Pippa Disney-Tozer

Pippa first joined Operation Wallacea in 1998 as part of an expedition to Indonesia, where she immediately fell in love with the world of field research and conservation. On returning to the UK, she began touring universities, inspiring undergraduates with tales of adventure while fundraising for future expeditions.

Since then, Pippa has travelled extensively across all Opwall sites, gaining hands-on experience in everything from bird, butterfly, and habitat surveys to managing expeditions of every scale. A qualified Advanced Open Water diver and EFR First Aid Instructor, she thrives on being part of the action, particularly at terrestrial sites where she can immerse herself in the variety of surveys we run.

Over the years, she has played a key role in Opwall’s growth—from a single-country operation with volunteers recruited only from the UK to a truly global organisation with offices around the world. In 2010, Pippa was appointed Director of Sales and Marketing, before stepping into her current role as Managing Director in 2020.

When not on expedition, Pippa continues her passion for wildlife at home, spending as much time birding as possible. She also holds a C-permit ringing licence with the British Trust for Ornithology, deepening her commitment to the study and conservation of birds.