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.