About Us | Conservation Outcomes' Mission, Vision & Team

About Conservation Outcomes

Conservation Outcomes is a non-profit organisation that supports the development and management of land for biodiversity conservation—outside of traditional state-protected areas.

Our mission is rooted in the belief that conservation can drive inclusive economic growth, especially in historically underserved rural areas.

We work with private and communal landowners to establish new protected areas, conserve ecological integrity, and build sustainable livelihoods through biodiversity-based economic opportunities.

Who We Are

Founded to fill a critical gap in the sustainable land use sector, Conservation Outcomes brings together a team of experts in conservation planning, ecological management, and rural development.

We support landowners who want to pursue conservation as a viable land-use option—offering the technical, legal, and ecological expertise required to achieve lasting results.

Our Vision

To establish biodiversity-based economic ventures on private and communally-owned conservation and protected areas in an effort to secure critical biodiversity and contribute to meaningful rural economic development.

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Our Strategic Objectives

Sustainably conserve critically important biodiversity and ecological processes.
Equip land managers with tools and capacity for improved conservation outcomes. 
Alleviate poverty in rural southern Africa through conservation-driven development.
Support rural development and land reform efforts by creating viable conservation-based land use models.

Collaboration is Key

We believe that lasting conservation impact is only possible through partnership. That’s why we work closely with communities, NGOs, corporates, and government to design innovative, inclusive, and scalable conservation models.

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Meet the Team

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Greg Martindale

Driving sustainable land management through  science and law.

Greg is a professional natural scientist with MSc and Environmental Law degrees, bringing deep expertise in biodiversity stewardship and policy. As a former Programme Manager at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, he helped protect over 100,000 ha of land, working across government and NGO sectors.

Kevin McCann

Championing conservation partnerships through biodiversity stewardship.

Kevin is a Director and co-founder of Conservation Outcomes. With nearly 30 years of experience and an MSc in Zoology and Ecology, he specialises in helping landowners secure protected areas through biodiversity stewardship. His work spans NGOs and government, including founding the KZN Biodiversity Stewardship Programme.

Mark Gerrard

Innovating conservation finance for sustainable impact in Africa.

Mark holds degrees in Wildlife Science, Agribusiness, and an MBA. He focuses on unlocking nature’s value through innovative funding models and inclusive conservation. As Africa Director for Conservation Strategy Fund, he uses economics to drive environmental problem-solving and support local communities.

Samantha de Villiers

Pioneering environmental law for inclusive conservation.

Samantha is an environmental attorney and co-founder of Ndlovu de Villiers Attorneys. She specialises in legal frameworks for protected areas and plays a key role in strengthening the legal backbone of biodiversity stewardship in South Africa.

Mark Botha

Bridging science and strategy to fund nature’s future.

Mark is a professional ecologist with deep experience advising corporates, NGOs, and government on biodiversity mitigation and sustainable conservation finance. He has spent over a decade advancing conservation through both practical science and policy innovation.

Mark has held roles in NGOs and statutory conservation bodies, and was instrumental in developing South Africa’s biodiversity stewardship model. With a touch of humor, he likens his role to that of a midwife—helping birth impactful conservation outcomes through a process that’s often as complex as it is rewarding. His focus today lies in connecting ecological integrity with practical funding solutions for long-term conservation success.

the team

Chris Galliers

Championing rangers, rhinos, and conservation leadership across Africa.

Chris is an experienced conservationist and leader, serving in senior roles across NGOs, ranger organisations, and multi-stakeholder initiatives. His work spans species protection, environmental education, biosphere reserve development, and ranger advocacy.

Chris has been working in conservation for over a decade, with a background in the Natural Sciences. At WESSA, one of South Africa’s oldest environmental NGOs, he led the Wildlife and Conservation Initiatives portfolio. His achievements there include developing an Environmental Impact Assessment course that trained over 1,000 participants, initiating the Greater uMngeni Biosphere Reserve, and founding WESSA’s Elephant Initiative.

He’s played a pivotal role in rhino conservation, co-establishing Project Rhino KZN and Game Reserves United, and organizing awareness and education efforts around poaching. Chris is in his second term as Chair of the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) and is Africa’s elected representative on the International Ranger Federation (IRF). He also serves as a director of the Thin Green Line Foundation, supporting ranger welfare globally.

His career blends field experience—from game capture to eco-tourism and governance—with national and international conservation strategy and leadership.

Wentzel Coetzer

Blending science, social insight, and stewardship for conservation impact.

Wentzel is a professional natural scientist with a doctorate in Nature Conservation, whose career spans research, reserve management, and biodiversity stewardship. His work integrates human dimensions with ecological priorities to shape more socially acceptable and effective wildlife management practices.

Wentzel holds a DTech in Nature Conservation from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, where his research focused on the Human Dimensions of Wildlife. His work played a key role in developing strategies to improve public acceptance of wildlife management practices such as hunting—crucial for South Africa’s green economy.

Awarded an international research accolade by the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation in 2016, Wentzel also lectured in Game Management at NMMU and participated in hands-on conservation operations like wildlife censuses and veld management.

He has served as Reserve Manager on large private reserves in Namibia and Botswana and is currently the Biodiversity Stewardship Facilitator for the Greater Kromme Stewardship Project with Conservation Outcomes, driving collaborative conservation in the Eastern Cape.

Sarah Hulley

Community, conservation, and curiosity — from South Africa to Shanghai and back.

