Hugues is a conservation professional from Benin with over 20 years of experience in conservation leadership and project management across Africa. He began his career as a conservation officer in Benin and has since worked with research institutions, government agencies, and national and international NGOs across the continent. Driven by a deep passion for conservation, Hugues has built a multidisciplinary career spanning monitoring and evaluation, project and programme management, operations, engagement with major institutional donors, and the coaching and mentoring of emerging leaders. He is an Obama Leadership Program Fellow and holds an MBA in Conservation Leadership from the African Leadership University (ALU), as well as an MSc in Project Management. Over the course of his career, Hugues has led or contributed to more than 25 conservation programmes and initiatives across Africa. He firmly believes that nature is the foundation of life and is committed to cultivating a new generation of African conservation leaders who are shaping the future of the sector through innovation, collaboration, and impact. Hugues joined African Parks in 2018, initially overseeing the institutional funding portfolio until 2021. He subsequently transitioned to operations, serving as General Manager of the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex and Country Representative in Benin. In May 2023, he was promoted to Regional Operations Manager for West Africa, where he continues to champion effective, collaborative, and forward-thinking conservation across the region.