Michael Samways obtained his PhD from London University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and Member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. Currently, he serves as an Emeritus Distinguished Professor in the Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He focuses on all aspects of insect conservation, both nationally and internationally. Professor Samways is the recipient of the John Herschel Medal from the Royal Society of South Africa, as well as the Senior Captain Scott and Gold Medals from the South African Academy of Science and Arts. He also received the Gold Medal from the Academy of Science of South Africa, the lifetime Stellenbosch University Chancellor’s Award, and the IUCN Species Survival Commission Chair’s Citation of Excellence. He and his team, the Mondi Ecological Networks Programme, were named winners of the NSTF-South32 Award. Most recently, Michael received the Marsh Award for Insect Conservation from the Royal Entomological Society for his exemplary lifetime contributions to the field.