Management

  
Angus Middleton

Executive Director | Management

Angus has over 15 years of senior management and organizational leadership in Africa and Europe. He brings a relevant mix of knowledge and technical experience in environmental economics, ecological resource management, agricultural management, and biodiversity policies. At NNF he provides overall leadership for the organization and also works directly on a number of projects, particularly in the field of environmental economics. He holds an MSc in Environmental and Policy from Imperial College London and a BSc in Ecological resource Management from Newcastle University. He has a great passion for the outdoors, a particular interest in raptors, and a love of fresh-water angling.

Edla Kaveru

Director of Operations | Management

Edla, as the Director of Operations, is responsible for the day to day running of the organization, with a primary responsibility of providing leadership for the organization’s financial and operational functions. She holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Commerce degree and has completed various management development programs.   She has 20 years’ experience in financial management and corporate operations of which 10+ years have been in a leadership role. She was part of the team that successfully implemented the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia Compact between the years 2009 and 2015.  Prior to joining the MCA team she worked as a financial management specialist on the World Bank-funded Project (ICEMA) and held several positions at the Namibia Nature Foundation between the years 1998-2005. She has a passion for the development sector in Namibia in general and a special interest in the improvement of livelihoods of rural Namibians through women empowerment. 

Frances Chase

Head of Projects | Management

Frances has recently joined the team as Head of Projects at the NNF, she has over 5 years of senior management experience and several years of project management experience. She joins us from the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), where she was Head of the National Herbarium of Namibia (WIND). Prior to that she worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the UK for 10 years as an Assistant Botanist and later a Botanist/Curator in Africa and Madagascar Regional Team. Her background is botany, mainly in herbarium management and plant taxonomy but also has a broad knowledge the plant ecology and plant conservation.  She enjoys fieldwork and has worked in Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Namibia. She holds an MSc in Plant Diversity from Reading University and a degree in Environmental Science and Geography with honors in Physical Geography from Rhodes University. Frances has always had an interest in the environment and conservation and more recently a passion for plant conservation, environmental education, and alien plant awareness creation.

Britta Hackenberg

Senior Technical Advisor | Management & Projects

Britta Hackenberg holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Forestry and Land Management and a number of certificates in various aspects of participatory planning and appraisals. Her specific experience includes technical advisory skills in CBNRM, land-use planning, and community forests; land rights and tenure systems; developing Forest Management Plans. In addition, she has extensive project management experience in the field of land management, community-based natural resource management, marine, and freshwater fisheries, and ecosystem services. Britta has now taken over managing the Community Fisheries Program and is the liaison officer for KAZA. 

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Projects

Mirja Stoldt

Technical Coordinator | Technical services and Climate Change Projects

Mirja holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business Management from the Berlin School of Economics and Law (Germany) and the ESC Rennes School of Business (France) as well as a Master of Science in Integrated Natural Resource Management from the Humboldt University Berlin, where she specialized in land and water, as well as biodiversity and conservation management. She enjoys scientific research, field studies, and project-orientated work and loves to work with a vibrant team dedicating their energy toward the conservation of natural resources and the empowerment of people. Mirja joined the NNF as a trainee in January 2019 before becoming an Assistant Project Coordinator providing technical support to the director.

Mirja is based in the Windhoek office.

Nabot Mbeeli

Senior Coordinator | CBNRM Projects

Nabot has a background in environmental education, community engagement, and research with communities in the south, particularly the Hardap region, and the central north regions of Namibia, working on environmental awareness, sustainability, and climate change adaptation. He joined NNF in July 2017 as an intern and worked his way up to become a Project Coordinator. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Environmental Biology and Geology from the University of Namibia (UNAM), and a Master's Degree in Natural Resources Management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). He is passionate about nature and enjoys working with the culturally rich and diverse communities of Namibia. He is responsible for CBNRM in the Omaheke region, supporting sustainable Devil's Claw harvesting in the region. He is also leading the NamPower - NNF Strategic Partnership.

Nabot is based at the Windhoek office.

Carolin Mutorwa

Senior Technical Advisor | CBNRM Projects

Carolin holds a master’s degree in Biodiversity management and research and is passionate about the complexity of combining biodiversity conservation and economic-social development. Carolin has over 8 years of working experience in project management and project design. She has worked on various issues connected to climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection, sustainable development, and natural-based value chain development as a technical advisor within the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) program in Namibia. Since 2021 she has been a senior technical advisor on nature conservation and resource management on terrestrial and marine projects.

