Tamar Ron
Tamar Ron was born and raised in Jerusalem. She has a BSc Biology and an MSc in Environmental Biology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She completed her PhD in Zoology at Natal University in 1991, having lived in Mkuzi Game Reserve in Zululand, South Africa, studying the behaviour of Chacma baboons for her thesis. Prior to this she trained in endangered wildlife management at the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust and conducted an ecological and behavioural study for Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctuary, a chimpanzee rehabilitation centre in northern Zambia. From 1992–2000 she worked as the wildlife ecologist for the Nature Reserves Authority of Israel. In 1998, at the behest of the Angolan Ministry of Environment, she represented the Israeli Foreign Office Department for International Co-operation in Angola. Through NORAD, the Norwegian agency, she was appointed as UNDP-Angola Chief Technical Adviser on Biodiversity Conservation. She returned to Israel in 2005 where she continues her work in conservation. She recently proposed a framework for transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) in southern Africa, now adopted by regional governments, SADC, the Southern African Development Community.