Basilia Shivute

Basilia Shivute grew up in a rural village in northern Namibia, where a subsistence lifestyle and a strong sense of community shaped her early years and ignited a deep connection to nature. These beginnings continue to inspire her passion for community conservation.

With over 22 years of professional experience, Basilia has built her career across the fields of project management, biodiversity management, community-based conservation, and sustainable development. Since joining IRDNC in 2013, she has risen to become the Senior Operations Manager for the Kunene Region. In this role, she leads a dedicated team supporting over 30 community-based conservation organizations across northwest Namibia, supporting rural communities to manage vast areas of community conservation land. 

She holds two master’s degrees—an MSc in Biodiversity Management and Research, and an MBA—and she is an alumna of both the African Conservation Leadership Network and Women for the Environment Africa (WE Africa).

As a resilient African woman leader, she is passionate about nature, people, culture, women’s empowerment, youth development, rural development, and wildlife-based livelihoods.