The Board and Leadership Council of the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) Foundation are delighted to announce that John Scanlon AO will be joining the Foundation as Special Adviser to the Board and the Council and acting CEO from Monday 8 June 2020. John will work with EPI’s leadership, member countries, partners and staff, to drive forward the EPI’s objectives, building on its achievements and helping shape how the Foundation can best support EPI countries and partners in elephant conservation in a post COVID-19 world.
Former President of Botswana and Chair of the EPI Leadership Council, Ian Khama, spoke for the Board and the Council in warmly welcoming John to the EPI family. In doing so, Chair Khama said “John has deep knowledge of conservation, environment and sustainable development gained across multiple continents, in the private sector, government, international organisations, the United Nations, and not-for-profit organizations. He brings an incredible depth of experience to our organisation at this critical time for nature conservation. The theme for this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity is “our solutions are in nature” and we look forward to working with John in finding creative and enduring conservation solutions that can benefit both people and wildlife”.
“The social and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is massive, with wildlife tourism and the people who rely upon it for their livelihoods being hit particularly hard. It remains imperative for business, donors and governments to continue to invest in conservation, not only for its own sake, but to help avert the next pandemic, mitigate climate change and retain tourism appeal. Innovative African-led initiatives, like the EPI, have a critical role to play in promoting the benefits of conservation, finding solutions to challenges, and catalysing much needed investment” said Scanlon.
John will continue to serve as Special Envoy for African Parks, which is a founding partner of the EPI.
John Scanlon at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Kenya, an EPI partner country, with EPI Foundation Board member Ian Craig in 2017
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John E. Scanlon AO served as Secretary-General of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) from 2010-2018, during which time he led the establishment of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC). John has also served in senior positions with IUCN in Germany, UNEP in Kenya and with government and the private sector in Australia, including as Chief Executive of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs (South Australia) and Commissioner on the Murray Darling Basin Commission. In 2019 John was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to wildlife and flora conservation and protection through roles with international organisations.
