Katy Scholfield Joins Arcus as Great Apes & Gibbons Director for Strategic Grantmaking

May 11, 2021

NEW YORK, NY; CAMBRIDGE, UK – The Arcus Foundation, a global foundation promoting respect for diversity among peoples and in nature, is pleased to announce the appointment of Katy Scholfield (preferred gender pronouns: she/her) to the Great Apes & Gibbons Program as Director for Strategic Grantmaking.

In this new role, Scholfield will oversee the foundation’s conservation grantmaking across Africa and Southeast Asia, where Arcus focuses on the conservation and well-being of gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos, and gibbons in both sanctuaries and their natural habitats.

Scholfield comes to Arcus after a 10-year career at Synchronicity Earth (SE), which works to bring about meaningful change for endangered species, vulnerable ecosystems, and marginalized communities. At SE, Scholfield was most recently Head of Biocultural Diversity and Co-Head of Programmes. During her tenure at SE, she played a key role in developing its forest conservation work in Africa and Papua New Guinea, as well as its marine and regeneration programs.

Also at SE, Scholfield led groundbreaking work to support the conservation efforts of Indigenous peoples. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environment, ecology and economics from the University of York, and two degrees from the University of Manchester: a master’s in environment and development and a doctor of philosophy degree in international development policy and management.

“We are delighted to welcome Katy to the Arcus team,” says Annette Lanjouw, Arcus Foundation CEO and Head of the Great Apes & Gibbons Program. “She brings an outstanding mix of qualifications and experience to this new role.

“We have worked closely with her through our ongoing partnership with Synchronicity Earth, so we know first-hand what a strong and collaborative partner she is,” Lanjouw continues. “We look forward to the tremendous contributions that we know she will make to the impact of our programming and to the success of our movement.”

In addition to Lanjouw and Scholfield, Arcus’ Great Apes & Gibbons team is made up of Linda May, Program Director, Captive Apes; Adam Phillipson, Program Officer; Marie Stevenson, Director of UK Administration; and Alison White, Program Officer.

ABOUT ARCUS
Founded in 2000 by Jon Stryker, the Arcus Foundation is a private grantmaking institution dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. Arcus’ work is based on the belief that respect for diversity among peoples and in nature is essential to a positive future for our planet and all of its inhabitants. The foundation works globally and has offices in New York City and Cambridge, UK.

MEDIA CONTACT
Bryan Simmons
Vice President of Communications
Arcus Foundation
646-837-8875
bsimmons@arcusfoundation.org

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