Members of the Board
Charlotte Baron
 Chairman of the Board of The WILD Foundation, an
avid world traveler, nature lover, and volunteer, Charlotte
Baron is also a professional systems and management analyst.
She earned a Master in Public Administration, Finance and
Policy Analysis (MPA) in 1980. Charlotte has been a
Director, and the Vice President/Treasurer of both Fulcrum
Publishing and Fulcrum Group since 1985, building on a
career that included work with numerous US government
departments. The number of her interests - international and
ethnic cultures, skiing, hiking, scuba diving, reading, and
more - are matched only by the many non-profit organizations
which have benefited from her goodwill and skills as a
volunteer and/or trustee, such as the Denver Public Library,
Denver Art Museum, Auraria Library, Tesoro Foundation, and
others.
Never one to slow down or give half-measure, Charlotte has
added quality time with her three grandchildren to her list
of enthusiastic pastimes.
David Barron
 Founder and President of the International
Conservation Caucus Foundation (Washington, DC), a very
active and growing, bi-partisan initiative to inform and
educate policy-makers on critical issues in international
conservation and environment. Dave is also Chairman of the
board of Barron-Birrell, Inc. and a prominent champion of
democracy and human rights, Dave has been active in
conservation, politics and private business for over 25
years. Dave has represented U.S. policies abroad in
various capacities and is a recognized expert in Sub-Saharan
African politics. He has addressed the United Nations,
authored foreign policy articles, and led many Congressional
tours to Africa -- where he now concentrates his attention
on developing U.S.-southern African business/political ties.
He has also played an important role (with explorer Michael
Fay, a WILD Trustee) in establishing the new national park
system in Gabon (West Africa), and in gathering support and
momentum for the US-lead Congo Basin Tropical Forest
Initiative.
Magalen Bryant
 A private investor and supporter of numerous
conservation enterprises, Mrs Bryant (Maggie) is fully
committed to the cause of intelligent nature preservation.
She serves on the board of directors of the Dover
Corporation and Carlisle Companies and is the former
chairperson of the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.
Maggie is also a recipient of the
Chevron Citizen Conservationist Award.
Douglas Cooper
 Douglas Cooper is a senior litigator and co-managing partner
at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek. Doug has substantial
experience in general commercial litigation as well as
construction litigation. He has tried numerous cases and
argued many appeals in both the federal and state courts. He
currently serves as a Trustee of the Long Island Chapter of
The Nature Conservancy. He has served as President of the
Thomas Paine National Historical Association, Chairman of
the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation and the New
Rochelle Environmental Conservation Advisory Committee.
Recently, Doug was invited to become one of twelve
members of the Board of Advisors of the Center for Crisis
Public Relations and Litigation Studies at Lehigh
University.
Dr. Chad P. Dawson
 Professor
of Recreation Resources Management and former Chair of the
Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management at the
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in
Syracuse, New York, Dr. Dawson has taught courses and
conducted research related to visitor management and
protected area and wilderness management. Dr. Dawson has
held research and education positions at Cornell University
and the University of Minnesota. He is the Managing Editor
of the International Journal of Wilderness and co-author
with Dr. John Hendee of the “Wilderness Management” textbook
(3rd edition). He served 9 years as an elected Board of
Education member and President (6 years) of a school
district in Oswego County, New York. Outdoor activities like
fly fishing, canoe camping, hiking, and boating keep him
connected to nature and wilderness.
James Dunlap
An Associate Partner at Scowcroft and Associates in
Washington, DC, Jim has many years of personal experience at
the interface of African affairs, with an unusual and
extensive experience in diplomacy and private business.
Before accepting the position at Scowcroft, Jim was at US
Department of State as the principal aide to Assistant
Secretary of State for Africa, Walter Kansteiner, and worked
in every African country. Prior to that, he lived (and
worked) in Namibia, Angola, and South Africa. His family --
all avid conservationists and riders -- is based on their
farm in northern Virginia.
