The Diane Skinner Award for the Unsung Hero in Conservation.

There are many individuals across Africa who work tirelessly to conserve the Continent’s incredible wild landscapes. Like Diane, many do this selflessly for what they love, without ego and a need for recognition.

The annual Diane Skinner Award seeks to recognise those individuals and give the world the opportunity to say thank you.

It is sponsored jointly by the Painted Wolf Foundation and the African Leadership University’s School of Wildlife Conservation.

Candidates are nominated by colleagues, and our panel of judges select the top ten individuals that they consider have made the strongest contribution to their cause, and yet remain unknown.

The winner is invited to attend the ALU Business of Conservation Conference to be presented with the award in person.

Diane Skinner Award – Unsung Hero in Conservation

Watch this video to learn more about this award.

Nominations for the 2025 Award will open soon

Nominations for the 2025 award will be opening soon. The application form will be available here once the nominations are open. From the entries we receive, we will select 10 individuals whose achievements will be celebrated on this site and at the next ALU Business of Conservation Conference. The Winner will be invited to the 2026 Business of Conservation Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

2024 Winner of the Diane Skinner Award
for the Unsung Hero in Conservation

Due to the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda during 2024, the annual Business of Conservation Conference was cancelled. The 2024 award winner will be announced in 2026, in tandem with the 2025 award winner, at the 2026 Business of Conservation Conference. The conference will be held in Nairobi, Kenya. Conference dates to be announced.