In March 2026, the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) Foundation is thrilled to celebrate Christina Godding, a long-time ally of elephants and a true champion for our planet. From her days as Programme Administrator at the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation to her current role as Programme Officer on the Food Systems, Ocean, and Land-Use Programme at ClientEarth, Christina has carried her passion for wildlife and conservation into every corner of her work. EPI Foundation caught up with her for a fun chat about elephants, conservation adventures, and what it really means to be a friend of wildlife
Tell us a bit about your upbringing and what inspired your passion for wildlife conservation.
I had always loved animals and been fascinated by wildlife as a child. However, I didn’t know about “conservation” at the time. I thought that if you wanted to work with animals, you either became a vet or a zookeeper – both wonderful and admirable jobs, but neither felt quite right for me. I went on to study Economics at the undergraduate level, as I thought it would be a broad and useful subject that could be transferable to many career paths and open different doors for me.
It was during my undergrad placement year that everything changed. Having only recently discovered international volunteering, I travelled to Zimbabwe to spend four weeks on a game reserve in Gweru. Here, I got to work with lions, elephants and other fascinating African wildlife, as well as engage with the local community. It was there that I first learned about the world of conservation, and I was immediately captivated – by the concept itself, and by the deep love I developed for both Africa’s wildlife and its people. From that single experience, I knew this was what I was meant to do!
I spent every moment after that doing all I could to transition into conservation – from returning to Zimbabwe to complete wildlife reserve management and wildlife conservation research internships, to volunteering more closely to home with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), both on their illegal wildlife trade fundraising campaign and as a Visitor Engagement Volunteer at London Zoo itself. I later undertook a Master’s in Conservation at University College London to build the academic foundation and cement my transition into a career in conservation.
After completing my studies, I was thrilled to gain my first professional role in conservation at the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation, where I could contribute to two of my key interests: improving human-wildlife coexistence and tackling the illegal wildlife trade. I learned so much, worked alongside experts in the field, and connected with many brilliant partners across Africa. I’m grateful for the skills, experiences, and connections I gained at EPIF – the first chapter of many I hope to come in my conservation career.
You now work on food systems, oceans, and land use. What’s one surprising link between elephants and your current work?
In my current role at ClientEarth, I work within the Europe branch of the Food Systems, Ocean and Land Use programme. Although my focus is on European projects currently, many of the initiatives I’ve been fortunate to support have long-reaching impacts that extend to habitats and wildlife, including elephant populations, in Africa. It has been surprising to see just how interconnected our world and ecosystems really are, and how the decisions and actions of businesses and governments on one continent can have profound consequences for communities and wildlife on another.
What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities in aligning elephant conservation with broader environmental issues like food systems, land use, and climate change?
I think that one of the biggest challenges today is that, as broader environmental issues like climate change and unsustainable food systems and land use become ever more urgent and take centre stage, competition for already limited funding and resources is likely to intensify. With so many organisations competing for the same scarce support, there’s a real risk that species-specific conservation could be overshadowed as funding is channelled into tackling broader systemic issues.
While addressing those root causes is essential and will bring huge benefits for wildlife and people alike, I believe it is vital that we continue to direct funding towards species-specific conservation, also, so that wildlife receives the critical, targeted, on-the-ground protection that is needed to address immediate threats too. This is especially true for keystone and ecosystem engineer species – like elephants – whose protection not only safeguards them, but also supports the health of their ecosystems, and the many other species that depend on those habitats.
In your view, why is collaboration between organisations critical for driving lasting impact in conservation?
For starters, I don’t believe any single organisation can solve today’s conservation challenges alone. No one actor has the capacity, knowledge, resources, or expertise to single-handedly address issues of this complexity. We are learning more every day how cross-cutting and interconnected these challenges really are – they affect everything from the smallest organisms to the most biodiverse ecosystems, and from the lone pastoralists to the world’s largest, global economies. And it is because of this vast, wide-reaching nature of environmental issues that lasting impact can only happen when we share learning, pool resources, and bring together different areas of expertise.
During my time at the EPIF, I was fortunate enough to see (and to play a part in) this kind of transformative cross-border, multi-sector collaboration when we teamed up with the World Bank’s Global Wildlife Program to host an international Human-Elephant Conflict & Coexistence workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop brought together government representatives, NGOs, funding institutions, and experts from across countries, departments, and sectors to openly share knowledge and experiences.
The mix of perspectives led to context-specific insights, lessons learned, and practical recommendations that none of us could have reached alone. It was inspiring to witness everyone working together, and the success of the event showed just how powerful true collaboration can be.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to build a career in wildlife and environmental conservation?
As someone who didn’t come from a conservation background, my first piece of advice would be that it is never too late to become a conservationist. It doesn’t matter what walk of life you come from or what your previous experience is – if you want to build a career in conservation, all you need is a bit of tenacity, a willingness to learn, and commitment to the cause (and the dream!).
If, like me, you start from scratch, focus on building your knowledge, experience, and network. Formal education can also be a huge asset. I went on to do a Master’s in Conservation at UCL, which gave me the core foundations of conservation science and practice, and really helped me to build up my knowledge base. Additionally, wherever possible, try to gain field experience. Volunteer locally with conservation groups near you, and if you can, take on international opportunities to see how things work in practice.
If you can get out into the field, I also believe it is critical to spend time with the local communities. These are the people who live in and among the wildlife and habitats you hope to protect. Those are their lands, and they are the true guardians of their home. Understanding local knowledge, history, culture, and lived experiences is essential for conservation that benefits both people and wildlife.