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Global Media
Email: media@tnc.org
Today, The Nature Conservancy announced that Matt Brown has been named managing director for global conservation. Brown, currently regional managing director for Africa with TNC, will begin his new role on July 1, 2021.
Brown, a dedicated conservationist, brings more than 20 years of leadership, fundraising, and strategy setting experience to this new role. As Africa regional managing director, Brown has led more than 100 staff members making significant impact in nine African countries. Prior to this position, Brown served as TNC Africa’s director of conservation for 11 years, where he defined and oversaw all TNC Africa projects in priority places with local partners.
“For more than 15 years, Matt has been at the forefront of developing, implementing, and successfully implementing some of our most important and impactful work in Africa,” said David Banks, TNC’s Chief Conservation Officer. “In this new role, Matt will combine his substantive experience with his passion for conservation to ensure we’re executing our ambitious goals over the years ahead.”
As Managing Director of Global Conservation, Brown will advance progress toward successful implementation and execution of TNC’s strategic goals while fostering collaboration between the organization’s global conservation teams.
“Around the world, The Nature Conservancy works at the cross-roads of science and policy with partners to implement conservation programs that garner results so that people and nature can thrive,” said Brown. “I’m excited to take this work to the next level and maximize our ability to make progress toward our strategic goals. We have incredible people and amazing partners. If we can shift our thinking to be more collective, then I am convinced we can make significant impact for people and nature globally.”
For much of his life, Brown has had a deep love for the people and places of Africa. Through his start as a Peace Corps forestry volunteer in northern Ghana, followed by a bike trip from East to Southern Africa, a stint with the United Nations in Eritrea, and 8 years living in Tanzania, he has demonstrated his ability to work closely with local communities, governments, and individuals.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Science from Colby College, as well as a master’s degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Water Resources Management from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.
In his spare time, he spends time outside hiking, skiing, biking, and camping with his family and friends. Matt loves to travel and has been all over the world. He is actively engaged in several non-profits in Africa and is eager to get back out in the world post-pandemic.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 76 countries and territories—37 by direct conservation impact and 39 through partners—we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.