Kat Haber
 My grandfathers taught me to respect the Earth. I have
created award winning gardens, innovative programs (Betty
Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail and the Center for Alaskan
Coastal Studies in Homer, AK), taken risks (freestyle
aerialist and Air Castles hot air balloon champagne flight
service in Boulder), pioneered new paths (one of the first
women attending US Air Force Academy, and dug deep within (Lifespring
councilor, Conscious Evolution guide, tribal native
spiritual ecology) all characterize paths of knowing, the
soul serenity found in wild places. As a student of the
Wilderness Leadership Training Course in Anchorage last
year, I was impressed with the depth and breadth of the 8th
World Wilderness Congress. I am honored to offer my talent,
treasure, relations to preserve Earth for my son’s sons.
Wild Foundation has great flexibility and strength to
inspire, inform, and involve citizens in wilderness
conservation.
Dr. John C. Hendee
.jpg) Former Dean of the University of Idaho, College of Natural
Resources (1985-94) and Director of the University's
Wilderness Research Center (1995-2002) in Moscow, Idaho,
USA, Dr Hendee (John) taught and lead research on the use of
wilderness for personal growth and wilderness therapy. John is senior co-author of the textbook Wilderness
Management (3 editions), and founding managing editor (1995)
and now editor-in-chief of the International Journal of
Wilderness. Now retired in Sausalito, California, John
consults, oversees the Hendee Tree Farm in northern
Michigan, and assists his wife, Marilyn Riley, in leading
wilderness programs with their non-profit educational
organization, www.wildernesstransitions.com.
Carl Hilker
 Based in Ohio, Carl and his wife Cathryn (a leading
public education expert on endangered cats, and a
professional animal trainer), are life-long
conservationists. Carl describes himself as aviation
entrepreneur, geologist, farmer, conservationist, railroad
buff, and collector of cannons and tall stories. Carl and
Cathryn, along with some other "cheetah believers,"
purchased the farm which became the Cheetah Conservation
Fund Research and Education Center in Namibia. Carl also
owns his own farm in Namibia, and helps coordinate WILD’s
field programs that involve purchase, maintenance and
deployment of anti-poaching and wildlife survey aircraft.
Vance G. Martin - President
 Vance joined WILD as president in 1984 after 15
years in international business and non-profit management.
An innovative leader known for bridging the interests of
people and nature, he has lived extensively overseas, worked
in over 40 countries, and helped to establish many
non-profits. He serves on the boards of numerous
organizations such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Friends
of Peace Parks, Conservation & Preservation Charities of
America, Fulcrum Publishing, Wilderness Foundation (South
Africa), Wilderness Foundation (UK), and others. He is also
the founder and current co-chairman of the IUCN Wilderness
Task Force, and has edited and authored many publications. A
native of the U.S. Piedmont region, he graduated magna cum
laude from West Virginia University.
Mike McBride
 Michael
McBride and his wife, Diane, are the founders/owners of The
Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge near Homer Alaska, named as
one of the “World’s Best Small Resorts” by the Harper
Hideaway Report. He served for six years as a member of the
Smithsonian’s National Board, is a former Trustee of the
Nature Conservancy and founder of the Center for Alaskan
Coastal Studies. The Center is a winner of the National
Science Foundations award for excellence in science
education and, now in its 25th year, over 43,000 children
have experienced multi-day marine science programs.
Mr. McBride has worked for several Alaskan governors in a
variety of capacities. He is an Advisory Board member of
Project Lighthawk and a founding patron for “The Bateleurs -
Volunteer Pilots Flying for Conservation in Africa.” He has
led expeditions around the world, is a fellow of the Royal
Geographical Society, a member of the Explorers Club, and a
Master Guide. He also writes and lectures about the
importance of Alaska to America’s future.
Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier
 Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier is one of conservation
photography’s strongest proponents. Her work focuses on the
delicate relationship between nature’s most spectacular and
endangered wildlife and Earth’s vanishing traditional human
cultures. This unique view of people and nature lies at the
heart of her work and is the key to understanding why her
images are so poignant and beautiful. Her ultimate mission
is to reconnect people’s lives to nature through the use of
photography.
For Cristina, photography did not come as a first career
choice. She was trained as a marine biologist and through
the years became a biodiversity conservation consultant. The
need to pick up a camera came after she had already
published a number of scientific papers dealing with the
loss of biodiversity and human cultures and she found
herself short of words to express her emotional connection
to the issues in which she was involved.
