New collaborations for conservation leadership development

Abstract

Over the past decade an increasing number of institutions have initiated programmes designed to enhance conservation leadership capacity, but they have lacked coordination and opportunities to share learning and ideas. To address this, conservation leadership practitioners and institutions came together in June 2019 for a symposium on New Directions of Conservation Leadership in Cambridge, UK. The gathering involved programmes tailored to a range of audiences in the conservation profession: from those just starting their careers to executive-level leaders well-versed in environmental challenges. Some programmes are still in the early stages of development and eager to gather insights from those more established, whereas others have evolved over time and aspire to expand and coordinate their offerings. Although symposium participants represented diverse views and experiences gained from teaching and training, all who gathered were united by their belief in the value of leadership for conservation.