CAREERS IN CONSERVATION –Kish Chetty
Kish Chetty has joined the EWT as a Senior Manager for Sustainable Financing. Here is a little bit about Kish’s journey to a career in conservation.
Job title: Senior Manager Sustainable Financing
Location: Potchefstroom
Where did you grow up? Johannesburg
What are your hobbies/things you like to do in your spare time? I do a lot of golf, boxing, field hockey, and hiking. I do the occasional triathlon (I am not a fan of swimming), but I love running and cycling. Though the next tri race for me is May 2024, as I rebuild some strength post-injury (a.k.a. I need to lose some weight). I really enjoy cooking and baking, and have been practising doing both on the open fire – so basically, I love to braai, and I love eating (which can conflict with my triathlon training).
Any pets? At the time of writing this, I am in the process of trying to adopt two Jack Russell Terriers from the local shelter. Check back with me to see if this has worked out.
Favourite animal and why: The Wild Dog is my favourite animal. I studied them since I was very young. I love the pack’s social dynamics and close bonds between members, and watching them hunt and kill has been some of the best bush experiences of my life.
Favourite food? I am reflecting on two meals for obvious ‘strategic’ reasons. A mushroom risotto (cooked by my wife) and a Durban-style lamb curry (cooked by my mom).
Pet peeve? People who forget how to drive at a big cat sighting in a game reserve or national park.
Why did you want to work for the EWT? The Endangered Wildlife Trust is the leading conservation NGO in South Africa and is growing its pawprint on the African continent. I want to be genuinely involved at the forefront in protecting and enhancing biodiversity, so the opportunity of working within the EWT was a no-brainer. Coupled with that, I have the incredible prospect of working with and learning from a leadership team that has loads of experience in this sector, which will certainly grow me as an individual.
What excites you about this new position? I am excited about working across every Programme and with Support Services and bringing my unique skill set and business case perspective to support and enhance the work that is already done. I am also excited about working with the EWT staff, as the people within EWT work incredibly hard and are driven by their passion, whether they are on the ground or in the office. I want to feed off the passion and support my colleagues as much as I can.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about big-picture conservation thinking, the business case for biodiversity, and collaboration for greater conservation success. I am also very passionate about mentoring.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who did it come from? The best advice I received was from my dad. It is to ‘always keep moving forward’ – no matter the challenge ahead or the struggles I currently face, I try to find a way to always keep moving forward.