Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka: Bessie Award Finalist for Lifetime Achievement

Ready to meet a real trailblazer? We’re highlighting Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, a finalist for the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by JourneyWoman, which honors individuals with a long-term impact on the travel industry. Read on for our interview with Dr. Gladys, where she shares her journey, inspirations, and vision for the future of travel.

About the Bessie Awards

The Bessie Awards celebrate the trailblazers, changemakers, and visionaries who are reshaping the travel industry for the better. Named in honor of Bessie Coleman, the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license. These awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to empowering women and fostering inclusivity in travel.

About Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka: Trailblazing wildlife veterinarian, conservation leader and more

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is a wildlife veterinarian, conservationist, and the visionary founder of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH). As Uganda’s first wildlife vet, she pioneered disease monitoring, healthcare, and translocation programs that protect both gorillas and the communities living near them. Through CTPH, she champions the One Health approach, recognizing the deep connection between people, wildlife, and the environment. Her groundbreaking work has earned global recognition, including the UNEP Champion of the Earth Award and a spot on the BBC 100 Women list. She is also the author of Walking With Gorillas, a memoir about her leadership journey in conservation.

Tell us your story! How did you find your way into the travel industry?

My journey into the travel industry came coincidentally through my passion for wildlife
conservation. As Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, I have spent 30 years working to protect mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. I quickly realized that human health and livelihoods directly impact conservation efforts when people made gorillas sick. This realization led me to establish Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), where we use the One Health approach to improve both wildlife and human health, ensuring a thriving ecosystem. Through gorilla conservation, we have contributed to sustainable ecotourism,
attracting travellers from around the world and making a significant impact. Gorillas generate the highest tourism revenue for Uganda.

What motivates you to do your work today?

I am motivated by the interconnectedness of people, wildlife, and the environment. Seeing how protecting gorillas uplifts local communities through tourism, healthcare, and livelihoods, drives me forward. Every time a young Ugandan expresses interest in conservation because of our work, or a former poacher becomes a wildlife guardian, I know we are making a lasting impact. The success of gorilla tourism in Uganda has shown that conservation doesn’t have to be a sacrifice; it can be a win-win for both people and nature.

What is your proudest career accomplishment?

One of my proudest moments was helping Uganda’s mountain gorilla population recover. When I started, gorillas were critically endangered, threatened by disease and habitat loss. Through CTPH, we pioneered gorilla health monitoring, community-based conservation through a One Health approach that addresses the health of people, animals and the environment together, and sustainable ecotourism models through a Gorilla Conservation Coffee and Gorilla Conservation Camp initiatives. Today, the population has grown, and Bwindi’s gorillas are now classified as endangered rather than critically endangered, which is a major milestone. Gaining global recognition through awards, media features, and talks about our work has been a defining moment. It acknowledges our efforts on a global scale and motivates me to do even more.

What does it mean to you to have the community nominate you for a Bessie Award?

Being nominated for a Bessie Award is a truly great honour because it represents
recognition from the people we serve; travellers, conservationists, and local communities. It reinforces the idea that responsible travel and conservation can go hand in hand. It is
particularly meaningful because it highlights the role of African women in conservation, an area where we need more representation. This nomination inspires me to continue
advocating for sustainable tourism and empowering local communities.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the travel industry today?

The travel industry is facing challenges such as climate change, over-tourism, and ensuring ethical, sustainable tourism. Wildlife tourism, while beneficial, must be carefully managed to prevent habitat destruction, disease transmission, and cultural exploitation. One of our current initiatives is promoting responsible tourism to the great apes by reinforcing the mask mandate when people visit the gorillas and encouraging tourists to support local communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic I co-authored a policy brief on this critical issue where tour companies and tourists are among the target audience. We developed the policy brief together with International Gorilla Conservation Programme and the Africa CSO Biodiversity Alliance. The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted the need for resilience in conservation funding, when travel stopped, so did many conservation efforts. We need more community-driven, sustainable models that ensure tourism benefits both the environment and the people who depend on it.

Who in the industry do you look to as inspiration?

I am inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall, who revolutionized conservation through her ground
breaking studies of the chimpanzees showing how similar they are to humans, and inspiring the world with empathy helping to protect all great apes. She also raised awareness on the importance of working with local communities and children to protect wildlife. I am so glad that she got to write the Foreword for my book, Walking With Gorillas: the Journey of an African Wildlife Vet. Closer to home, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has done an incredible job of balancing tourism and conservation, ensuring that gorilla permits fund both wildlife protection and community development. UWA was my first employer as a wildlife vet, and they have continued being supportive towards me, and CTPH.

What’s next for you in your career?

I am focused on expanding CTPH’s impact by scaling up community-led conservation efforts beyond Uganda. We are working to share our One Health model with other countries facing similar challenges. Additionally, I am passionate about mentoring young conservationists and advocating for greater representation of African women in wildlife leadership through Women for the Environment – Africa where I am on the leadership council and African Primatological Society where I serve as the Vice President. Through my book, Walking with Gorillas, I hope to inspire the next generation to embrace conservation as a career.

What do you envision for the future of the travel industry?

I see a future where sustainable travel is the norm, not the exception. Travelers will seek experiences that contribute positively, whether through wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, or community empowerment. I envision more eco-friendly tourism practices, such as low-impact accommodations, carbon offsetting, and ethical wildlife encounters. Most importantly, I hope to see local communities taking the lead in conservation and tourism, ensuring that they are not just participants, but decision-makers in shaping the future of their natural heritage.

Travel, at its best, connects people, wildlife, and communities in a way that benefits everyone. Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka has spent her career proving that conservation and tourism can go hand in hand. Through her work at Conservation Through Public Health, she’s not just protecting gorillas – she’s empowering local communities and reshaping the future of sustainable travel.