Firstly, I would like to thank all Pack members who gave us such incredible support in 2025 and wish you all the very best for the year ahead!
We are kicking off this year with the Diane Skinner Awards. There are two:
- The Diane Skinner Award for the Unsung Hero in Conservation
- The inaugural Diane Skinner Conservation MBA Scholarship for an African Woman
Di, my late wife and co-founder of PWF, was the embodiment of an unsung hero and was passionate in supporting and furthering African women’s roles in conservation. These two awards are our way of honouring her legacy.
The awards are a partnership between PWF and the African Leadership University’s (ALU’s) School of Wildlife Conservation – an incredible institution that Di gave up much of her time to support. Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) also helps sponsor the MBA.
Nominations are now open for the 2025 unsung hero award and the winners of both awards and the delayed 2024 award will be announced at the ALU Business of Conservation Conference 2026 (BCC) in Nairobi in March.
I look forward to seeing you there, but in the meantime, please nominate your unsung conservation hero of 2025.
With best wishes
Nicholas Dyer
Chief Executive – Painted Wolf Foundation
Director – Painted Dog Fund
Nominations for the 2025 Award are Open!
The search for our 2025 Diane Skinner Award for the Unsung Hero in Conservation is now underway. The award recognises Di’s contribution to conservation and celebrates those who work selflessly for wildlife, focusing on the cause rather than personal recognition.
We encourage you to nominate individuals who reflect Di’s approach: a focus on making a significant impact in wildlife conservation with an egoless work ethic that eschewed unnecessary conflict, self-promotion or the need for recognition.
Please complete the nomination form, sharing images and videos of their work. You are also welcome to renominate someone this year as previous candidates have all been strong.
The winning candidate will be selected from a shortlist of ten and invited to attend BCC 2026 to be held in March in Nairobi, Kenya.
Please find the link below to nominate a worthy hero. Nominations close 31st January 2026.
Diane Skinner Conservation MBA Scholarship for an African Woman
Diane Skinner was passionate about supporting African women to become the conservation leaders of tomorrow.
Honouring this, the Painted Wolf Foundation andtheALU School of Wildlife Conservation are proud to offer the Diane Skinner Conservation MBA Scholarship for an African Woman.
The scholarship is designed to encourage future African women leaders in conservation and equip them with the leadership skills and knowledge to run conservation projects in Africa.
We are grateful to WCN who are also helping to make this award possible through their Rising Wildlife Leaders initiative.The winner of the inaugural award will be announced at the 2026 ALU Business of Conservation Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya in March 2026.
Celebrate the 2024 Shortlisted Nominees
The Painted Wolf Foundation and ALU’s School of Wildlife Conservation are delighted to announce the top ten nominees for the 2024 Award.
The top ten shortlist and winner announcement was delayed when BCC 2025 was cancelled due to the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda last year.
Celebrate the top ten nominees in the video below – all exceptional individuals you have most likely never heard of. Yet they have all made a significant impact in their respective conservation fields.
The winner will be selected from this shortlist and be invited to accept the award in person at BCC 2026 in Nairobi in March.