Carolin is based at the Windhoek office. 

Clemens Naomab

Senior Regional Project Coordinator | CBNRM Projects

Clemens studied Environmental Biology and Molecular Physiological Biology at the University of Namibia. His main responsibility as Regional Project Coordinator is to provide Administrative, Logistical & Technical support to the targeted conservancies under various donor-funded CBNRM support projects in the South Kunene and Erongo Regions. Previously Clemens worked as an Albatross Task Force (ATF) project coordinator and was responsible for advancing policy changes in Namibian fisheries to bring Namibia in line with current best practices for avoiding or reducing seabird bycatch in fishing operations. He is passionate about rural woman empowerment and community development. Hobbies: Playing football and Nature walks.

Clemens is based at the Swakopmund office. 

Allen Jiji

Senior Regional Project Coordinator | CBNRM Projects 

Allen is based at the Rundu office.

Ailla-Tessa Iiyambula

Project Trainee | CBNRM Projects

Ailla-Tessa Iiyambula started her Natural Resources Management Journey in 2014 with NUST. She attained her bachelor's and master’s degree in the same field. Ailla is a researcher at heart, she conducted various studies on; insectivorous bats of the Namib Desert, Waterberg’s Roan and Sable antelope distribution, and Human-Carnivore Conflict in Northern Kunene Conservancies. She worked on the development and implementation of climate change resilience and adaptation projects as a UN National Volunteer. Growing her career,  she volunteered with the Ministry of Environment Forestry and Tourism working directly on wildlife crimes, problem animal management, and large carnivores in captivity. She has been involved in various outdoor environmental education activities and activism as a student. She is a custodian of the environment.

Tessa is based at the Windhoek office.

Rachel Du Raan 

Senior Project Coordinator | Combatting Wildlife Crime Projects

Rachel Du Raan has an Honours Degree in Environmental Studies, with a specialization in Human-Wildlife Conflict.  She gained early experience in developing conservation models for sustainable ‘predator friendly’ habitat management, large carnivore Human-Wildlife conflict mitigation, and species research (African Wild Dog). She went on to project manage for multiple exploration drilling companies working in environmentally sensitive areas such as the Namib Naukluft park, to ensure compliance with National and International Industry Standards, creating environmental planning and monitoring systems for ecological protection and recovery and contributing to the development of industry best practice. Rachel has a passion for Environmental Education and sharing stories of interaction with the natural world. She has developed and implemented a field-based curriculum linked to environmental education programmes in Namibia and in Chad, including the creative design and illustration of resources, and contributed to Namibia’s “Policy for Environmental Education/Education for Sustainable Development” and industry best Practices within the Environmental Practitioner Community.

Rachel is based at the Windhoek office. 

Samantha Matjila

Senior Coordinator | Marine Projects

Samantha studied Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Namibia (2011) and completed her Masters in Animal Sciences (study on snoek [Thyrsites atun] quality) at Stellenbosch University (2015). She started working for the NNF in May 2016 as an Albatross Task Force (ATF) Instructor conducting at-sea activities by monitoring and collecting seabird bycatch data. Her work also included creating awareness among the fishing crew, school children, and the public on the importance of protecting and conserving seabirds and providing training to fisheries observers and inspectors. Samantha then moved to Albatross Task Force Coordinator in 2018 and has now moved to start taking on the Marine Coordinator role still working on ATF as well as a project on securing a management plan for the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area (NIMPA). Samantha is well versed in the operations and functioning of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and has been well exposed to international aspects of marine conservation.

Samantha is based at the Windhoek office.

Titus Shaanika

Albatross Task Force Coordinator | Marine Projects

Titus holds a  Masters in Zoology. He previously worked as a consultant with the NNF and ATF in 2015. His current role with the ATF Namibia project started in February 2018. He is based in Walvis Bay as an ATF Instructor. His work entails monitoring seabird bycatch within the Namibian demersal hake trawl and longline fleet, testing, and demonstrating mitigation measures to reduce seabird bycatch with the fishing companies and fishery as a whole.

Titus is based at the Swakopmund office.