Andrew Muir
 Concentrating
on wild habitats, Andrew has understood natural areas as a
context for both social and environmental reform. The
programs he has initiated since 1987 have impacted over
ninety-five thousand South Africans, mostly from previously
disadvantaged backgrounds. As an environmental activist and
leader who targets community influencers - youth leaders;
politicians and opinion leaders - Andrew develops
opportunities for extending socio-political perceptions,
reforming environmental legislation, developing
environmental awareness among emerging young black leaders
and for activating a future for orphans of the Aids crisis.
In 2000, Andrew joined the Wilderness Foundation as the
Executive Director in South Africa. He has a Masters Degree
in Environment and Development from the University of Natal,
Pietermaritzburg and serves on a number of non-profit and
conservation Boards. In addition he is a Co-Founder and
Trustee of Usiko Rites of Passage, Chairman of the
Wilderness Leadership School Trust, Associate of the Gaia
Foundation (UK), Director of the Board of Open Africa
Initiative and Member and Deputy Chairperson of the Eastern
Cape Provincial Parks Board
Michael Sweatman
 A venture capitalist and businessman, birder and
conservationist, Michael's primary focus is to promote the
private sector role in conservation worldwide, particularly
in Africa. He provided the original impetus that eventually
led to the creation of the multi-billion dollar Global
Environmental Fund (GEF). He is president of Green Mountain
Capital, Stowe, Vermont, and is the former president of The
Mercantile Bank (Montreal), executive vice president of the
Bank of Montreal (Toronto), and president, WesBank
(Barclays, South Africa).
Jo Roberts
 Jo Roberts has been Director of the Wilderness
Foundation since 2004 but involved as projects Director and
project coordinator since 1998. South African by birth, Jo
has enjoyed a rich life of wild places in many parts of
Africa as she grew up. She graduated and worked as a Social
Anthropologist during the time of Apartheid, working mainly
with rural communities and migrant workers.
As a passionate conservationist and traveler always
interested in new adventures, Jo has explored wilderness
areas around the world on foot, canoe and on horseback. She
is never happier than sitting quietly listening and
absorbing all the elements of wild places. Her main interest
in life is the vital connection between humanity and nature,
and the value that experiential learning and outdoor
education brings to social and personal change. Jo focuses
her attention on linking wilderness trails to peace and
reconciliation and the effects of wilderness on developing
sound youth leadership built on environmental awareness and
ethics, and the turn around potential for youth who are
vulnerable or at risk. Using the extensive wilderness
network and her close link to South Africa and programmes
running there, she merges best practice from around the
world into creative programmes that suit British climate and
culture. Jo is married with two teenagers and lives in Essex
with her family.
Emeritus Directors:
Dr. Ian Player
 A seminal figure in international conservation, Dr
Player (Ian) founded WILD in 1974, and a number of other
organizations that have followed in its footsteps. South
African born and educated, Ian fought alongside the Allies in World
War II, and joined the KwaZulu Natal Parks Board in 1952.
Rising through the ranks to oversee all Zululand Reserves,
he led the team that saved the white rhino from extinction
in the 1960s, with famous Zulu game ranger Magqubu Ntombela.
Ian has received many awards, including the Order of
the Golden Ark and the Gold Medal for Conservation, and is a
Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
Robert C. Baron, Chairman Emeritus
Read a
Denver Post appreciation >>>
 Bob Baron is the founder and president of Fulcrum,
Inc., a Colorado-based book publishing company specializing
in the fields of conservation, history, biography, Native
American writing, gardening, travel, and children's books.
Bob has over 25 years of experience in business management,
engineering and publishing. A former executive at Honeywell
and founder and CEO of Prime Computer, a Fortune 500
company, Bob now spends most of his time writing a book on
the history of business in America. He also chairs the
American Antiquarian Society and is former vice chair of the
Massachusetts Audubon Society, trustee of the Lincoln Filene
Center at Tufts University, and director of the Rocky
Mountain Women's Institute and the Thoreau Society.
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