Thato Barbara Morule is currently an independent Technical Advisor/freelancing consultant since July 2023. Before that, she was employed by Conservation International (CI) Botswana as the Field Implementation Director under the (CI)-GCF Botswana Project: Ecosystem Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands from February 2022 to June 2023.  She joined CI from the Kalahari Conservation Society (KCS), conservation NGO as the Chief Executive Officer for two years (Feb 2020 to Jan 2022) after being the Deputy CEO for 3 months after joining KCS in December 2019.  Prior, Thato was with the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) for two years (2018 to 2019) as the Policy Advocacy Manager responsible for the overall coordination of the HATAB policy advocacy agenda in order to promote an enabling environment for the hospitality and tourism sector growth in Botswana.  Prior to this, Thato served as Chief Strategist at National Strategy Office (NSO), Office of the President (OP) in the Ministry of State President focusing on in coordinating the development and implementation of national strategies through research, management, monitoring & evaluation of sectoral strategies for national prosperity in order to create a dynamic forward looking and globally competitive Botswana.  Before that, Thato worked at the Directorate of Public Service Management as a Management Analyst; SADC Secretariat as the first SADC Technical Advisor for Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) and Department of Wildlife & National Parks (DWNP) as Wildlife Biologist/researcher. Thato holds MSc in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture from the then Agricultural University of Norway and BSc (Agric) in Wildlife Resources (Biology) from McGill University in Canada.  In building her professional skills, Thato undertook several development courses and holds Diploma/Certificates including in Project Management (UNISA), Business Process Management programme and Business Analysis (Viewpoint, RSA), Result-based Management and Performance Indicators (SETYM), and Management Services (Harry-Mitchell College/Chinal Consultants, UK).  With over 20 years of post-graduate experience, Thato is highly experienced with demonstrated ability, strong scientific research and strategic thinking/support to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in a variety of public policy development, legislative compliance and fast-paced environments.    She also has experienced of independently providing technical support and guidance to local, regional and international institutions/organization in various policy and regulatory landscape.   This resulted in having technical abilities of promoting public-private coordination and in-depth understanding of systems and processes on environmental and conservation management as well as the sector’s contribution to sustainable development principles.   Thato has also demonstrated commitment to Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) in the promotion of viable economic opportunities in promoting sustainable utilization of natural resources (including cultural heritage) and the establishment of private sector/community-based partnerships. Thato is also highly competent in cross-sectoral communication skills and possesses strategic and analytical skills, innovative and creative skills with an outstanding interpersonal skills and networking.