Mareike Voigts

Senior Technical Advisor | Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation Agriculture Projects

Mareike started her studies in Witzenhausen (University of Kassel) in 2007, during her studies she conducted a group-project of planning biodynamic cultivation of Vine, olives, and lavender on a farm near Bredarsdorp South Africa. Mareike holds an MSC in Sustainable International Agriculture (Universities of Kassel and Göttingen) where she received the Hans-H.-Ruthenberg Prize of the Fiat Panis Foundation. During her time at the University of Kassel, she worked for the German Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture as a research assistant and in conference coordination. She started working for the certification body CERES as an evaluation officer and later country coordinator (Southern Africa and Tunisia) and inspector in June 2015. In January 2016 she and her family moved to the Farm Krumhuk in Namibia, where she started to get involved in farm management. Mareike has now taken over Project Management of the Knowledge Center for Organic Agriculture in Namibia, implemented by NNF. 

Mareike Voigts is based at the Windhoek office.

Inonge Mukumbuta Guillemin

Project Coordinator | Conservation Agriculture Projects

Inonge Mukumbuta Guillemin recently joined NNF as a project coordinator. She holds an Honors Degree in Tourism Management from UNAM and a Master’s Degree in International Business and Marketing from Heriot-Watt University in Malaysia. Thanks to her dynamic and proactive and versatile nature, Inonge has acquired a range of diverse experiences in hospitality management, data analysis and, Geographic Information Science. Not to mention that she is also part-time lecturing Tourism Management and International Marketing at UNAM.

“My greatest interests revolve around conservation and community development. Joining NNF is a dream come true; that enables me to leverage my energy towards result-driven projects, that have a direct positive impact on natural resources and contribute towards poverty alleviation of our less fortunate brothers and sisters in rural areas.”

Inonge is based at the Windhoek Office.

Vasco Samwaka

Field Coordinator | Conservation Agriculture Projects

Vasco joined the NNF in 2015 as a field coordinator for the WWF Conservation Agriculture project. He has over 10 years of experience in sustainable agriculture and community project management and implementation. Vasco also has knowledge of Indigenous Natural Products (INP), using Management Orientation Monitoring System (MOMS). He holds a certificate in Conservation Agriculture (CA) and a National Diploma in Lifelong Learning and Community Education with UNAM. His main responsibilities at the NNF are to coordinate conservation agriculture activities and report to the Director of Projects. He enjoys fishing and watching soccer.

He is based at the Kongola office, in the Zambezi Region.

Tanaka Muradzikwa

Project Trainee | Conservation Agriculture Projects

Tanaka Muradzikwa is stationed in Katima Mulilo, as a trainee for the KAZA ARISE" project, aimed at providing food security and habitat protection in the Zambezi region. He holds an Honours degree in wildlife management and ecotourism from the University of Namibia. In addition, he is currently studying leopards in Bwabwata national park for his master’s degree. Tanaka is passionate about the conservation and livelihood development of communities and sharing resources with wildlife. A few of his hobbies include camping, playing rugby, and photography.

Tanaka is based at the Katima Mulilo office, in the Zambezi Region.

Johannes Ktjana

Project Trainee | Conservation Agriculture Projects

Johannes Katjana holds a Masters's Degree in Agribusiness Management from Namibia University of Science and Technology. During his time at the university, he works as an intent for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to promote Conservation Agriculture. He also worked for NUST as an assistant researcher and World food programme to conduct home grown feeding program. He joined NNF in October 2021 to support the implementation of agriculture activities in the Kavango region.

Johannes is based at the Rundu office, in the Kavango East region

Alice Limani Poniso

Assistant Project Coordinator | Projects

Alice Limani Poniso is a graduate student with experience on socio-environmental issues who began working voluntarily with communities during her pre-post university years which has been the guiding light in her career choices thus far. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Environmental Science ( Hons ) and a Higher Diploma in Natural Resource Management from the University of Namibia, currently pursuing her MSc in Wildlife Management with a focal emphasis on governance of the Common Pool Resource ( CPR ). She has a keen interest and focus on socio-environmental issues, governance, biodiversity, and environmental protection. As a projects trainee of the NNF, she is working on project-related activities with project Coordinators and consultants on projects pertaining to CBNRM ( Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries). She envisions capitalizing on the above interests to achieving her goals in conservation as an avid researcher, practitioner, and environmentalist during her stay with the NNF.

