James Milanzi qualified as an Ecologist and subsequently joined the Zambian Wildlife Authority (now DNPW) in 2003 as an Ecologist in South Luangwa National Park. In 2008 he moved into a management role as the Western Region Manager. As a result of the success he achieved in this position he was promoted to Director of Conservation 2013. He joined African Parks as Regional Operations Manager-Anglophone in 2016.