Barbara de Waard, Founder and CEO
Whilst living in Malaysia, Barbara got involved in conservation efforts to save the highly endangered Malayan Tiger and decided to dedicate her career to saving endangered species and their habitats. Combining her extensive experience and skills as a Marketing Communications Professional with her passion for wildlife, she embarked on a Masters Research project “Re-inventing Capitalism to save the Tiger”. Since then, she has provided consultancy to local and international conservation NGOs on Strategic Marketing and NGO-Business collaboration. This ground-breaking work resulted in the creation of BiodiversityBusiness, a social enterprise dedicated to Creating Shared Value for Nature and People.
Listen to Barbara’s podcast on Social Marketing and Conservation
Michelle Latorre, Volunteer Coordinator
Growing up in Hawaii, Michelle is a true water baby. Her passion lies in everything below the water’s surface. Life in the corporate world has given her organisational skills that are off the charts! But then she and her husband took off to travel the world and discovered eco-volunteering! She has planted trees, taught English, and restored coral gardens all around the globe. After getting locked down in Malaysia for 2 years during COVID, Michelle now thinks of Malaysia as her second home. She spends much time here and loves the food and people. When not in Malaysia, she can be found in her permanent home in Bali
Shimara Gokani, Finance and Compliance Manager
Shimara is a wiz with contract management and admin. This is not surprising given her legal training and experience in the financial sector. She is also a great guide to Malaysia and its delights, as she grew up right in Kuala Lumpur. She has travelled extensively within Malaysia and beyond. So, mention the word ‘Roti Canai’ and she can find you one, in Perhentian or London!
Dora Khoo, Trustee
Dora boasts an impressive history of supporting grassroots conservation efforts in Malaysia, leveraging her pragmatism and sense of humor to build strong relationships with local groups. She has also served as a trustee for influential conservation NGOs, including the respected Turtle Conservation Society Malaysia and the Gibbon Conservation Society, which oversees the renowned GReP Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.
Jordan Curzon, Videographer & Editor
Jordan is a videographer and editor specialising in outdoor and adventure projects. With over 10 years of experience behind the camera, he has worked on a wide range of projects for NGOs and conservation organisations, as well as producing advertisements, covering events and filming human interest stories.
He is passionate about creating visual stories that connect people with the outdoors, encourage wildlife protection and raise awareness of our natural environment. Having lived in Malaysia for over a decade, Jordan has developed a deep appreciation for the country’s incredible landscapes, rich biodiversity and culture.
Peppi Heikkilä, Communications & Content Creation
Once Peppi volunteered with rescued elephants, she knew she wanted to build a career around wildlife and conservation. She went on to pursue a master’s degree in ecology and conservation, focusing on illegal wildlife trade in Asia. She has also worked across environments, from Arctic landscapes and river ecosystems to coral reefs.
Today, she combines her background with storytelling and content creation, sharing stories that raise awareness about wildlife and conservation challenges. She hopes to make conservation more accessible to everyone and show that we can all play a part in it. There is always more to discover, and that curiosity keeps her learning and sharing.
