Biography: Derek de la Harpe

Wilderness Head of Risk And Corporate Affairs

Derek qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the then Price Waterhouse in Zimbabwe. Having initially followed a conventional career path, after qualifying he moved into the firm’s Strategic & Financial Management Consulting Department, eventually becoming Head of Department. He then pioneered a new consulting practice specialising in what would now be considered sustainability consulting, and served for the next 10 years as partner in charge of that department.

 
After nearly 18 years in the profession, Derek took over as CEO of The Malilangwe Trust, a non-profit organisation operating a wildlife conservation and rural development programme based in a private game reserve in south-eastern Zimbabwe. In this role he also oversaw the launch and ongoing operation of a high-profile tourism operation. 
After eight years in that role, he launched his own consulting business specialising in the interface between wildlife conservation and tourism development, as well as in the fast-developing sustainability field.

 
In 2010, Derek realised a long-term goal and joined Wilderness Holdings Limited immediately after the company’s IPO. He started out as Chief Financial Officer, charged with overseeing the Group’s shift to a listed company. He also served from the outset as Chief Sustainability Officer, responsible for developing and rolling out the Group’s sustainability strategy. After four years as CFO, he transitioned to Commercial Director, retaining responsibility for sustainability, risk management and legal affairs, but also taking on the role of overseeing the Group’s aviation business.

 
Derek’s current focus remains on overseeing the risk, legal and corporate matters of  the Group, also driving its core focus on Impact. 

 
Derek is immensely gratified by the enthusiastic manner in which Wilderness’ staff have embraced the company’s core impact ethos, with the result that Wilderness is considered the foremost conservation tourism operation in Africa, if not beyond, as demonstrated by the number of local and international awards won by the business for its sustainability programmes and reporting.