We live in a world facing the persistent threats and consequences of climate change, biodiversity loss, and wildlife extinction. The specific impacts may be felt somewhat differently on a regional level, but the overall scale of environmental deterioration is, by all means, global in scope.
Protecting the natural environment and fostering coexistence between people and animals is essential to safeguarding the health of our planet’s future. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has recognized this fundamental need and works diligently to on programmatic work across the globe to help both animals and people thrive together.
By incorporating this ethos and accompanying it alongside a consistent practice of innovative and sustainable conservation practice, the institution has been recognized as one of the “Most Innovative Companies to Watch 2025,” by The CEO Views. While celebrating this achievement, Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of IFAW, took a moment to reflect on the company’s incredible journey.
An Evolution Worth Cherishing
IFAW began its life-saving journey back in 1969, launching with a single campaign focused in Canada. Over time, the organization has evolved to be present in nearly every continent across the globe. When Azzedine Downes assumed the role of President and CEO in 2012, he set out to transform the organization from a collection of well-intentioned projects into a more unified vision that connects people, animals, and the place we call home.
Under Azzedine’s leadership, IFAW evolved into a cohesive institution thanks in large part to his vision of positioning IFAW as a thought leader and advocating for the deep connection between people and nature. This was a major departure from the approach of other organizations as IFAW now emphasized the need to ensure that both people and animals were equal stakeholders on this journey of survival. “We redefined the brand around the idea of animals and people thriving together in the shared space we call home—the planet,” Azzedine shares.
Rescue and Conservation
IFAW is built on two key pillars: rescue and conservation. “Rescue” refers to saving individual animals whose species and populations are under threat, while “Conservation” focuses on preserving habitats, giving animals a safe place to live. As Azzedine points out, it is a futile endeavor to rescue animals if one doesn’t have a place for them to live. At the heart of these pillars is IFAW’s revolutionary conservation initiative known as Room to Roam.
“We understand that to protect the planet, we must protect biodiversity and invest in the people who live alongside wildlife,” he says. “It’s a complex task and one which must be viewed holistically to ensure an effective outcome.”
Habitat connectivity, the principal cornerstone of Room to Roam, is fundamental for the resilience and stability of species populations. Using savanna elephants as a keystone species for biodiversity conservation, Room to Roam aims to create a network of connected, climate-resilient landscapes across East and Southern Africa. The scale of this initiative is enormous which adds to its complexity in terms of implementation, but which also lays the groundwork for unparalleled transnational conservation success.
IFAW is often described by Downes as being powered by human connections, with its brand and reputation built staunchly upon two core values of trust and mutual respect. For IFAW, the true reflection of its mission of animals and people thriving together lies in the trust it has earned from the communities living alongside wildlife and the partners which whom they work.
Challenges Along the Way
One of the notable challenges IFAW encountered in its mission to ensure that both humans and animals thrive together was convincing government officials and the United Nations of the importance of collaborating on initiatives regarding human development, hence shifting the narrative to demonstrate the clear benefits of investing in those communities living alongside wildlife. It can take years when dealing with life spans of elephants. Therefore, convincing people that results would not be immediate proved to be another significant hurdle, though one which IFAW consistently met.
Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release into Secure Spaces
The concentric, overlapping circles of IFAW’s approach begins with the first circle: secure. This involves begins with the first circle: secure. This involves ensuring safe spaces for wildlife—spaces free from poachers, criminal activity, and wildlife trafficking. This can include conservancies, sanctuaries or national parks. As IFAW operates in open spaces where impoverished communities live near wildlife areas, addressing these challenges often requires additional support.
The second circle focuses on disrupting illegal wildlife trades, worth an estimated $2 billion annually. To tackle this, IFAW collaborates with police and customs officials to raise awareness about the networks behind these illicit trades, combining efforts in both rescue and conservation.
Fostering Innovation
Resistance is often the greatest challenge in driving innovation, and Azzedine addresses this by fostering an environment where ideas can be shared openly across all levels of the organization. He is a strong believer that rigid organizational structures can stifle imagination and creativity. Azzedine encourages managers to be introspective and to reconsider their approaches, urging them to eliminate practices that suppress innovation. In his view, embracing and listening to the ideas of others is key to driving meaningful innovation.
The Futuristic Vision
In a world where the younger generation is anxious and believes there’s nothing that can be done to save the planet, Azzedine advocates the critical step of starting with hope—that change is possible.
Beginning with hope, respect, and patience is what emerging entrepreneurs must do, recommends Azzedine. Spending time listening before speaking can take future entrepreneurs much further in life. Oftentimes the answers are right before us if we choose to listen.
