Matthew Hatchwell

Chair

Matthew is an independent consultant with over 30 years of experience with zoo-based international wildlife conservation organisations.  As former Director of Conservation at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), based at London Zoo, he was responsible for driving ZSL’s field conservation programmes in more than 50 countries worldwide, working alongside governments, NGO partners and local communities to protect a wide range of species and habitats. Matthew joined ZSL following a 30-year career with the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), where he served as Chief Executive for WCS Europe having previously led in-country programmes in Madagascar – where he was instrumental in the creation of Masoala and Sahamalaza/Iles Radama National Parks – and Congo, where he helped to establish Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park and co-managed a capacity-building programme for protected area staff.  He worked closely with Zoo Zürich on the construction and design of the ground-breaking Masoala Rainforest Hall and has co-authored two books on zoos and wildlife conservation.  Over the past 25 years, Matthew has served on the boards of more than a dozen organisations working in the field of international wildlife conservation.