Welcoming Melissa Foley as Africa’s Eden’s Community & Conservation Lead

Africa’s Eden is delighted to announce the appointment of Melissa Foley as the new Community & Conservation Lead.

This role marks a pivotal step in strengthening our commitment to sustainability, inclusion, and responsible tourism across our eight member countries: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar.

20 August 2025

Driving Impact Where It Matters

Tourism always creates impact. With Melissa on board, we’re doubling down on ensuring that impact is authentic, measurable, and positive—uplifting communities, protecting ecosystems, and building resilience for the future.

Melissa will guide Africa’s Eden members in embedding sustainability into daily operations. From stakeholder mapping across all eight countries to launching the Africa’s Eden Impact Forum, she is already rolling up her sleeves to help us collectively raise the bar.

A Wealth of Global and African Experience

Melissa brings decades of expertise spanning NGOs, tourism boards, private enterprises, international institutions, and grassroots initiatives. She has championed social and environmental responsibility across the African safari industry, consulting widely to help organisations navigate the balance between tourism’s ability to uplift and the pressures it can place on communities and ecosystems.

Her vision is to position Africa’s Eden as a benchmark for responsible tourism—leading by example through transparent practices, shared accountability, and a united commitment to people and planet.

What’s Ahead

As Community & Conservation Lead, Melissa’s key priorities include:

Mapping and integrating community and conservation projects across all member countries.
Representing Africa’s Eden at forums and workshops to ensure our collective voice is heard in regional policy discussions.
Supporting members with practical tools, resources, and partnerships to elevate impact.

A Force of Energy and Positivity

If you’ve met Melissa, you’ll know she brings an extraordinary blend of energy, purpose, and positivity to everything she does. We’re thrilled to welcome her into the Africa’s Eden team and look forward to the fresh momentum she will bring in driving responsible tourism across the region.