Elephant matriarchs don't try and be bulls. They just are who they are.
Dr Tammie Matson has been working on elephants since 2005 and has inspired thousands of people, from children to adults, to achieve their dreams through her award-winning books, speeches and African adventures. Inspired by a visit to Zimbabwe at the age of fifteen, Tammie achieved a PhD in zoology from her work on the conservation of the threatened black-faced impala of Namibia, then became a published author – all before she turned 25.
From the jungles of Borneo to the plains of Africa, to the black markets of Vietnam, Dr Tammie Matson has been on a mission for almost three decades to save endangered wildlife. She has survived charges by lions, slept in a tiny tent while elephants stood over the top of it at night in the Namibian desert, stood up to angry Zimbabwean war veterans and seen first-hand the brutal war against ruthless poachers and the bloody carcasses of the wildlife she loves. She has met presidents and traffickers in palaces and tourist markets, journeying to the dark heart of the dark illegal ivory and rhino horn industry in Southeast Asia.
Today, she balances her passionate commitment to conservation with running her ethical safari and consultancy business, Matson & Ridley Safaris, and being a mother to two young sons. She and her husband Andy Ridley undertake conservation work on species ranging from elephants in Rwanda to coral reefs in Australia and globally. They often take their own children to Africa and specialize in family safaris that make a difference. Tammie has been leading specialist guided tours in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda for over a decade and has a deep passion for connecting her guests to the awe and wonder of wild nature.
Talking Points
Facing fear and why we all need to get outside our comfort zones
Deep down all of us are afraid of something. How long are you going to let that fear hold you back? It's only when we step out of our comfort zones that we find out what we're truly made of. In this inspiring keynote, you'll hear many stories from close calls and adventures with wild animals that will make you question whether zoologist Dr Tammie Matson is fearless, mad or both. She's neither! But in this intoxicating journey to the African savannahs, she will make you look twice at nature and rethink the way you engage with the world around you, inspiring you to face your own fears in life and business.Facing fear and why we all need to get outside our comfort zones
Key Takeaways:
1. Use your fear to your advantage – it’s your superpower. What step could you take today to turn your fear into a great result? Don’t be afraid to feel the fear and to use it to motivate you to real action. Your lionnesses might take the form of imposter syndrome, a belief that you’re not as good at what you do as everyone else thinks you are. Your elephant bull could be the fear of failure or even the fear of success. Whatever it is, feel it, face it.
2. To grow, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. That’s where you really find out what you’re made of and often have the most life changing positive experiences, even if it’s not fun at the time!
3. Work together – it’s the best way to get results. Just look at wild dogs and impalas. Support your team mates and help each other get where you want to go.
Video
Dr Tammie Matson | Elephant Wisdom
There's so much we can learn from elephants about sticking together in times of crisis, how to slow down and listen, about letting go of fear, being resilient and how to forgive. In this short video, zoologist Dr Tammie Matson reflects on her observations of the elephant population in Akagera National Park, Rwanda in the past two years.Dr Tammie Matson | Let Elephants Be Elephants Trailer
An inspiring and heartwarming journey into the world of elephants. Nadya Hutagalung joined elephant expert, Dr. Tammie Matson, as they dive into the wild of Africa and the back alleys of Asia to discover the connection between Africa's escalating poaching crisis and the growing demand for ivory in Asia. The film will premiere on NatGeo Channel Asia in April 23rd.Dr Tammie Matson | THE ELEPHANT NURSERY
The Let Elephants Be Elephants (LEBE) campaign is an awareness campaign in South East Asia which aims to reduce demand for ivory. Led by TV personality Nadya Hutagalung & elephant expert Dr Tammie Matson, the campaign was inspired by a visit to Kenya in 2013. This is the first of 3 webisodes and focuses on the plight of baby orphaned elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Nairobi.Dr Tammie Matson | THE POACHING EFFECT
We are very excited to let you know that you can now watch our second webisode from Nadya and Tammie's Kenyan expedition to unveil what is going on behind the scenes of Africa's elephant poaching crisis. In this webisode, we take you on a journey with the courageous team from the Big Life Foundation to experience what it's really like to be an elephant in Africa today, and a ranger fighting for their survival.Dr Tammie Matson | Planet Elephant 4min Extended Book Trailer
"Planet Elephant - a story of family, love and the global wildlife trade" by Tammie Matson, in book stores August 2013 (Pan Macmillan Australia). Video produced by Chao Ong. Travel images and footage by Tammie Matson.Dr Tammie Matson talks about conquering fear (long)
Dr Tammie Matson is a zoologist, author and keynote speaker. Inspiration from the animal kingdom about how to use your fear to create positive change in your life and career.Dr Tammie Matson on conquering fear (short)
Dr Tammie Matson is a zoologist, author and keynote speaker. Inspiration from the animal kingdom about how to use your fear to create positive change in your life and career.Tammie has a special gift. She is able to capture the rooms attention completely for her entire presentation. Mouths are always agape with her storytelling, the audience transfixed with her ... keep reading Women and Leadership Australia
Tammie is an engaging speaker with an inspiring story to tell. In the corporate world we often say "it's wild out there" and for Tammie it literally is. Despite the monumental and complex challenges she faces as a wildlife campaigner, Tammie delivers an encouraging message. She opens the audiences' hearts and minds to a world a long way from their desk but with several surprising parallels.
Dr Tammie Matson has spoken at the United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), Singapore on several occasions and most recently, she was a guest speaker at the Round Square International Conference hosted by UWCSEA. A knowledgeable and talented speaker, Tammie relates to and engages her audiences of all ages easily; she never fails to inspire. An excellent communicator, Tammie's presentations are interactive and challenge our understanding of animal conservation.
Having Tammie Matson speak at the Singapore Botanic Gardens was a huge privilege and drew a larger and more diverse crowd than our regular speakers. Her enthusiasm and sincerity for the plight of elephants engaged the audience and attracted many questions. She is a brave activist for a good cause and we should all pay more respect to these extraordinary animals by avoiding the purchase of ivory.
Dr Tammie Matson was invited to be the guest speaker at our annual SAVE the African Rhino Foundation (NSW) fundraising event. Due to her vast first-hand experience with wildlife and especially elephants, Tammie proved to be a fantastic speaker, thoroughly charming the audience with her personable manner and engaging stories appealing to the conservationist in each of us. The event was a huge success thanks to Tammie.