Alice is based at the Windhoek Office.

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Finance

Christ Katjiruru

Finance Manager | Finance

Christa is a Btech Holder in Accounting and Finance. She joined the NNF team in April 2016 as a Senior accountant. 

Christa is based at the Windhoek office.

Bia Kotze

Bookkeeper | Finance

Bia has over 30 years of experience in Procurement, Business administration, and Finance. She holds a Diploma in Marketing and Business Management and speaks three languages English, Afrikaans, and Portuguese.

Bia is based at the Windhoek office.

Petrina Aitembu

Senior Project Accountant | Finance

Petrina joined the NNF as an intern Bookkeeper in April 2014. Before the NNF, she worked as a clerk in a bank for over a year. In 2016, Petrina was promoted to Project Accountant and then to Senior Project Accountant in 2017. As a Senior Project Accountant, Petrina is responsible for the financial management of major projects. She graduated from the University of Namibia in 2015 and is currently pursuing an advanced degree in Finance and Accounting. Outside of the office, Petrina enjoys traveling, reading novels, and experimenting with new culinary recipes. 

Petrina is based at the Windhoek office.

Jolene Both

Project Accountant | Finance

Jolene holds an Office Administration Certificate. She started her work at the NNF as an Intern to assist with Admin duties in the Finance Department. She interned as an Admin Assistant at a Construction company and her responsibilities included admin duties and Finance assistance. Jolene is currently pursuing a Business Administration Certificate. 

Jolene is based at the Windhoek office.

Shirley Zamuee

Project Accountant | Finance

Shirley joined NNF as an Intern in Finance in June 2018. She worked as a Clerk at Sleepmasters 2019 for two months and started working as a Trainee accountant at NNF in February 2020. She graduated from Okakarara Vocational Training Centre in 2019 and holds a level 3 Office administration Certificate, Currently pursuing an advanced degree in Office Administration at the University of Namibia.

"I believe in hard work."

Shirley is based at the Windhoek office.

Friedrich Kambonde

Project Accountant | Finance

Friedrich joined the NNF on the 1^st October 2020 as Project Accountant. Before the NNF, he worked at SADC Trade Related Facility Project under the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade where he held the position of Finance and Administration Officer. As Project Accountant, Friedrich is responsible for the financial management of projects. He is a graduate of the Polytechnic of Namibia where he obtained a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Accounting and Finance.

Friedrich is based at the Windhoek office.

Frans Elias

Project Accountant | Finance

As a dedicated and detail-oriented accounting professional, Frans Ndumba Elias, focuses on meeting the accounting needs of corporations and individuals in the capital height areas for the past six years. He currently works as a Project Accountant for Namibia Nature Foundation. He specializes in preparing asset, liability, and capital accounts management, accounting software systems, as well as careful computational skills, he is able to perform precise auditing tasks, ensuring that financial transactions are accurately presented. Frans holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Namibia University of Science and Technology which he obtained in 2018.

Frans is based at the Windhoek office.

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Administration

Jessica Nowotes

Office and Human Resource Manager | Administration

Jessica Nowotes is a third-year student studying towards her Honours in Business Administration at the University of Namibia. She holds a Diploma in Business Administration. She joined NNF in 2017 as an Administrative Assistant. She likes photography and traveling and believes in hard work.

Jessica is based at the Windhoek office.

Ulrica Abrahams

Contracts and Compliance Manager | Operations

Ulrica Abrahams joined the NNF team in February 2018 as a Project Administrator. She has over 10 years of experience as an administrative professional. As the C & C Manager, she is responsible for administering all aspects of contracts and agreements management.  Assisting with the development, review, and implementation of policies and procedures.  She also provides support to other divisions such as projects and finance monitoring compliance with donor rules and regulations.  She completed an MBA, and is currently enrolled for her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. Ulrica is a nature lover and therefore loves to travel a lot and enjoys camping.

Ulrica is based at the Windhoek office.

Disney Andreas

Communications Officer | Administration

Tina Siririka

Cleaner | Administration

Jafet "Barney" Tjiramba

Driver | Administration

Barney describes himself as an "ontop-of-my-game" individual. He makes sure all the NNF vehicles are of top standard and ready to go out into the field. Barney enjoys off-road trips with his family and friends.

Barney is based at the Windhoek office.

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Interns

Volunteers