Robert K. Kern (Rob Kern)
ROBERT K. KERN (ROB KERN): LEADERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL HUNTING AND CONSERVATION
Robert K. Kern (Rob Kern) is Managing Director of The Hunting Consortium and President of the International Professional Hunters’ Association, the oldest professional hunting association in the world. He is an established authority in international hunting, combining over two decades of field experience with a modern focus on professional standards, global operations, and long-term industry sustainability.
Distinct from his father, Robert P. Kern (Bob Kern), founder of the Hunting Consortium, Rob Kern spearheads marketing and business development while working directly with clients as a consultant, advising on and structuring complex international hunting expeditions across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the South Pacific. He is also Co-Founder of Wild Strongholds, a conservation media initiative focused on responsible hunting, local communities, and measurable conservation outcomes, and actively shapes the standards and expectations that define the industry today.
Strategic Role at The Hunting Consortium
As Managing Director, Rob Kern is responsible for the company’s positioning in the global market, overseeing marketing strategy, client acquisition, and business development across the Hunting Consortium’s global portfolio. His work sits at the intersection of advisory and execution, where he helps clients navigate complex international hunts while maintaining the company’s long-standing reputation for professionalism and reliability.
In addition to leading business development, Rob remains directly involved with clients, consulting on hunt selection, destination strategy, and expedition planning. His experience across more than 60 countries allows him to match clients with the right opportunities while ensuring expectations, logistics, and outcomes are aligned from the start.
Alongside his client-facing work, Rob has been instrumental in modernizing internal systems across the company, including the development of client workflows, operational processes, and digital infrastructure. His focus on automation, technology integration, and scalable systems supports both internal efficiency and a more seamless experience for clients navigating complex international travel.
Industry Leadership and Professional Standards
Beyond his role at the Hunting Consortium, Rob Kern serves as President of the International Professional Hunters’ Association (IPHA), the oldest professional hunting association in the world. In this capacity, he is actively involved in advancing professional standards, promoting ethical hunting practices, and supporting the long-term sustainability of the global hunting industry.
Rob’s leadership within IPHA reflects a broader commitment to accountability and credibility across the profession. In his work with clients, he emphasizes transparency, realistic expectations, and direct, experience-based guidance rather than sales-driven approaches. He maintains that clear communication and honest representation are essential not only for successful hunts, but for maintaining trust in the industry as a whole.
Through both his role in IPHA and his work with clients and partners worldwide, Rob Kern is actively shaping the standards and expectations that define modern international hunting.
Conservation, Media, and Wild Strongholds
Wild Strongholds: Conservation Through Storytelling
In 2021, Rob Kern co-founded Wild Strongholds, a conservation-focused media initiative built on firsthand experience in the field. The project focuses on accurately presenting the relationship between hunting, wildlife management, and local communities, with an emphasis on context, credibility, and measurable conservation outcomes.
Through Wild Strongholds, Rob works to move beyond surface-level portrayals of hunting, highlighting the people, ecosystems, and management systems that sustain it. His role centers on guiding the direction of the project, maintaining its credibility, and ensuring its storytelling reflects both field realities and broader conservation and policy considerations.
Innovation, Strategy, and Client Experience
Within the Hunting Consortium, Rob Kern is responsible for the company’s positioning in the global market, leading marketing strategy, business development, and client experience across its international operations. His work spans brand direction, client acquisition, and the development of systems that support both internal operations and client-facing processes.
He has been instrumental in integrating modern tools and workflows into the business, including CRM systems, client communication structures, and operational processes that improve efficiency and consistency. This focus on systems and execution allows the company to maintain a high level of service while adapting to the demands of modern international travel and client expectations.
Rob remains directly engaged with clients, advising on hunt selection, destination strategy, and expedition planning. His approach emphasizes clarity, transparency, and alignment from the outset, ensuring each hunt is structured around realistic expectations, clear communication, and disciplined execution.
Professional Affiliations
Rob’s commitment to the hunting community is evident through his membership in numerous prestigious organizations:
- International Professional Hunters Association
- International Sheep Hunters Association
- Wild Sheep Foundation
- Grand Slam Club – Ovis
- Safari Club International
- Dallas Safari Club
- Houston Safari Club
- National Rifle Association
- Alaska Professional Hunters Association
- American Association of International Professional Hunting & Fishing Consultants (AAIPHFC)
A Legacy Continued—and Reimagined
Rob Kern represents the future of big game hunting: informed, principled, globally connected, and deeply dedicated to the traditions and values that have guided The Hunting Consortium since 1985. His leadership ensures not only that clients experience unforgettable adventures—but that those experiences remain possible for generations to come.