Sarah is a sustainability scholar with a background in water access and land resource research. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges social and environmental systems, and she brings a global perspective to local conservation efforts.

Sarah holds an MPhil in Environment, Society and Sustainability from the University of Cape Town, where she studied resource management through the lens of the Food-Energy-Water-Land-Biodiversity Nexus. Her Honours thesis from Rhodes University explored water equity in Makana Municipality.

She gained field experience as a researcher and guide at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve before spending two years in China teaching English and engaging with local environmental NGOs.

Now back in South Africa, Sarah is excited to contribute to biodiversity conservation through community development, joining the team at Conservation Outcomes to make a local impact informed by global insights.

Cilla Hilcove

Conservation research meets real-world impact through data and fieldwork.

Cilla is a conservation biologist with a strong background in environmental economics, field-based research, and GIS. Her work supports evidence-based management of priority species and protected areas, especially in private reserves.

After earning an Honours in Environmental Economics from Rhodes University, Cilla spent several years at Phinda Private Game Reserve managing ecological research and facilitating global university collaborations. Her data analysis and field coordination helped guide the reserve’s conservation management strategies.

Previously, Cilla worked with Wildlife ACT as a Priority Species Monitor, focusing on wild dogs, cheetahs, lions, elephants, and rhinos. She also led leopard camera trap surveys in partnership with Panthera.

Currently completing her Masters in Conservation Biology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Cilla combines field experience with analytical rigor to inform effective conservation action.

Nhlanhla Shelembe

Dedicated to Strengthening Protected Area Management in KZN.

Nhlanhla Shelembe brings over 15 years of experience in conservation management, underpinned by a broad set of qualifications in wildlife, environmental education, and financial management. Passionate about connecting people with nature, he has a long-standing commitment to practical, on-the-ground conservation work in KwaZulu-Natal.

Nhlanhla holds qualifications in Wildlife Management (Intec College), Financial Management (Umgungundlovu TVET College), Environmental Education (WESSA), and Field Guiding (FGASA). From 2008 to 2023, he served as Conservation Officer at Hilton College Nature Reserve, where his responsibilities included reserve management planning, alien plant control, fire management, infrastructure maintenance, and leading guided hikes for students in the reserve and Umgeni Valley.

Today, Nhlanhla is a Conservation Extension Officer with Conservation Outcomes, where he provides innovative post-declaration support to Biodiversity Stewardship sites across KwaZulu-Natal. His work focuses on developing tools that help landowners improve management effectiveness and maintain the ecological integrity of these protected areas.

Deren Coetzer

Championing Protected Area Management Across South Africa.

Deren Coetzer completed his studies in Game Ranch and Wildlife Management at Pretoria Tech and has since spent much of his career managing protected areas across southern and eastern Africa. Through this work, he developed deep insights into what makes conservation areas function effectively on the ground.

In 2019, Deren launched his own company to support declared protected areas under South Africa’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme. This work led to a key partnership with Conservation Outcomes, where he helps address conservation management effectiveness in practical, daily ways. He is also active in the biodiversity offset space, helping organisations meet offset obligations by securing and formalising new nature reserves.

Earlier in his career, Deren guided and travelled extensively through Africa and Europe, leading nature-focused adventures from birding in East Africa to salmon fishing in Norway and game viewing in southern Africa. Now based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with his young family, he continues to pursue his passion for impactful, collaborative conservation.

Lauren Mathews

Connecting people and ecosystems through conservation action

Lauren Matthews is a dedicated nature conservationist with a keen passion for “people and the environment”. Her career spans environmental law enforcement, environmental education, ecological monitoring and reserve management. With over seven years of hands-on experience in nature she integrates her knowledge of ecology with public engagement to promote sustainable living practices.

Lauren holds an Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation and is currently pursuing her Postgraduate Diploma (Honours) in Conservation Science, continuing to refine her expertise in ecology, environmental legislation and stakeholder collaboration.

She served as Conservation Site Manager of Milnerton Racecourse within Table Bay Nature Reserve, overseeing invasive species control, habitat rehabilitation and general infrastructure maintenance. Reflecting her commitment to capacity building in conservation, her role included mentoring students and volunteers, and she is also a co-founder of the Cape West Coast Biosphere Youth Forum, supported by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere programme.

Lauren is now a Biodiversity Stewardship Facilitator working within the Succulent Karoo and focusing on the region between the Olifants Estuary Mouth and Knersvlakte. She will be assisting private and communal landowners walk the protected area declaration process as well as map potential OECMs in the area. She will also be assisting with encouraging and monitoring management effectiveness for management authorities across the region as well as assisting knowledge to flow across the provincial boundaries.

Evan Havenga

Restoring biodiversity and reconnecting people with place

Evan is passionate about conserving and restoring South Africa’s unique biodiversity and securing land for future generations in ways that are both innovative and inclusive. He holds a BCom in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Cape Town, National Diploma in Nature Conservation (UNISA) and a postgraduate diploma in Sustainable Development (Stellenbosch University, Sustainability Institute).

In his short time as conservation manager of his family’s property in the Breede Valley, he is developing a deep love and commitment for the protection and restoration of biodiversity in the Greater Cape Floristic region. He believes that a thriving and equitable society depends on functioning and resilient ecosystems, and he is passionate about working with landowners to reach global conservation targets through the reconnection of people and place.