Co-Founder

Suzanne Fehsenfeld co-founded Mara Elephant Project when she saw a need for investing in talented young conservation driven people that were making a difference protecting elephants and their key habitats during her extensive travels throughout Kenya. Originally the founder of the Sidekick Foundation, Inc.® in 2011, Suzie channels her passion for wildlife conservation with both a global and local lens. Globally, Suzie’s commitment prevails through her past work with The Nature Conservancy, Stop Ivory, Tusk Trust and LEWA Conservancy. Locally, in Indiana, she serves as a founder member of the Indianapolis Zoo. Suzie first visited Kenya with her husband Fred Fehsenfeld on their honeymoon in 1989; the beginning of many trips to Kenya for Suzie, which inspired the idea for Mara Elephant Project. The Sidekick Foundation® not only funds Mara Elephant Project but has a vested interest in youth conservation education in Kenya as well as sustainable community development through The Maa Trust.

Co-Founder

Richard Roberts co-founded Mara Elephant Project in 2011 with Suzie Fehensfeld. In 2011, Richard noticed an increase in elephant carcasses and this concern coupled with a tragic incident involving human-elephant conflict that occurred on his doorstep spurred Richard to act. Richard and Suzie teamed up and looked to local experts Mr. Brian Heath and Iain Douglas Hamilton to start a project that made protecting elephants and humans the core of its mission. Thus, Mara Elephant Project was born, and Marc Goss came on board to lead the first rapid response team. In 2000, together with his partner Liz, Richard created Richard’s Camp and in his role as owner, he secured key funding for MEP and participated in the growth of the organization from a single team to a world-class organization. Richard’s Camp served as the traveler’s first introduction to the Mara Elephant Project and to at-risk ecosystem conservation in general. Born in Kenya and raised in the Maasai Mara, Richard shared an inspiring knowledge and love of the local people, the wildlife and the beauty within this amazing area of the world. His lifetime of work in Africa led to significant accomplishments in the areas of habitat protection and wildlife conservation until his tragic death on August 17, 2019. Richard left behind Liz, and their children, and the rest of the Roberts family, who carry on his legacy through Richard’s Camp. Richard loved all creatures and by sharing this love for wildlife and wild spaces people gravitated toward him to join him on this most important journey to protect the Maasai Mara.

H.S.H. Princess Marie of Liechtenstein is Mara Elephant Project’s first Global Patron. In her role, Princess Marie will focus on expanding MEP’s brand and influence internationally to bolster the impact of a world-class conservation organization. It’s a natural role for Marie as she leads The Prince of Liechtenstein Winery and focuses on expanding their influence internationally. Marie is bringing her experience in marketing and public relations into her position as Global Patron. She was an original employee of Bismark Media Communications, now BPCM, the premier fashion PR firm in New York City. She grew up traveling to Kenya with her family after her mother visited Kenya in the 60s and established a home in the Shimba Hills next door to MEP CEO Marc Goss’ late father Ted. “I have been traveling to Kenya for many, many years and have forged strong relationships and friendships there. MEP in particular was a conduit for me into a deeper understanding of Kenya, its people and their determination to protect their natural heritage. I am truly honored and willingly accept this patronage. Together with the Trustees and staff, I hope we can have a life-long sustainable impact in the Mara for the communities and the beneficiary of all our work, the elephants,” said Marie. Having grown up as neighbors, Marie and Marc stayed in touch, and Marie’s love of elephants and their family connection made this position a natural fit. Princess Marie and her husband Prince Constantin have three children and they split their time between Austria, Kenya and Liechtenstein.

MEp image ambassador & resident photographer

Jeffrey Wu is a Canadian professional wildlife and nature photographer accredited by Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC). He is Kenya Tourism Board Brand Partner, a HEIPI® Brand Ambassador and a commercial photographer contracted by Nikon. He is also a world-renowned photographic competition judge and has judged some of the most prestigious competitions of the world including: 2018-2019 Nikon Photo Contest and the 2017-2019 Nature’s Best Photography Africa.

Jeffrey was born and raised in Shanghai, China, he graduated from college with a B.Eng in 1988. In 1993, he immigrated to Canada, photography is his lifetime hobby and finally, he became a professional wildlife photographer in 2013, shortly after his first trip to Kenya in 2012. Jeffrey started taking photos at the age of 7, his biggest influence and discipline in the field of photography derive from his mother- a professional portrait photographer.

Jeffrey specializes in African wildlife photography and spends 10 months per year mainly in Kenya and other African countries pursuing his work. After his talent and influence on wildlife photography was recognized by the mainstream and in acknowledgement of Jeffrey’s constant effort in promoting tourism and conservation in Kenya, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, he became Kenya Tourism Board’s ‘Magical Kenya’ Brand Partner.

Jeffrey is an artist, author, educator and a conservationist. His images and articles have been published in more than 120 publications worldwide including Chinese National Geography, Africa Geographic, Swara, The Times, People, Canadian Camera, Outdoor Photography Canada, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, Cultural Geography, The Daily Star and more.

