Malaika Vaz
Malaika Vaz is an Indian National Geographic Explorer, filmmaker and television presenter who helps organisations understand wildlife conservation, environmental risk and investigative storytelling in a global context.
- National Geographic Explorer.
- Founder/co-founder and CEO of Untamed Planet, a production company focused on environmental and investigative documentaries.
- Presenter and director of the three-part series Living with Predators on big cat conservation in India.
- Host of the eight-part Discovery Channel/Animal Planet India series On the Brink on endangered and lesser-known species.
- Recipient of a Wildscreen Panda Award for on-screen talent/presenter.
- Named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 North America list (Media).
Full Profile
Key speaking topics
- Wildlife conservation and biodiversity
- Wildlife trafficking and illegal trade
- Investigative environmental reporting
- Human–wildlife coexistence
- Environmental pollution and environmental justice
- Documentary filmmaking and storytelling for impact
- Field expeditions and high-risk reporting
Ideal for
- Sustainability and ESG leaders
- Environmental and conservation organisations
- Media, communications and content teams
- Corporate audiences exploring environmental risk and impact
Audience outcomes
- Clear understanding of global wildlife trafficking networks and their impact.
- Insight into conservation challenges on the ground.
- Perspective on environmental justice and pollution in affected communities.
- Understanding of how investigative storytelling drives awareness and accountability.
Why organisations work with Malaika Vaz
- Brings first-hand investigative experience from international conservation and trafficking stories.
- Combines on-screen credibility with leadership of an environmental production company.
- Connects environmental risk to real-world communities and ecosystems.
- Offers commercially relevant insight for organisations engaging with sustainability and impact.
Biography
Malaika Vaz brings frontline insight into wildlife conservation, environmental risk and global investigative reporting. As a National Geographic Explorer and the founder/co-founder and CEO of Untamed Planet, she leads the development of environmental and investigative documentaries for major international broadcasters and platforms, working at the intersection of storytelling, conservation and accountability.
Her work spans big cat conservation, endangered species protection and the complex realities of wildlife trafficking. She has presented and directed the three-part series Living with Predators and hosted the eight-part Discovery Channel/Animal Planet India series On the Brink, examining lesser-known and at-risk species. Her investigative reporting includes undercover work connected to the illegal manta ray trade, bringing global attention to the structures behind wildlife crime.
In addition to her field reporting, Vaz’s recent on-screen work has received recognition at the Wildscreen Panda Awards for on-screen talent. She has also been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 North America list in Media, reflecting the impact of her work within the global documentary and environmental sector.
Her broader engagement across the environmental ecosystem includes contributions connected to The Earthshot Prize and a profile by UNEP highlighting her role among environmental changemakers. With experience that spans polar expeditions, marine environments and high-risk investigative contexts, Vaz delivers grounded, first-hand perspectives on biodiversity loss, environmental justice and the commercial and societal implications of conservation in a globalised world.