Vance Martin is Founder and Co-Chair of the WCPA Wilderness Specialist Group. He founded and served as President of WILD Foundation for 40 years. During that time Vance initiated and managed projects and partnerships around the world, including acting as on-going International Director (and occasional Chairman) of the 3rd thru 11th World Wilderness Congress. His signature style is: insisting that ‘culture’ play an equal role to science, policy, and economics in crafting relevant and long-lasting conservation solutions; integrating the essential and powerful role of Indigenous Peoples in contemporary, global conservation; and recognizing that cross-sectoral collaboration among diverse players on the team is the most efficient tool for a truly effective leader.

His early work within the IUCN was instrumental in guiding the team(s) and the process which, over 15 years, lead to wilderness being recognized internationally as a specific category of Protected Area (as of 1992 it became Category1b under the IUCN/WCPA Guidelines for Managing Protected Areas). He was the driving force in coordinating 52 volunteer experts to compile and publish Wilderness Protected Areas: Management guidelines for IUCN Category 1b protected areas , which has since been translated from English into Chinese (Mandarin). He has authored and collaborated on many papers, articles, books and other publications.

As of 2023, Vance works independently as President Emeritus of Wilderness Foundation Global, created in Cape Town in 2016 and purposefully based in the Global South. He is a very active board member of many organizations, including: International Conservation Caucus Foundation (USA); Friends of Peace Parks, USA (of Peace Parks Foundation, South Africa); Union of Nature (of EarthToday, Amsterdam); Cheetah Conservation Fund (Namibia); Sanctuary Nature Foundation (India); and others. He is always ready to assist wild nature, wildlife, and people.

John Waithaka is a career Conservation Biologist. He has worked as a lecturer at Kenyatta University, Research Fellow for the Wildlife Conservation International (Nairobi), Deputy Director at the Kenya Wildlife Service, Manager of the European Union’s Biodiversity Conservation Programme, Executive Director of the African Conservation Center and Conservation Biologist for the National Parks of Canada. In these capacities, he directed, managed and coordinated diverse national and international conservation programmes and worked with governmental and non-governmental organizations, local communities, academic institutions, policy makers and donor agencies to advance the course of conservation in Africa, Canada and beyond.

John has held many other positions including being the IUCN-WCPA Vice Chair for East and Southern Africa, Co-editor of the International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation, Founder and Director of the first Africa Protected Areas Congress (2018-2021), member of the IUCN World Heritage Panel, Member of the IUCN–WCPA Steering Committee, and member of the SSC African Elephant Specialist Group. He has served on various boards including being the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Kenya Wildlife Service, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, and member of the Board of the George Wright Society (USA).

His passion is to contribute towards the achievement of the IUCN global vision of a “Just world that values people and conserves nature”. He holds both Kenyan and Canadian Citizenships and his life oscillates between Nairobi and Ottawa.