Josh Ponte

Public Affairs Director

Josh has more than twenty years of experience working in Gabon. His career there began in 2001 when he moved from the UK to live among 16 lowland gorillas. He was part of the seminal team that established 13 national parks in 2002, safeguarding 11% of Gabon's forest, grassland, coast, and ocean.

His efforts to engage local communities in the conservation program and his subsequent recording of Gabon's cultural and natural heritage earned him a coveted place on the National Geographic roster of explorers. As a public speaker, he has led several global campaigns and produced and directed award-winning films, notably on Gabonese natural history, tradition, and culture. Serving as an advisor to the Gabonese government, Josh curated the 50th Anniversary of Independence exhibition and has since led countless expeditions to the most remote places and communities across Gabon. He has a long record producing multimedia exhibitions and events promoting Gabon's extraordinary natural, environmental and cultural heritage. Josh leads public policy and ACDG's innovative approach to sustainable development, balancing economic opportunities, biodiversity conservation, and community well-being in the face of climate change.