Tania McCrea-Steele

Tania McCrea-Steele, IFAW’s International Project Manager and wildlife cybercrime expert, has worked in conservation and animal welfare for over 20 years. Tania joined IFAW in 2004 after volunteering on conservation and animal welfare projects out in the field from the UK to the Amazon rainforest.

Tania now leads an international team of conservationists, developing and implementing strategies to detect and disrupt wildlife cybercrime.

Tania has extensive experience collaborating with companies, lobbying government, supporting law enforcers and partnering with NGOs and IGOs to secure positive impacts for animals. She has managed staff and worked alongside partners to successfully deliver projects across six continents. Tania is an experienced media spokesperson and has secured multiple funding grants from governments and foundations. 

Tania has overseen IFAW’s role in the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online. Launched in 2018, the Coalition has brought together online platforms with conveners IFAW, WWF and TRAFFIC. Company partners have reported blocking or removing more than 11 million listings that violate prohibited wildlife policies to date.

Her lobbying efforts, alongside the policy team, have contributed to the adoption of international resolutions, decision and declarations at CITES and the IUCN and led to changes in national legislation in multiple countries.

Tania has led research teams, producing reports that have identified tens of thousands of live exotic animals and wildlife products offered for sale online. The information generated from these reports has informed enforcers on the modus operandi of potential criminals and supported academic research.

Tania is also a keen wildlife and landscape photographer, and enjoys travel and walks in nature.