Conservation Firsthand
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Judy Oglethorpe
Managing Director of People and Conservation
Education
- BS - Ecological Science, University of Edinburgh, UK
- MS - Environmental Management, University of London, UK
Areas of Expertise
- Biodiversity conservation, natural resource management and land use planning
- People and conservation: livelihoods, governance, conflict, population and health
- Environmental impact assessment; ecotourism development
- Program/project design, planning, fundraising, management, monitoring and evaluation
- Organizational development and capacity strengthening
- Communication and outreach
“Conservation can be a challenge, especially when your way of life – or health – depends on harvesting the environment around you.”
About Judy Oglethorpe:
As managing director of WWF’s People and Conservation Program, Judy works to develop innovative, sustainable approaches to conservation involving local people who are key guardians of forests, coastal areas and their natural resources. Her team is involved in activities ranging from testing cutting edge approaches and fundraising to tactics, governance and conflict resolution. Judy’s expertise in community-based natural resource management, environmental impact assessment, outreach, and program management make her ideally suited to lead the team.
Helping communities adapt to climate change is the latest addition to a career in environmental causes that goes back three decades. A native of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Judy started off as a researcher in Mozambique, working in protected areas, lecturing in ecology, and training wildlife personnel. She went on to spend a total of 14 years in Africa, continuing her work in conservation and natural resource management in Botswana, Malawi and Kenya before returning to Mozambique after the last war.
When Judy relocated to the U.S. she worked in the Biodiversity Support Program – eventually leading this USAID-funded consortium while investigating the effects of war on wildlife and exploring ways to manage natural resources across international borders. In her current role, Judy puts her skills to use promoting partnerships with organizations in other sectors like health, security and development. She works on approaches and tools to tackle complex conservation issues, including community adaptation to climate change, human migration, and improving the health of communities we partner with.
And her community conservation initiatives don’t stop at the office. In her own neighborhood, Judy has worked on a water stewardship awareness project, encouraging neighbors to reduce storm water runoff and improve water quality in local streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
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