16 Facts About Damien Mander

Damien Mander is a former Australian Royal Navy Clearance Diver and Special Operations military sniper.

Damien Mander then spent three years in Iraq working for several Private Military Organisations concerned with the protection of Australian diplomats, and was involved in the training of Iraqi Police.

Damien Mander went on to project-manage the Iraqi Special Police Training Academy in northern Baghdad, where up to 700 cadets at a time received paramilitary training.

Damien Mander worked alongside the US Army's Corps of Engineers involved with Iraq's reconstruction efforts.

Damien Mander's responsibility was to protect key personnel and to conduct reconnaissance missions on key infrastructure across Iraq.

Damien Mander is a vegan and has spoken publicly about veganism.

In 2009 Damien Mander traveled to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe to escape the death and destruction he had seen in Iraq.

Damien Mander began writing training packages that would later form the basis of the IAPF's ranger training course.

Damien Mander personally funded the start-up and initial running costs, built a ranger training academy at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and bought a two-seater aircraft as well as vehicles for anti-poaching work.

At the IAPF, Damien Mander has operated in South Africa, Kenya, Australia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, establishing crack anti-poaching units by putting local indigenous forces through specialist tactical training programs.

Since 2015, Damien Mander's work has focused on a community-oriented approach to anti-poaching efforts, and introducing local African women into the workforce through the use of wildlife ranger training and positions as part of Akashinga.

Damien Mander has provided Ted Talks on his work with the organisation.

Damien Mander is a director of Conservation Guardians, an association that seeks to protect and conserve wildlife.

In 2013, Damien Mander gave a presentation about conservation at TEDx Sydney titled "Modern Warrior".

Damien Mander featured, both as a narrator and as a cast member, in Unity, a feature-length documentary.

Damien Mander has appeared in the documentaries Vegan 2018, The Game Changers, and Last of the Longnecks.