David Thomson

David Thomson is the current Chair of the Board of Trustees of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). A New Zealand native, Thomson now lives in California, where, as a business entrepreneur, he helps capitalize and manage a diverse range of investments including technology start ups, a successful restaurant group, and other impact investment opportunities. Thomson’s true philanthropy passion is for wildlife and land conservation. In addition to his AWF chairmanship, he is also on the board of the American Friends of Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, which works to remove exotic species from New Zealand forests and restore native bird populations.

Thomson shares his passion for Africa and its wildlife with his wife Karie and their son Paul, who is the manager and administrator for Ewaso Lions, a Kenya-based conservation project that addresses human-lion conflict and works to protect lions and other large carnivores in northern Kenya. Conservation is an inherent part of the Thomson family.