Donate - act now

What is LEAD Conservation

We are LEAD, a conservation support organisation dedicated to strengthening the capacity of rangers and protected area managers to tackle complex conservation challenges. Through tailored training, mentoring, and practical tools, we help frontline teams improve their operational effectiveness, leadership, and strategic thinking. We work across Africa and beyond, supporting conservation initiatives that protect biodiversity, engage communities, and promote sustainable land use.

LEAD Conservation is a not-for-profit organisation registered in the Netherlands with ANBI status, a designation for public benefit organisations that meet specific Dutch tax and transparency requirements.

mission

LEAD Conservation strengthens frontline conservation efforts by developing leaders, educators, decision-makers, and problem-solvers in protected areas. We provide training, mentorship, and strategic support that enables teams to move beyond reactive responses and adopt proactive and preventive wildlife protection strategies.

VISION

A world where protected areas are safeguarded through integrated conservation efforts—an approach that builds capable, adaptive, and professional teams that manage threats effectively while enabling coexistence between people and wildlife.

The humans of LEAD

We believe conservation is about humans—the people who protect wildlife, the communities living alongside it, and the leaders shaping the future. At LEAD Conservation, our team is made up of mentors, problem-solvers, and hands-on leaders who know that real change starts with skilled people making smart decisions at the right time.

We’ve walked the same paths as the rangers we train, faced the same challenges, and learned that leadership, trust, and adaptability make all the difference. Every member of our team is here because they care—about the mission, the people on the frontline, and making conservation more effective, ethical, and sustainable.

Meet the people making it happen.

Andrew Lemieux

I am a Program Manager for LEAD Conservation. In this role I oversee LEAD’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) efforts, develop content for our analytic courses, oversee special projects, and help with fundraising efforts. I also get involved with analytic training where needed, and mentor LEAD instructors who offer courses on problem solving and geographic information systems (GIS).

Dominique Noome

I’m the Executive Director and co-founder of LEAD Conservation. In this role, I provide strategic leadership, guide our partnerships, and help shape the direction of our programmes and operations. My focus is on ensuring that LEAD stays grounded in its purpose: to support conservation teams with practical tools, trusted relationships, and a learning mindset that improves outcomes on the ground. I co-founded LEAD with Boris to create an organisation that works behind the scenes to strengthen those on the front lines—one that listens first, collaborates openly, and builds long-term capability in others.

Chikumbutso Paul

I serve as a Senior Ranger Trainer at LEAD Conservation. Based in Malawi, I bring over two decades of experience in field-based conservation, including frontline ranger work, team leadership, and law enforcement operations. In my role with LEAD, I focus on strengthening ranger teams through structured training, coaching, and long-term mentorship. I help organisations build internal capacity by guiding their rangers not only in skills, but in mindset—so they can act with clarity and confidence in the field. My work includes designing and delivering training tailored to operational needs, ensuring it is both practical and grounded in lived experience. I aim to make training relevant, sustainable, and something that truly sticks with the ranger long after the course is over.

There are many aspects of this role that I enjoy. Having spent years as a ranger, a trainer, and head of law enforcement, I’ve come to learn what works—and what doesn’t—in the field. What I enjoy most is the shift from just teaching to mentoring. I now coach rangers across different roles, sharing my life experiences and allowing others to learn from my own successes and mistakes. This approach helps them understand not just how to make a decision, but why that decision matters. That kind of insight builds long-term leadership.

This aligns directly with LEAD’s mission: to create internalised training capacity within ranger teams. When rangers are supported to think critically, to learn from one another, and to grow into their roles, we’re not just building skills—we’re building systems. And that’s what makes lasting impact possible.

I’m a dedicated and passionate trainer, and I’ve made it my mission to support rangers in staying current, capable, and motivated in their work. I do this by constantly reflecting on my own experience—both the training I’ve delivered and the mentorship I’ve received. I believe ranger training should always be tailored to operational realities. It must be flexible, evidence-based, and always ready to evolve. That’s how we stay ahead of the challenges. That’s how we protect what matters.

WHO WE WORK WITH

We partner and align with other organisations to help you with implementing ITR.

Partnerships will be updated once confirmed

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

LEAD is not a training vendor or short-term contractor. We are a long-term conservation support organisation focused on strengthening capacity through tailored mentoring, embedded training, and strategic support. Our aim is not to deliver one-off courses, but to build lasting capability within protected area teams.

That’s a good place to start. We don’t replace what’s already working; instead, we help refine and strengthen it. Many partners use LEAD to support instructor development, improve operational planning, or integrate training with threat mitigation strategies using the ITR framework.

Yes, though our preferred model is cluster-based, we also support special projects when there’s a strong case—such as unique operating conditions, potential for high impact, or strategic alignment. These are assessed case by case.

LEAD does not train individuals or run ranger recruitment programmes. If you’re interested in becoming a ranger, we recommend contacting the wildlife authority, conservancy, or NGO operating in your region.

We do occasionally post open positions or calls for collaboration in our news section. However, we prioritise experienced African rangers, instructors, and managers—people who know the context, terrain, and challenges first-hand. If a role is available, it will be listed.

We’re always open to meaningful partnerships. If you or your organisation have relevant expertise, experience, or a shared commitment to strengthening frontline conservation, we’d be glad to explore how you might contribute—whether through knowledge exchange, technical support, or collaboration within a cluster. Please contact us directly to start the conversation.