About Us
Meet the team
Anna Tolan
Founding Director
Anna’s leadership of Chipembele is supported by her extensive experience in conservation education, programme development, student sponsorship, community work and animal rehabilitation since the organisation was founded in 1998. Her ‘on-the-ground’ work continues to provide her with a wide range of skills and connections that help guide and steer all the programmes within Chipembele and support the staff. She manages the Conservation Education Centre, developing teaching materials and facilitating day-long sessions for students. She also manages a community support programme, is the co-editor of the quarterly Kalata for Kids magazine and manages the animal rehabilitation programme.
Clara Nanja
Conservation Education Manager
Clara joined the Chipembele Team in 2023, bringing with her many years of experience in ecological research, wildlife preservation and conservation. She has the key position of overseeing the Conservation Education Outreach programme in schools and communities. Her close management of the Education Team helps ensure the appropriate and effective development and implementation of Chipembele’s conservation education programmes. She also oversees the Student Sponsorship Scheme and the Aspiring Conservation Leaders programme. Clara holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Wildlife from the University of Zambia and is pursuing a Master of Philosophy degree in Tropical Ecology at Copperbelt University.
Japhet Shanungu
Accounts Officer
Japhet joined the Chipembele team in 2011. His main duties are to manage the accounts under the Chief Development Officer’s oversight. He holds a certificate in Computers and enjoys developing his IT skills. He holds a certificate in Teaching Methodology and was a 4th year undergrad in a BSc in Production Management. He has previously taught computing at Chipata Trades Institute and worked for 4 years in office administration at Tribal Textiles.
STANLEY MWANZA
Senior Community Conservation Educator
Stanley’s role is to supervise the Community Conservation Educators and to coordinate programmes with local conservation NGOs and other stakeholders. He helps to develop teaching materials and programmes for the Educators to deliver and supports the work of the Conservation Education Manager. He has lived in South Luangwa his entire life and discovered his passion for wildlife conservation in 2008 with Chipembele’s Conservation Club at Kawaza Primary School. Sponsored by Chipembele through secondary school, Stanley earned a scholarship to study Environmental Education at the Southern African Wildlife College in South Africa. He worked with Chipembele as a Community Conservation Educator from 2020 to 2023, when he was promoted to the position of Senior Community Conservation Educator.
THE COMMUNITY CONSERVATION EDUCATORS
Our Conservation Education Outreach programme extends to 45 different schools and hundreds of community groups across Mambwe District, a geographic area of 5,725 km2,with a population exceeding 100,000. Five Community Conservation Educators teach conservation education to local community groups in the mornings and to children in each of the Government schools in their geographic zones in the afternoons 4 days a week. They travel across huge rural areas on bicycles and carry their supplies and resources with them. Every Friday the Educators report to the Chipembele Offices for training, lesson planning and report writing. They also assist in facilitating the Nature Nights programme, excursions, radio broadcasts, field trips and environmental campaigns.
JOHN SAKALA
John is the Community Conservation Educator for Nsefu Zone. He worked as a volunteer untrained teacher for seven years at two local primary schools in his area and was involved in running the Junior conservation clubs. He was one of the first Educators with Chipembele when the Outreach programme was established in 2016. He was once the Natural Resource Chair for Nsefu Community Resources Board. He holds a certificate (level 2) in safari guiding and is currently studying for a BSc in Wildlife and Natural Resource Management at LIUTEBM University through distance learning.
DANIEL ZULU
Daniel is the Community Conservation Educator for Kakumbi Zone. He was a member of the Mnkhanya Community Resources Board and once worked under them as a Village Scout. He also worked as an untrained voluntary teacher at two local schools in his area. He has been an Educator with Chipembele since the Outreach programme began in 2016 and says he has seen lots of positive changes in his community since then in regards to how they interact with wildlife.
ANDERSON CHULU
Anderson is the Community Conservation Educator for Mnkhanya Zone. He brings to the team a wealth of practical conservation experience including several years as a lead conservation farmer teaching sustainable agriculture techniques to his community. Anderson also taught for 5 years at a local school.
PETER MWALE
Peter joined the Education Team in 2022 as the Community Conservation Educator for Jumbe Zone. He has many years of experience in CBNRM (Community Based Natural Resources Management) and has served as the Vice Board Chairperson and Natural Resources Chairperson for Jumbe Community Resources Board. He has also worked with COMACO (Community Markets for Conservation) as a Lead Farmer.
CHRISTINE CHULU
Christine is the Community Conservation Educator in the Mfuwe Central Zone. Her passion for conservation was ignited during the 2016 Zambia Carnivore Cup (local annual football tournament with a conservation theme), where she was inspired by Thandiwe Mweetwa’s commitment to the cause. She became an active member of her school Conservation Club and was sponsored to school through Chipembele. She was one of our Aspiring Conservation Leaders in 2023.
