New York, NY– The African Parks Foundation of America (APFA) is pleased to announce Rob Walton as the new Chair of the Board. Having served as a Trustee Emeritus, Rob has been a founding supporter of African Parks since 2003.

Rob Walton is founder of the Rob Walton Foundation and a past chair and member of the Environment Program Committee of the Walton Family Foundation. In 2021, through the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation, he pledged the largest-ever gift of US$100 million to African Parks’ endowment to help protect 30% of Africa by 2030 for the benefit of people and wildlife. With this commitment, African Parks is able to continue increasing its impact through the management of additional parks, reducing poaching, increasing wildlife populations, and enhancing livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of people.

African Parks, Chief Executive Officer, Peter Fearnhead, notes, “Rob has been involved in African Parks since its inception and has played a significant role in enabling its growth from two parks in 2003 to the 22 parks under African Parks’ management today. His history with the organisation and obvious commitment to biodiversity conservation for the benefit of people and nature makes it especially fitting that Rob takes on this key role within the African Parks Foundation of America.”

"With a model that’s stood the test of time, African Parks is leading with real solutions that help people and nature thrive together,” says Rob Walton. “I'm grateful for the opportunity to support Peter and his team, and excited for the future of African Parks and global conservation.”

Rob Walton succeeds Ronald J. Ulrich, who, after serving as Chair of the APFA board for eleven years, has had to step down for health reasons.

Ron Ulrich undertook an instrumental role in establishing African Parks’ footprint in the USA. During his tenure, he has helped grow the profile of the organisation, overseeing fundraising from philanthropists, foundations, corporations and government agencies to support the work of African Parks. 

“Ron has played an invaluable role in building African Parks’ presence in the USA. We extend our heartfelt thanks for his dedication and support. We wish him all the best with his recovery and look forward to his continued involvement in African Parks as he regains his health,” says Fearnhead.

As a non-profit organisation, African Parks Board members are not remunerated, beyond compensation for expenses.

African Parks Foundation of America (APFA) is an established 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with offices in New York City. All individual gifts made in the USA are 100% tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

                                                       ###

About African Parks: African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. African Parks manages 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 20 million hectares in Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For more information visit www.africanparks.org, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.