WHO WE ARE
The CCB team consists of a diverse array of people committed to conserving wildlife in Botswana. With a shared passion for the environment, a love of the bush and a drive to help people that live alongside wildlife, we are a tight-knit team that have a lot of fun and work well together to create meaningful change for Botswana's wildlife and people.
Management
|
Rebecca Klein
Executive Director Rebecca became interested in starting up a cheetah program when she moved to Botswana in 2001 to work at Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Upon discovering that there was no conservation going on for the regularly persecuted and threatened cheetah she decided a project needed to be started. After teaming up with Dr Kyle Good and Ann Marie Houser, Cheetah Conservation Botswana came into being in 2003. Rebecca has a degree in Wildlife Biology from Leeds University, UK and completed her Masters in Science through Rhodes University in South Africa on the topic of human-wildlife conflict in the Kalahari. Rebecca has experience in a wide range of conservation projects worldwide, and has travelled the world experiencing a wide variety of cultures and wildlife. She is committed to ensuring a future for Botswana where wildlife and people can happily coexist and she has dedicated her life to seeing CCB be the tool to help that happen in the Kalahari. 
|
Douglas Thamage
Operations Manager Douglas joined Cheetah Conservation Botswana in May 2011. He has served the civil service as a Technical Officer at the Department of Agricultural Research and SADC-SACCAR respectively before moving to civil society in 1992. He holds a Diploma in Modern Management and Administration (Cambridge International College, UK) and Diploma in Community Based Development, (Coady International Institute, and St. Francis Xavier University, Canada). He brings a wealth of experience in organizational development, project planning, participatory development, community based research, natural resources management just to mention a few. Douglas enjoys volunteering and serves in a number of community based organizations, non-government organization boards and government committees and is making valuable contributions to the development of Botswana and the conservation of wildlife and the environment. 
|
Nidhi Ramsden
Development Manager Nidhi joined CCB on a part-time basis in July 2014. She has a BA Biology from Bryn Mawr College Masters degrees in Resource Conservation from WITS in South Africa as well as NGO and Development from London School of Economics, UK. She is well-placed to view conservation issues from the broader perspective of development. She has a diverse range of work experience from elephant conservation in India, to supporting the establishment of the KAZA TFCA during its early years. When she's not at CCB, Nidhi continues to provide support services to a range of other regional and national conservation projects, particularly those with a transfrontier focus. Nidhi was born and raised in Southern Africa and her underlying belief in community service see her play an active role in the Art of Living Foundation in Botswana – an international, non-governmental, charitable organisation with the goal of human development and social upliftment. 
|
Farming For Conservation Department
|
Morulaganyi Kokole
Community Outreach Coordinator Kokole joined CCB in 2008. The Community Outreach coordinator from Molepolole, Botswana, he holds a B-Tech Degree from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and a National Diploma in Nature Conservation from Tshwane University of Technology. Having volunteered for Kruger National Park in South Africa and for Veld Products Research & Development in Botswana he brings great skills and experience to CCB. |
|
|
Phale Max Seele
Ghanzi Camp Coordinator Max joined CCB in 2008. From Lentswelemoriti, Botswana, he holds a Degree in Conservation, Tourism and Sustainable Development from North West University, South Africa. He has previously conducted research into the impact of HIV/AIDS on primary and secondary education schools. His interests include the environment, culture and football. In Max's spare time he likes to lead tours into the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to share his passion for the Kalahari with others. |
|
|
Connie (KB) Modise
Community Outreach Officer From Tsienyane/ Rakops in the Boteti central district, Botswana, Connie joined CCB in July 2016 as the new Community Outreach Officer in Ghanzi CCB camp. He has a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in tourism from Monash University, South Africa. Connie has 2 years working with the Department of Wildlife and National Park's, Problem Animal Control Department from 2010-2012 in Letlhakane. He also has education experience from his work , as well as work as a teacher in Bere from 2013-2015. |
|
Scientific Research Department
|
Leanne Van der Weyde
Research Coordinator & Post-doctoral Researcher Leanne joined CCB in August 2015. She holds a PhD Animal Sciences and BSc in Adv. Life Sciences. Having developed a passion for African wildlife since her first visit in 2000, she has now spent more than a decade working and researching a range of species including primates and carnivores across central and southern Africa. Having completed her PhD on African wild dogs in 2012 at the University of Western Australia, Leanne moved to Botswana in 2014 to continue working with African wild dogs and other large carnivores before joining CCB as post-doctoral researcher with the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. The research will involve studying cheetah ecology in non-protected areas as well as better understanding wildlife-conflict issues in farmlands. Michelle Kral
Research Field Manager Michelle joined CCB in July 2019. She has a BSc. in Biology from Leiden University and as part of her studies she worked with the Kenya Wildlife Service to study human-lion conflict in Maasai communities. Michelle continued her studies on big cats in 2015 in Nepal, where she developed strategies for the restoration of tiger habitat. In 2017 she completed her MSc. in Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa focussing on landscape connectivity across the farmlands of Mpumalanga Province. Michelle has been involved in several educational projects in the Netherlands and she has volunteered on several conservation projects across Southern Africa, including in Botswana. At CCB, Michelle aims to create more insight into the cheetah populations across different types of land use, as well as to develop new pathways to promote coexistence. |
