Bronx, NY, Feb. 23, 2026 – The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) today announced the appointment of Stephen L. Ham as Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, effective March 1, 2026.

A highly collaborative senior executive with more than 20 years of experience leading global philanthropy strategies, Ham will oversee WCS’s comprehensive fundraising efforts, advancing the organization’s mission to save wildlife and wild places worldwide. He currently serves as WCS’s Vice President of Individual Giving.

“Stephen has the strategic vision and leadership to help WCS scale our impact—across our four zoos and aquarium in New York City and throughout our field conservation program in more than 55 countries,” said Adam Falk, President and CEO of WCS. “He understands the extraordinary power of our model: connecting millions of visitors at our urban wildlife parks with the largest and longest-standing field conservation program in the world. Stephen brings a deep commitment to conservation, a sophisticated understanding of global philanthropy, and a proven ability to build high-performing teams and secure transformational support that advances our mission.”

Ham has spent his professional life dedicated to global conservation. Since joining WCS in 2016, he has played a central role in shaping and executing a philanthropic growth strategy. Prior to WCS, Ham served as Senior Director of Philanthropy at the African Wildlife Foundation and he worked closely with Dr. Jane Goodall as a special assistant in the Office of the Founder at the Jane Goodall Institute, supporting international fundraising tours and high-profile global events.

Ham began his conservation career as an Environmental Volunteer with the United States Peace Corps in Ghana, West Africa, where he partnered with farming communities to launch sustainable forest management and wildlife conservation initiatives. He holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies, with highest honors, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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