we are
friends of vamizi

Our Story

Friends of Vamizi was established in 2002 with a vision to help protect the unique natural environment of Vamizi Island while supporting the communities who call it home.

For more than two decades, we have supported conservation, research and community initiatives that safeguard Vamizi's marine and coastal ecosystems and promote a sustainable future for the island.

As conservation efforts evolved, our role developed into supporting fundraising, awareness and international engagement, while implementation on the ground is now led by Fundação Quirimbas in Mozambique.

Today, Friends of Vamizi continues to support the protection of Vamizi's exceptional biodiversity and the wellbeing of its communities for generations to come.

the people behind our charity

The Friends of Vamizi Trust is a UK registered not-for-profit charity governed by a Chair and 4 other Trustees.

  • Carl Gustaf Lundin is Chair of the Friends of Vamizi Trust. He is a Swedish marine conservation specialist with more than three decades’ experience in ocean science, marine policy and sustainable development. He is Senior Vice President at Leidar, an international leadership and communications consultancy, and previously was CEO and Managing Director of Mission Blue, an ocean conservation organisation. He spent more than 20 years at IUCN, where he was Principal Marine and Polar Scientist and Director of the Global Marine and Polar Programme, and earlier worked at the World Bank on coastal and marine investments.

    His work has focused on marine conservation, biodiversity and the protection of fragile ocean ecosystems. He brings significant experience of working with governments, institutions and conservation partners on practical approaches to large-scale environmental challenges.

  • Ed has been involved in the Vamizi Island project since 2010. Ed is a financier and political economist specializing in technology entrepreneurship. He is an Advisory Board member of the Davis Institute at Harvard University, a Director of Flashpoint Venture Capital and an Advisory Board Member of Runa Venture Capital. Ed holds degrees from UCL (MA) and University of Oxford (MPhil) in Political Economics.

  • Martin Andersson is a Trustee of The Friends of Vamizi Trust. He is a Swedish investor with more than three decades of experience across mergers and acquisitions, investment banking and principal investing, with significant experience in emerging markets. Over his career he has co‑founded and led a Moscow‑based investment bank later acquired by a global financial institution, served as chairman and board member of several listed and private companies, and built a diversified portfolio spanning mining, energy, real estate, financial services and technology. He has worked closely with governments, commercial partners and local communities in complex environments, with a consistent focus on long‑term, responsible investment.

    Alongside his business activities, Martin is deeply committed to marine conservation and the protection of fragile ecosystems, a commitment reflected in his long‑standing support for the Vamizi Trust. He has played an active role in helping the Trust and its partners safeguard Vamizi’s unique marine environment, promote sustainable livelihoods for local communities and attract international expertise and funding to the region.

  • Jonathan Chenevix-Trench is a Trustee of The Friends of Vamizi Trust. He spent 23 years at Morgan Stanley, and in 2005 he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of Morgan Stanley International. Since 2008, he has served on a range of boards and has been involved in the management of charitable and private equity portfolios.

    He also co-founded African Century Limited, which focuses on long-term investment and skills development in sub-Saharan East Africa, with a particular focus on Zimbabwe and Mozambique.He brings extensive experience in financial leadership and board governance, along with a strong focus on long-term investment.

  • Henry Pitman is a Trustee of The Friends of Vamizi Trust. He is an entrepreneur and investor with more than three decades of experience across corporate leadership, healthcare, and principal investing, with a particular focus on the UK and emerging markets. Over his career, he founded and led Tribal Group plc, growing it from a small start-up into a leading UK support services group, and served as chairman and board member of several listed and private companies. He is currently the Founder and Chief Executive of OPTIMISM Health Group and Non-Executive Chairman of Hercules Site Services PLC.

    Alongside his corporate leadership, he co-founded the African Century Group with a focus on long-term investment and skills development in sub-Saharan Africa. Through this work, Henry brings extensive experience in board governance and community engagement to support the Trust's initiatives.