David Banks
David Banks
Overview
David Banks leads The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to protect wildlife and wild places in Africa, the cradle of humanity. David traces his career path from Texas, where he grew up exploring his grandfather’s ranch by foot and on horseback. His roots in nature inspired him to serve others and do his part to leave the world a better place. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, David worked with communities to help restore forests in the West African Sahel. He joined the Conservancy in 1994 as an intern in Indiana, where he was finishing his Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Natural Resource Management at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). He went on to lead the organization’s work in Alaska, spending time “in the bush” with wolves and grizzlies and cementing his love of untamed nature. He was named Africa director in 2007. For David, Africa represents Earth’s last best chance to protect vast landscapes that still function much as they have for millions of years. Twenty years after first discovering the wonders of Africa’s landscape and people, David returned to the continent where he feels most at home. He lives with his wife and two sons in Arusha, Tanzania.
