Recognition of Rob Walton for his Globally Significant Contribution to Conservation

African Parks warmly honours Rob Walton as a recipient of The Elephant Award - in recognition of his 25 years of unwavering support for African Parks and his extraordinary commitment to conservation globally.

The Elephant Award is bestowed by the Board of African Parks on someone who has made a lifelong and continentally significant contribution to African Parks and its work.

Rob has played a significant role in advancing African Parks’ mission since its inception, both through his generous personal support for the organisation and through his leadership of the Board of the African Parks Foundation of America. Rob’s contributions have been far more than financial. He has taken the time to visit over half the parks we manage, some in very difficult and remote regions of the continent, understanding the challenges, and always engaging with and encouraging the teams on the ground.

 Of course, his contribution to conservation has gone well beyond African Parks. He has been involved on the Board of Conservation International for 22 years, and was instrumental in the founding of Arizona State University’s Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures.

 And now, through the Africa Keystone Protected Area Partnership, he is playing a leading role in one of the largest ever conservation initiatives on the continent of Africa. This initiative has been shaped by his experiences over the past 25 years, and his belief that despite its ambition, it is possible.

 African Parks is deeply grateful for Rob Walton’s partnership and for the leadership he continues to bring, and looks forward to building on this important work together in the years ahead.