Lechwes often have a high concentration or population density when in groups, up to 200 per square kilometer.

Patrick Bergin, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Washington, DC

 

Bio Photo

Appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2002, Patrick J. Bergin provides overall leadership for the implementation of the African Wildlife Foundation’s mission to conserve wildlife and the wild lands of Africa. Dividing his time between the organization’s offices in Africa and Washington, DC, Bergin oversees a diverse staff of over 180 employees working in eastern, southern, and central Africa to expand the geographic scope and impact of AWF field activities.

A community development specialist for more than 20 years, Bergin has pioneered initiatives that forge linkages between conservation and human well-being. He is a native of Illinois and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 1987, he was awarded a MSc. in the Management of Extension Systems from the same university. From 1988-89, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania. In late 1990s, Bergin joined AWF as a Project Officer assigned to Tanzania National Parks Community Conservation Service. After handing over this program to his Tanzanian counterparts, Bergin was awarded a Ph.D. in Development from the University of East Anglia in the UK.

> Read more about Bergin's vision for the organization.