Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu holds a First Class BSc. Zoology Degree from the University of Ghana, a PhD from Edinburgh University and is a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is a biodiversity and environmental specialist, well known nationally and internationally as one of the leaders in environment and nature conservation in Africa, and has received meritorious awards in recognition of her contribution to wildlife research, training and capacity development in Africa.

Prof. Ntiamoa-Baidu’s international experience includes serving as: Director for WWF International Africa and Madagascar Programme, based in Switzerland (1998-2008); Advisor on biodiversity issues for the Corporate Responsibility Forum of BHP Billiton, the largest global extractive industry (2010-2019); member of Council of BirdLife International for nearly 10 years and Vice President for Africa up to 2012; member and subsequently Chair of the Ramsar Convention’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel (1993-1999). She was one of the five African environment experts selected to meet President Clinton (then President of the United States) in 1998, and spokesperson for environment and biodiversity at the World Summit Civil Society Hearings in New York in 2005. Among her many contributions to environment and nature conservation are the establishment of the Ghana Wildlife Society (a national NGO) and the Centre for African Wetlands.

As an academic, she combines senior level university administrative experience (having risen to the level of Pro-Vice Chancellor – Research, Innovation & Development) with teaching, extension service and research, as well as capacity development for young faculty. Her passion for mentoring and supporting early career faculty has resulted in raising several million US Dollars grant funds to support PhD/MPhil candidates/scholars of the University of Ghana and other West African universities.  Her research has focused on wetland and waterbirds as well as general wildlife ecology and has over 80 publications on various aspects of biodiversity and environmental conservation.

Prof. Ntiamoa-Baidu has extensive management experience/expertise, ranging from institutional development to mobilisation and management of resources, and including managing multi-cultural teams located in wide geographical areas, developing, managing and fundraising for large programmes funded by multiple donors, policy formulation and programme/project evaluation. She is currently the Board Chair of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) and Principal Representative of the Government of Ghana on the Ghana/USA Power Compact, and Chair of the 2019 Ghana Presidential Emoluments Committee.