Posted on February, 09 2016

WWF International is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Deon Nel as Global Conservation Director. Deon, who hails from South Africa, has held this position on an interim basis since 1 February 2015.

He brings a deep knowledge of conservation and combines a rigorous scientific approach with field experience and a clear understanding of both local and global processes, including the realities in developing economic and social contexts.
 
While with WWF-South Africa, Deon headed WWF’s Marine Programme and later the Sanlam Living Waters Partnership for six years. He left the organisation in 2009 to join the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) where he managed the Ecosystems and Water Competency Areas, before returning to head WWF-South Africa’s biodiversity unit in 2011. He would later take up the role of Conservation Director with WWF’s Regional Office for Africa.
 
While WWF has a solid foundation of conservation successes built over more than half a century, we are currently undergoing a transition to focus our efforts behind ambitious goals that will make an even greater difference at a global scale. WWF is fortunate that Deon has accepted this role at a crucial time for the organization, as we seek to capitalize on a wave of momentum generated by the recent Paris Climate agreement and the global effort to integrate social, economic, and environmental agendas through the Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Deon will be tasked with ensuring focus on the delivery of WWF’s new Global Goals and outcomes, across the organization's communities of practice set up in support of each goal. He will ensure the strategic coherence of WWF’s Global Conservation Programme across the world.
 
Deon Nel will be based out of Cape Town and will begin his role with immediate effect.