|
|
Christopher Mbisana
Research Officer Chris joined CCB in October 2015 as a research intern in Ghanzi CCB camp and was appointed research officer in November 2016. His passion lies in nature conservation and he has volunteered in a number of game reserves and National parks. He has also volunteered in educational initiatives with schools and the general community over the past few years. Chris has sound knowledge and experience in the farming sector and holds a Bachelors Degree in Agriculture majoring in Soil and Water conservation from Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. |
|
|
Lucas Motlhabane
Research Intern Lucas hails from Molepolole and has a Bachelors (Hons) in Tourism Management from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. Lucas conducted an internship with the National Strategy Office at the Office of the District Commissioner in Ghanzi. He then went on to join the Research team with the Department of Wildlife of National Parks office in Ghanzi where he worked for one year. Following that, Lucas moved back to Molepolole to work with the University Research Institute working towards the 90-90-90 HIV-AIDS target. Before joining CCB, Lucas was working in Botswana’s National Parks and Game Reserves as a Reservations officer for the SKL Group. Lucas has been deeply passionate about wildlife from a tender age and is a valuable asset to our research team. Marie-Charlotte Gielen
PhD Candidate Marie has a Bachelors in Biological Sciences and a Masters in Biology of Organisms and Ecology from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. As part of her Masters projects, Marie completed a GIS study on poaching distribution in the western part of Botswana in collaboration with CCB in 2015. Marie returned to Botswana in August 2016 to re-join CCB’s research team as part of an extended large carnivore occupancy study for Botswana. Marie has always been passionate about the natural environment and wildlife, especially carnivores and she is now starting her PhD with CCB looking at conserving the Kgalagadi Wildlife Corridor. |
|
Engagement and Awareness Department
|
Jane Horgan
Engagement and Awareness Coordinator Jane began working for CCB as a volunteer in July 2009. Jane spent five years working as a Research Officer in Ghanzi, during which time she completed her MSc. entitled "Testing the effectiveness and cost efficiency of livestock guarding dogs in Botswana". In 2014 Jane moved to Maun and is now heading up our Engagement and Awareness Department. Originally from Australia, Jane has a Bachelor’s degree in Science (Wildlife Biology and Zoology) and Arts from the University of Queensland. Jane has experience working with a variety of conservation and research projects including research experience with brown hyenas, vultures and Tasmanian devils. |
|
|
Goabaone Britz Malepe
Education Officer Britz joined CCB in November 2016 as an Education Officer based at the Maun office. He was born in Maun commonly known as the tourism capital of Botswana. Having grown up around wildlife, Britz has witnessed both good and bad changes in the environment and as such has so much love for nature. He has over four years experience as a teacher/ member of a school environmental club and is an unpublished writer for the environment. Britz has a Bachelor of Arts (Environmental Science & Sociology) degree from the University of Botswana, a level 2 nature as well as a lead/back up walking guide which are very beneficial to school kids he interacts with in his work as an education officer. Katlego K Kolanyane-Kesupile
PR and Marketing Officer Katlego joined CCB in 2019 on a part-time basis, after some years of offering support services to the organisation. Katlego, fondly known to the team as Kat, was born in Francistown and has a long history of loving cheetahs. Katlego holds a Masters in Human Rights, Culture and Social Justice from Goldsmiths University of London, and a BA (Hons) Dramatic Arts specialising in directing and design from University of the Witwatersrand. With over a decade of communications experience, Katlego is also a multi-skilled educator, artist and development practitioner which allows her to contribute to broadly to CCB’s engagement and awareness work. |
|
Management, Administration & Finance
|
Mingie Masuga
Management Officer From Serowe in the Central Disctict, Mingie joined CCB in November 2016 as management intern in Gaborone. She holds a BA majoring in Geography & Environmental Science and Sociology from Monash University South Africa. Worked as an assistant natural resources intern at the Department of Environmental Affairs(DEA) under the policies and programmes division before working as an Assistant Administrator at the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA). Mingie chose to study Environmental Science because she is fascinated by the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues. Boitumelo Mokgosi
Administrative & Finance Officer Boitumelo joined CCB in August 2009 as the Administration Officer. From Tonota, Botswana, Boi has travelled to the U.S.A through the Inter-Exchange Program where she studied Physical Education, Recreation and Southern Culture at Royal Oak Community College Michigan (MI) as part of the program. She also volunteered part-time with Feed The Hungry movement and has volunteered for several projects here in Botswana. She has a background in English and African languages from University of Botswana, 2006 and holds a certificate in Financial Management (Management Accounting for NGOs) UK in 2012 as well as AAT from Botswana Accountancy College in 2013. Boi is passionate about wildlife in general and brings much enthusiasm to her role. Connie Sebati
Administration and Promotions Officer Connie joined CCB in September 2009 and works at Gaborone head office in our Operations Department. She originally served at CCB as an intern and became formally employed in October 2010 as our Public Relations Officer. Her role as Administration and Promotions Officer allows her to be involved in all of CCB's activities and she is particularly passionate about helping farmers to coexist with cheetahs. From Kanye, Botswana, Connie holds a BTECH degree in Tourism from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa and is a great addition to the CCB team. |
|
