Damien Mander – International Motivational is a speaker for National Geographic Live, and winner of the 2019 Winsome Constance Kindness Gold Medal for 2019, a prestigious international recognition for services to animals and humanity. His 2013 TEDx talk on speciesism has been seen more than 7 million times on Youtube and social media.

Damien Mander - International Motivational Speaker

Damien Mander – International Motivational served as a Clearance Diver and Special Operations Sniper in the Australian Defense Force. Whilst later deployed in Iraq he went on to Project Manage the Iraq Special Police Training Academy, preparing Iraq’s paramilitary forces for the frontlines. Following three years in Iraq Damien departed in 2008 with no direction in life. In 2009 while traveling through Africa he was awakened to the horrors that the natural world is facing, in particular the criminal networks threatening the survival of rhinos and elephants. Liquidating 100% of his personal assets, the International Anti-Poaching Foundation was created as a direct action conservation organisation to be used as a surgical instrument in targeting wildlife crime.

Damien’s time in conservation has been a continuous learning adventure. In the early days IAPF started by delivering basic & intermediate training to rangers in the field. Soon realizing this would not achieve anything lasting, more holistic strategies were needed. IAPF built large operations with a direct action focus that achieved their objectives, but something was still missing. In 2017 the organization took a primarily community approach to law enforcement in conservation and have not looked back.

10 years after founding and with the likes of Dr Jane Goodall as their Patron, IAPF have an operational presence in 4 countries, currently running 3 major campaigns, and has supported or led over 45 other conservation programs. The rangers IAPF have supported or trained protect over 5 million acres of wilderness everyday in Africa.

Damien resides in Zimbabwe and spends the majority of his year in Africa.

Following three years of service in Iraq, he left the frontlines with no direction in his life. Book through Conference Speakers

MEDIA:

IAPF’s work has been featured on 60 Minutes (three times), Voice of America, The Guardian, BBC World News & Radio, CBS News, Discovery Channel, TEDx (twice), Animal Planet, National Geographic Magazine, Good Weekend Magazine, Reddit AmA, Australia and Africa Geographic Magazines, British Airways Highlife, Christian Science Monitor, Carte Blanch, Al Jazeera, ABC, Forbes, The Sunday Times, Chicago Tonight and the UK Daily Telegraph.

MAIN SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • TEDx (Sydney Oprah House & Jacksone Hole)
  • NEXUS Global Summit – United Nations, NYC
  • The Explorers Club (TEC) HQ, NYC (4 times), Sweden, SF, LA
  • NEXUS Global: 2018 & 2019
  • Royal Geographic Society, London
  • UN Great Apes Survival Summit

The United Nations Great Apes Survival Summit in Jackson Hole, The Royal Geographical Society in London and sold out crowds at The Explorers Club in New York City. Follow Speakers Inc on Twitter

Damien Mander – International Motivational

Testimonials:

“Damien Mander is riveting. His lecture (which was sold out, two nights in a row), built like a crescendo, from his humble beginnings to his remarkable achievements as one of the world’s most successful rhinoceros advocates and anti-poaching specialists. Using ingenuity, and crafting his knowledge of military strategy, Damien’s work and passion is nothing less than spectacular. Of the hundreds, perhaps thousands of lectures presented at The Explorers Club, Damien’s is one that all others endeavour to be like.”
Will Roseman, Executive Director, The Explorers Club, NYC
“Our shoot with Damien was far the most inspiring that we’ve done yet; in my view, he’s one of the most important animal activists on the planet and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of support.”
Joseph Pace, Co-Producer alongside Oscar winners James Cameron & Louis Psihoyos, Director: The Game Changers.
 
“Damien speaks from his heart engaging his audience with compelling stories of his life and passion for change in the way we treat animals. His TEDxSydney 2013 talk at Sydney Opera House went on to receive a quarter of a million downloads.”
James Ryan – TEDx Sydney Founding Executive Producer
 
“Damien is a truly inspirational speaker, who can cut to the very core of his greatest conservation issues, stirring his audience to action and providing real hope for the future.”
Dan Bucknell, Royal Geographical Society Moderator at 2016 talk & Executive Director Tusk Trust UK.
 
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