SUUBA MUYAMWA
Youth Leadership Coordinator
Suuba’s main role is to manage and facilitate the Aspiring Conservation Leaders programme, but she also supports the Student Sponsorship Scheme and other Chipembele programmes involving children and youth. She brings many years of experience in environmental and science education, youth mentorship and leadership to her role. Her qualifications include a Certificate in Teaching Methodology, a BA in Environmental Education, and an MA in Educational Administration and Leadership.
ELITA NGOMA
Student Sponsorship Officer
With over 7 years of experience working with children and vulnerable communities, Elita brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, as well as certificates in Psychosocial Counselling, Child Counselling, and Monitoring and Evaluation, Elita is uniquely equipped to provide holistic support to our students. As Student Support Officer, Elita oversees the secondary and tertiary sponsorship programmes. Her multifaceted role also encompasses mentoring, school liaison, gender awareness education, and career guidance. Additionally, Elita serves as our Safeguarding Officer, ensuring the well-being and protection of our students and staff.
HAIDEE KINTER
Social Media and Communications Specialist
Haidee Kinter joined Chipembele in 2023 after initially volunteering with the organization to support fundraising events in Australia. With over 20 years of experience in conservation, her background includes work on rhino conservation programs, conservation education and the recovery and reintroduction of Australian native fauna. As the Social Media and Communications Specialist at Chipembele, Haidee is dedicated to using her expertise to connect people with nature and inspire meaningful action for conservation.
BESNART MANDA
Social Media Intern
Besnart’s role primarily involves creating compelling content for our social media platforms, as well as photography and video editing. She supports the Social Media and Communications Specialist. She studied Journalism and Public Relations at Evelyn Hone College, where she earned a Diploma in Information and Media Studies. Previously, she worked as a Communications Personnel at Conservation South Luangwa and she joined the Chipembele team as a Social Media Intern in 2024.
PETER MWALE
Peter joined the team in late 2022 has been engaged as the Conservation Educator for Jumbe zone. Peter has vast experience in CBNRM (Community Based Natural Resources Management) and has served as the Vice Board Chairperson and Natural Resources Chairperson for Jumbe Community Resources Board (CRB). He has also worked with COMACO (Common Markets for Conservation) as a Lead Farmer. He has been attached to Zambia Statistics as an Enumerator and has participated in the 2010 and 2022 Zambian census.
SUPPORT STAFF
Andrew Kamanga
Operations Supervisor
Yona Phiri
Driver/Mechanic
KEBEN MBEWE
Watchman
DANIEL MWALE
Watchman
NAOMI SAKALA
Outreach Domestic Staff
MIKE NG’UNI
Centre Driver/Handyman
MOSES BANDA
Centre Domestic Staff
SONGISO MWALE
Centre Domestic Staff
DYMAN BANDA
Centre Domestic Staff
The Founders
ANNA & STEVE TOLAN: CO-FOUNDERS
Chipembele was established by Anna and Steve Tolan, who emigrated from England to Zambia in 1998 to fulfil their dream of running a conservation education programme for Zambian youth. Back in 1998 when Steve and Anna first arrived in Mfuwe, they were fortunate enough to be given some land by the late Chief Kakumbi on which to build the Centre. They established a Zambian charitable trust and used all their personal savings to finance it. Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre opened in May 2001. From there the project grew to encompass a range of other conservation and community projects. An office and manager’s house were built in the grounds of the local secondary school in 2009, when the now extensive Outreach programme began.
Steve and Anna Tolan were married in 1983 and lived in Oxford, England until they emigrated in 1998. Before moving to Zambia, they were both Police Officers with the Thames Valley Police but in their private lives Africa was their passion. They went on African safaris, bought old African tribal artifacts, read African wildlife and travel books and watched and recorded every African wildlife video that appeared on the television. Steve retired from the Police in 1998 after 27 years service and Anna resigned at the same time after 17 years service. They then moved to Zambia to set up their lifetime dream of establishing a conservation education programme for local children in a wildlife-community co-existence area.
Anna has a B.Sc. in Environmental Science from the 1970s and is pleased to be at long last able to put her lifelong interest to good use. She has developed her interest in and love of animals by rearing orphaned wild animals that are brought to her from all over the area. She established the Student Sponsorship Scheme in 2000 and managed it herself until 2024. She has also managed a large number of school improvement and community projects using donated funds.
Steve is an Honorary Wildlife Police Officer for the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and an Honorary Fisheries Officer. He is very active in patrolling the area to help conserve the wildlife and natural environment of South Luangwa. He also assists Anna with the animal rehabilitation work. His other main interest is researching fossils. He is closely involved with international palaeontological and palaeobotanical experts, regularly guiding international expedition teams, not only in Zambia, but also Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The results have been of scientific importance, with many new species of creatures being named and described, including Africa’s earliest dinosaur which was found in NE Zimbabwe. He is also credited with finding Zambia’s first dinosaur near Lake Kariba, and Zambia’s first dinosaur footprints in the Luangwa Valley. He has a fossil named after him, Endothiodon tolani, a 255-million-year-old species of Therapsid, which were the ancestors of mammals.
The Luangwa Valley is their permanent home and all the projects they now run have become an integral part of their lives.