 Our Conservation Foundation
To demonstrate our commitment and ongoing investment, we are supporting and contributing to The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation (www.tltc.com), a not-for-profit organisation that will invest in supporting long term sustainable tourism.
Our group of companies is contributing US$1 million per year to fund much-needed conservation, community and sustainable tourism projects that will create a better world for future generations to enjoy.
To ensure every dollar goes to people and places in need, each project is carefully vetted by the Foundation's Members of the Board. The funds will be allocated by the board to projects that specifically aim for:
- the conservation and protection of the environment, wildlife and cultural heritage sites preserving these areas for future sustainable tourism;
- the relief of poverty and the improvement of the conditions of life in socially and economically disadvantaged communities through community involvement in sustainable tourism;
- the promotion of sustainable tourism as a means to achieve economic growth and regeneration.
Our Advisory Panel
Raymond Nias  |
 Dr Raymond Nias
Ray received his undergraduate education in biology at Flinders University in South Australia and carried out his post-graduate studies on the evolution of social organization in birds at the University of New England, NSW.
After university, Ray spent two years working on rare and threatened birds in the agricultural regions of southern Eyre Peninsula, before joining WWF Australia in 1988.
Ray has led the development of WWF Australia’s large and growing program of conservation related activities including the management of research, policy development, advocacy, and community outreach programs. He has been actively involved in the international work of WWF for many years; has been Chair of the WWF International Marine Advisory Group; and was instrumental in the establishment of the WWF South Pacific program in 1990 and the Antarctic and Southern Ocean initiative in 2006.
Ray has also been involved in the development of numerous conservation programs policies and programs in Australia and has been a member of many government and non-government advisory bodies. In the past few years he has been involved in topics ranging from illegal fishing on the high seas through to energy futures modeling in Australia. www.panda.org
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| Sue Hurdle |
 Sue Hurdle is founder and Chief Executive of The Travel Foundation, the UK's government & industry-backed sustainable tourism charity. Having worked for Thomas Cook for a number of years, in 1998 Sue developed an initiative to persuade the UK's leading travel companies that corporate responsibility really is good for business. In 2003 this initiative was launched as The Travel Foundation - the world's first industry partnership to help companies put sustainable tourism into practice. www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk
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| Brian T. Mullis |
 Brian T. Mullis co-founded Sustainable Travel International (STI) in 2002 with the mission of promoting responsible travel and facilitating the travel and tourism industry's move toward sustainability by providing programs that help travelers and travel-related companies protect the environmental, socio-cultural and economic values of the places they visit, and the planet at large.
Brian has over 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. He began his career spending summers during college working in national parks in Wyoming, Montana and Utah. More recently, Brian was the President and owner of The World Outdoors, an international adventure travel company specializing in active and eco-travel. During his career, he has assisted numerous travel and tourism companies of all sizes in the areas of sustainable tourism development, business and program development, sales and marketing, finance and budgeting, and management and operations.
Mullis has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a focus on Business from Auburn University and holds a Master's Degree in Recreation Management from Springfield College. He spends his free time traveling abroad, exploring the backcountry and enjoying quality time with friends and family. www.sustainabletravelinternational.org
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| Russel Friedman |
 Russel Friedman is currently a director and shareholder in the Wilderness Safaris Group of Companies in which he became involved in 1984, a year after its inception. Russel was instrumental in helping grow Wilderness Safaris into a large lodge-operating company that currently operates in six countries in southern Africa including the Seychelles. They currently market and manage 44 lodges and employ around 1600 people.
Russel also manages Wilderness Safari’s Wildlife Trust which supports a wide variety of projects in southern Africa, within the categories of wildlife management, research and education. These projects address the needs of existing wildlife populations, seek solutions to save endangered species and provide education and training for local people and their communities. The goal of the Trust is to make a difference to Africa, her wildlife and her people.
He previous owned Russel Friedman Books, a specialist mail order company dealing primarily with books on the Natural History of southern Africa. www.wildernesstrust.com
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Foundation FAQs
What projects will the Foundation support?
Each year the Foundation will support a minimum of three projects with total contributions of US$1million. Conservation projects around the world undergo a stringent process of evaluation for selection via our advisory panel and independent Foundation managers.
Will part of the US$1million be used for administration costs?
No, the administration costs of TLTC Conservation Foundation are being entirely funded by the supporting companies. All non-profit organisations have administration costs - staff wages, advertising and marketing, accounting & legal fees, bank charges etc. For many, these add up to more than 20% of contributions but as administrative costs for TLTC Conservation Foundation will be absorbed by the supporting companies, a total of US$1million will go directly to the sustainable tourism and conservation projects.
Who manages the Foundation?
The Foundation has been established as an independent entity, legally and financially independent from any of the supporting companies. The Foundation Members of the Board and appointed Foundation manager Redkite Agency manage the day to day working of the Foundation. The Foundation’s Advisory Panel of sustainable tourism and conservation experts also consult to the Foundation to assist in awarding the grant programme funds. Members of the Board and Redkite Agency are committed selecting projects to support which are mindful of strict conservation, community and sustainable tourism values.
Which travel companies support the Foundation?
The Foundation was established as a joint initiative of leading travel companies – AAT Kings, Brendan Worldwide Vacations, Busabout, Contiki Vacations, Eastern Trekker, Evan Evans Tours, Haggis Adventures, Insight Vacations, Shamrocker Adventures and Trafalgar Tours.
How can I support the Foundation?
At this stage the Foundation is funded solely by the contributions from the travel companies that support it. At this time, the Foundation is not set up to receive donations from the public, however by supporting the companies that donate to the Foundation you will be encouraging the good work being done. There are also many other things you can do to help make a difference so we encourage you to start by making small changes in your own life that will help protect the environment. |
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