Employee Spotlight: Lawson Henderson, Validation & Verification Manager
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Our global conservation work would not be possible without the dedication, expertise, and passion of our team members. Each month, get to know our team members and what they do through our Employee Spotlight Series.
This #InternationalDayofForests we’re spotlighting our Validation and Verification manager, Lawson Henderson. With over 15 years of experience in sustainable forestry, Lawson’s dedication to the forests of our planet make him an indispensable part of our team.
Learn more about Lawson, his path to becoming a Validation and Verification manager, and his perspectives on the carbon market in this Q&A.
Q: How would you describe what you do at Wildlife Works?
A: I oversee the validation and verification of WW’s global portfolio of REDD+ projects, along with their registration and credit issuance under GHG programs. These activities enable WW to generate funding through the voluntary carbon market, which supports our conservation efforts, our commitments to participating communities, and the long-term sustainability of our operations.
Q: What did you do before joining Wildlife Works?
A: My background combines an education in forest management with over 15 years of experience in sustainable forestry, certification systems, and assurance frameworks.
Prior to joining Wildlife Works, I worked as an auditor of forest carbon projects with accredited Validation and Verification Bodies.
Q: What made you want to join Wildlife Works?
A: Visiting Wildlife Works’ Kasigau project in Kenya as an auditor convinced me that WW’s approach is a successful model for community-based conservation. From that experience, I knew WW was a company I wanted to be part of.
Q: What's your personal connection to nature?
A: I grew up in a fruit-farming region along Lake Ontario in western New York, where time spent in apple orchards and my family’s woods along the lake shore sparked an early interest in trees and the environment. Over my career in forest management, I have worked in diverse ecosystems—from northern hardwoods in the United States and temperate rainforests in Alaska to tropical forests across the Global South. These experiences have shaped my understanding of both the diversity of the world’s forests and humanity’s reliance on them.
Q: What aspect of community-led conservation work do you find most rewarding?
A: Direct interactions with community members have given me firsthand insight into the challenges of subsistence-based livelihoods. From this, I’ve developed a deeper gratitude for my own life experiences and a greater appreciation for the diversity of the human experience.
Q: What is the most misunderstood aspect of running a project on the ground?
A: The logistical challenges of operating in the remote areas where REDD+ projects are located cannot be overstated. Expert local knowledge, experience, and community connections are critical in this context. From my perspective, it is impossible to properly judge a project’s feasibility or effectiveness without firsthand, on-the-ground understanding of the practicalities involved in implementing REDD+ initiatives
Q: What message would you convey to someone skeptical about carbon markets?
A: Markets have shaped human progress for centuries often driving positive changes in societies. Carbon markets are no different—while they aren’t perfect, when well-designed and properly regulated, they can be a powerful and efficient tool for enabling meaningful climate action.
Q: What gives you hope that humanity can overcome the challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis?
Many traditional cultures have long understood that their well-being is directly tied to the health of the environments they depend on. As interest in preserving these traditions grows in our globally connected world, I find hope that modern societies will be inspired to reshape their behaviors and life choices with environmental impacts at the forefront.
