Esther is a highly accomplished conservation and nature markets leader with advanced qualifications in commerce, finance, and management from the University of Venda, UNISA–SBL, and Singapore Institute of Banking and Finance, and over 23 years of experience spanning executive leadership, research, consulting, and community development in the global conservation sector. She has held influential roles advising and influencing governments, the EU, UNDP, IUCN, and the World Economic Forum on nature markets frameworks; chaired and founded multiple national and international organisations advancing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ rights in conservation; and is widely recognised for breaking barriers for women in wildlife and environmental governance. Her expertise lies in community governance, international conservation strategy, nature markets, and biodiversity finance, with active leadership in shaping high-integrity biodiversity credit frameworks and global policy dialogue.