC, George founded Brainworks Limited, the first Zimbabwean company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Among his various qualifications and achievements, George is an alumni of the Harvard Business School, he has successfully completed the Harvard Business School General Management Program, and he is a member of the London Stock Exchange Africa Advisory Group.

Dr Paradzayi Tagwireyi

Head of Research

Paradzayi leads CCT’s biodiversity datawork, applying his GIS and remote sensing expertise to strengthen nature-based solutions and robust credit methodologies in Zimbabwe. 

James Egremont-Lee

Head of Conservation

With a 30-year history of work within the Zambezi Valley, James leads CCT’s conservation programming, applying deep regional experience to scalable, sustainable models for wild landscape protection.

Prince Chikwara

Research Assistant

Prince supports the research team by collecting and analysing biodiversity data, using GIS and remote sensing to underpin nature credit calculations and monitoring.

Mark Griffiths

Chewore Conservation Trust Trustee

Mark is an ‘ecopreneur’ connecting sustainability and business to deliver financial, social, and environmental returns. He is the CEO and founder of COsolve, a venture builder and VC supporting decarbonisation ventures with capital, talent, and market access. His previous roles include leadership positions at Climate Impact Partners, WWF, and 2degrees, as well as founding and selling the sustainability advisory firm SecondNature. With experience spanning global corporates and start-ups — including roles at Dimension Data and Procter & Gamble — Mark also serves as a Trustee of Chewore Conservation Trust, advises several climate-tech ventures, and mentors for the CDL/Xprize Carbon Removal programme.

Simba Sandram

Project Manager

Simba ensures effective delivery of CCT’s programmes, drawing on two decades of conservation experience, including service with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Erica Austin

Trustee/Director

Erica Austin is a media and marketing professional with broad experience across hospitality, the arts, and the charity sector. She began her career in 1984, founding and running a successful media representation agency that later expanded into PR and marketing.

A creative force and natural organiser, Erica has played a key role in projects such as the Cure3 Art Show in partnership with Bonham’s, raising funds for Cure Parkinson’s UK. An artist, gardener, cook, pilot, and general manager, she brings energy, versatility, and insight to AWE as one of our UK Trustees.

Patsy Shannon

Trustee

Patsy brings over 35 years of administrative experience supporting the growth of Africa-centric companies through a hands-on, solutions-focused approach, particularly in management control. She has a strong intuitive mindset that will be invaluable in advancing the AWE for Nature Foundation’s mission. For the past eight years, Patsy has also served as a director of the mc2h Foundation, an organisation dedicated to improving literacy across Africa.

William Stancer

Trustee/Director

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