Charlie Mayhew OBE

Charlie Mayhew is CEO of Tusk, one of the UK’s most impressive conservation charities. In 1985 he set up and led the seven-month-long Young Europe Africa Expedition. The 33-strong team crossed the Sahara and travelled through the Congo before arriving in Kenya, where it undertook a series of conservation and community projects filmed for a Channel 4 documentary. In 1990 he co-founded Tusk and, as part of the stimulus for doing so, he co-produced the feature film ‘Lost in Africa’ – a drama that sought to highlight the ivory trade. Under Charlie’s stewardship, Tusk has since grown into a highly respected UK conservation NGO with HRH The Prince of Wales as an active and engaged Royal Patron. Since its founding, the charity has invested more than $100m into African conservation. With Charlie at the helm for over 30 years, Tusk has boosted an impressive range of successful conservation projects across more than 20 countries. These initiatives have not only increased vital protection for more than 40 different threatened species, but have also contributed to poverty reduction through sustainable development and education amongst rural communities living alongside wildlife. Such is his influence in this sector, he was awarded an OBE in King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List, for services to Conservation and to Communities in Africa.