AWEI Research Associate
Bio
Luke is a part-time researcher specialising in community-based conservation finance. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Groningen and an MPhil in Sustainable Development from Stellenbosch University. His research interests include natural capital accounting, innovative finance, and community-based natural resource management. He is passionate about ensuring economically sustainable community-based conservation programmes in southern Africa.
His recent MPhil research examined communal trophy hunting value chains in Namibia, analysing financial flows from the industry to rural stakeholders. Luke has had the privilege of conducting community-based tourism research with conservation NGOs in Namibia, including WWF, the Namibia Nature Foundation, and the Namibia Association of Conservation Support Organisations (NACSO).
Currently based in the Netherlands, Luke has experience working with social and environmental impact funds, helping to catalyse private investment into nature through novel blended financing structures and investment vehicles.
@AWEI
As part of his current research with AWEI, he investigates the governance of conservation finances in communal conservancies in Namibia. He will be writing commentary pieces, popular articles, and occasional blog posts on his findings. This includes publishing a popular article summarising his recent trophy hunting research and a commentary piece on conservancy financial governance.