Endangered Wildlife Trust welcomes new Board of Trustees Chairman

The Endangered Wildlife Trust welcomed Muhammad Seedat as the new chair of the Board of Trustees at the end of January.

Elected during the Board meeting, Seedat, enters a seat that will guide the organisation into the next 50 years of conservation and research excellence.

Seedat joined the EWT Board in 2015 and has served on the Audit and Risk Committee and

Remuneration Committee since its inception. A keen hiker, cyclist, social runner, and avid cricket supporter, he believes that the EWT is poised for exponential growth based on the strong and solid foundation built by the previous, and current, leadership and team.

“It is, and will, become a stronger global player and advocate for conservation,” said Seedat. “Speed of change in the world we live in is exponential and we need to embrace that speed to soak up the opportunities that lie before us.”

As the newly-elected chair, Seedat will embark on the EWT re-clarifying its strategy and ensure that, in simple terms, “we understand where we are going, how we are going, but, most importantly, why we are heading to the destination of conservation excellence”.

Seedat explains that Simon Sinek’s concept of the ‘Power of Why’ determines your purpose.

“Passion drives that purpose. In our pursuit of a better tomorrow, the EWT’s work is fundamental and critical to the protection of species and habitat so that those who come after us have the opportunity of experiencing what we have the ability to experience,” he said.

In his first 100 days, Seedat aims to set plans in place for a more efficient operation that is geared for growth and the execution of the many opportunities that lie before the EWT. He added that this again is based on the strong foundations that have already been laid.

Although funding remains an issue for non-government organisations, such as the EWT, he believed that the not-for-profit body is well placed to curb this due to the brand that has been built and will continue to strive and thrive.

“Sustainability will always be a concern, but the opportunity is to build diverse income stream.

Donor fatigue remains an international challenge, but it is our aim to become the donee of choice based on the value returns the EWT delivers in terms of its programs and the dream for a better tomorrow,” said Seedat.

He was drawn to the EWT through the work that was being done by the organisation and its “utter importance” within the context of the world of today.

Seedat believes in the need for a better tomorrow, for those who come after us, a better world for our children.

“It would be a travesty if we had to explain to our grandchildren why an animal and species was extinct when we had the ability to prevent such a disastrous case,” said the father of four. “It is of vital importance that we educate our children and make them aware and conscious of how we need to tread lightly on this beautiful planet, so we ensure that their children and grandchildren have the ability to experience what we experience. We also need to educate them as to what the repercussions will be should we not be consciously aware and do all that is possible to minimize the effects of climate change and resultant impact.”

To achieve greater involvement by young people in the environment, requires getting them into the wild so that they can experience the real world “rather than one in front of a screen”.

Working with communities is of vital importance, he said, especially because of the already visible effects of climate change.

“Food security will be one of the most important considerations of the future. No loss of life that is preventable is acceptable. This proves that the EWT’s community programmes play an important role in advocacy, awareness, and prevention of climate change and of further importance, preservation of our amazing world,” he said.

In every organisation he has got involved in, his aims have been simple – to leave the organisation better than he found it and to begin with the end in mind. His aim is to ensure that the EWT becomes the leading organisation and expert in conservation excellence internationally.

He firmly believes there is a need for scaling up building on the strong foundations that have been laid, and that opportunities multiply if executed efficiently and effectively.

“We need to be focused on excellence in all we do,” said Seedat. “We are on this train together and we need to be moving in the same direction. Culture eats strategy for breakfast, and I implore each and every employee to imbibe and further build the culture of the organisation.

“We need to all be working towards the common vision of the EWT. The Board and I stand behind Yolan as the leader of this organisation, having led and built it over the past years,” said Seedat.