JOHN HILTON

John Hilton is the CEO of The Wild Bird Trust network of non-profit organizations and serves as the Regional Director for the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project. After transitioning from the corporate sector in 2009 to immerse himself in the African wilderness, John joined The Wild Bird Trust Board of Trustees in March 2013.

John’s focus is on localization to create sustainable, long-lasting programs. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded with the founding of the Botswana Wild Bird Trust in 2018, the Wild Bird Foundation of America (now The Wilderness Project) in 2019, and Fundação Lisima in Angola in 2023. He is also working on establishing the Kavango Wilderness Project in Namibia.

In addition, John spearheads outreach initiatives with government officials, NGOs, community-based organizations, and transboundary secretariats across Angola, Namibia, and Botswana to promote the protection of the Okavango River Basin.