About Us

Zimbabwe Wildlife Fund was formed following a visit to Zimbabwe in September 2009. This organisation is seeking incorporation and to establish a national database of members in Australia and New Zealand with a strong Board and Committee structure to enable fund raising and social events, membership drives, community and school support and corporate sponsorship. The board meets monthly in accordance with the Constitution.

Apart from supporting the work of The Friends of Hwange Trust (FOH) in ensuring the boreholes continue to supply water to the pans in the Hwange National Park, we also support schools adjacent to or within the Park and other conservation areas. We are collaborating very closely with the Painted Dog Organisation, who are based in Hwange, in supporting school projects.

We are seeking funding through various means to support specific programmes in Zimbabwe, such as The Friends of Hwange Trust (FOH), The Wattled Crane Project at Cannon Kopje and Mana Pools and the Tashinga Initiative both located in the Zambezi Valley. Close relationships continue to be formed with Zimbabweans residing in Zimbabwe through family or business connections.

We also support eco-tour businesses operating in Zimbabwe including Varden Horse Safaris, DART volunteer programs, Wild Zambezi and Goliath Safaris.

We understand that the general community has concerns about the direction and control of funding, and we as a Board make sure that full transparency and openness exists with all funds and other support. The control of funds is maintained by ensuring that people and organisations on the ground in Zimbabwe who are the recipients of funding are fully accountable, honest and ethical and they represent authentic organisations with valid objectives that meet our criteria.

MEET the TEAM

Wayne Monks – Chairperson

Wayne is a founding member of the fund when it commenced in October 2009. He is Australian and lives in Perth and works as a Commercial Manager with business degree qualifications (Fellow CPA).

He has been actively involved in wildlife conservation and environment for many years also being Treasurer of Free the Bears Fund Inc since 2006 and Chairperson of the Western Region Environment Network since 2006.

He is also a member of Save Foundation, Painted Dog Conservation, Animals Asia, Cockatoo Coalition, Wilderness Society, Conservation Council WA, Australian Wildlife Conservancies, Birds Australia WA, Protection of Earth and Wildlife and a member of the Friends of Lake Claremont, Bold Park Bushland and Trigg Bushland groups.

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Elise Berenger – Vice Chairperson

Elise is a founding member of the fund when it commenced in October 2009. She is Zimbabwean (Australian resident) and lives in Perth and works from home helping her husband John with his kerbing and landscaping business creating 3D conceptual plans. She has an enviromentally sensible supermarket and also creates websites.

Elise is kept busy with her 7 children but manages to also be active on the sports field playing tennis, hockey and golf.

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We have several Board and Commitee positions available:

• Board members who have engaged with or worked at Community / School level and have assisted with fund raising
• Board members with experience in compiling and raising corporate sponsorship programs
• committee members who are keen to help out with all aspects of an NGO

If you have any ideas or suggestions or would like to contribute your services please eMail Wayne Monks