In the Name of Animals: How an NGO rules over National Parks in Africa

Lecture & Conversation with Olivier van Beemen: In the Name of Animals

African Parks is often hailed as a success story in nature conservation, managing over twenty protected areas across the continent with full authority delegated by the state. But does its model—dominated by white management and enforced through a militarized approach—still hold up today? What local and global challenges does it create?

After his award-winning investigation into Heineken’s operations in Africa, journalist Olivier van Beemen turns his attention to another pressing issue in his latest book, Im Namen der Tiere. Over three years, he conducted in-depth research, interviewed nearly 300 sources, and traveled across six countries to uncover the hidden realities behind conservation efforts.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion as van Beemen shares his findings and explores the complex intersections of conservation, power, and neocolonial influence.

The event will be held in English.

About the Speaker:
Olivier van Beemen is an investigative journalist based in Amsterdam, writing for Follow the Money and De Groene Amsterdammer. His research on Heineken in Africa earned him the prestigious Tegel award, and his book Heineken in Africa was published in five languages, receiving nominations for multiple prizes in the Netherlands, France, and the UK. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Le Monde, The Continent, and other international media.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with a leading investigative journalist on one of today’s most urgent conservation debates.