Besides leading photography tours in Africa, Jeffrey have been actively involved with conservation and research projects since 2014. Learn more at www.jeffreywuphotography.com and follow him on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

ChairPERSON

Beatrice is a strategic communications specialist with over 20 years of experience as a communications development professional covering the African continent with extensive experience in East, Central and Southern Africa. She has worked as a journalist with BBC and Reuters and for several international NGO’s including African Wildlife Foundation, UNICEF and Oxfam (GB). She has also consulted for Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Kofi Annan Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As a child of Africa with roots in Kenya and Uganda, Beatrice has a strong and unyielding passion for African development and environmental issues. She believes that conservation and development can co-exist and is keen to play her part to make sure Kenya’s future is sustainable, balanced and wise.

Honorary Trustee & senior advisor

Brian Heath is the current CEO for the Mara Conservancy. He has over 40 years’ experience in managing conservation projects in Kenya and Ethiopia, which include Farm Africa, Galana Ranch and Laikipia Ranch. Brian is also the managing director of Seiya Limited.

Founding Member

Colin Church managed conservation projects and businesses in Kenya for 40 years. He was chairman of the Rhino Ark Management Committee from 2000 to 2012. His previous positions include: chairman of Kenya Wildlife Services, Trustee Board 2003-2004, founding member and past chairman of the Public Relations Society of Kenya and president of The International Public Relations Association; the global body developing the public relations profession. Up until his death in March 2021, Colin was the chairman of MEP and a founding member of the organization. Colin was a pillar, mentor, and gentleman who did so much for so many.

Trustee

Kevin Rodrigues is an investment professional with over 18 years of global investment experience spanning Africa, Europe, South East Asia, Latin America and North America with a focus on venture capital and private equity. He is an active angel investor and entrepreneur with investments in several consumer and technology start ups in Europe, Africa and the US. Kevin currently works as the Regional Managing Director and Head of Europe at bp Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of bp. Over his extensive career, Kevin has worked for Credit Suisse First Boston, International Finance Corporation, Lightrock and Palladium. Kevin holds an MBA from London Business School, UK and a B.A. (Economics) from Northwestern University, USA.

Trustee

Lisa Karanja, Regional Director WWF (ESA), is a UK Barrister and Kenyan Advocate with 20+ years of experience spanning governance, human rights, economic development and government delivery across Africa, the UK, and the US. Throughout her career, she has maintained an unwavering commitment to advancing Africa’s progress, and is driven  by a deep rooted belief in collective responsibility, local empowerment and community-led development.

Lisa’s professional journey cuts across strategy, policy, and programme delivery in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. In addition to her current role at WWF, her most senior roles include Senior Advisor to President Mwai Kibaki in the Department of Governance & Ethics, Executive Director at Transparency International-Kenya, Regional and Senior Director at TradeMark East Africa, and, most recently, Kenya Country Director for the Tony Blair Institute. In this latter role, she led programming that supported the delivery of government priorities across two administrations.

Her career has also encompassed commercial and criminal practice in London chambers, four years as a Senior Commercial Litigation Associate at Kaplan & Stratton, and a fellowship at Human Rights Watch in New York, where she focused on advancing women’s rights in Africa.

Alongside her professional life, Lisa has become increasingly involved in conservation and environmental initiatives.Over the last decade, she has served as a Trustee of the Mara Elephant Project and as a member of the Advisory Group at the African Wildlife Foundation. She also engaged in climate change programming through support to the President’s Special Climate Envoy for Kenya on the delivery of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi.

Lisa holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Warwick and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts. She is certified as a UK Barrister (Middle Temple) by the Inns of Court School of Law and as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya by the Kenya School of Law.

Emeritus Trustee

Brian brought a wealth of experience that professionalized an emerging organization and allowed MEP to flourish. He spearheaded the initiative to put the conservation decision making in Kenyan hands by creating Mara Elephant Project Trust in Kenya and building strategies, budgets, policies and procedures from the ground up. His previous positions included Program Executive for Reconciliation and Human Rights Program at Atlantic Philanthropies in the Republic of Ireland for over a decade where he led their highly impactful grants programs in the areas of higher education, human rights, migration, disability and sexual orientation. He served as Advisory Board member of Ariadne, the European Network of Social Change and Human Rights funders, was a founding steering committee member of the European Consortium of Foundations on Human Rights and Disability, and vice-chair of the European Program on Integration and Migration from 2012 to 2014. He was the vice-chair and Non-Executive Director of Sevis Finansye Fonkoze, the largest micro finance institution in Haiti. In February 2023, not long after his passing, Brian was given an Emeritus Trustee position on the Mara Elephant Project Trust.

Loic is an accomplished business executive and entrepreneur with a strong focus on sustainability and social impact. Having previously worked as a Regional General Manager at Uber, he successfully launched and managed new markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa. This experience provided him with valuable insights into the transportation industry and deepened his understanding of sustainable mobility. Loic actively explored opportunities for collaboration with local communities and stakeholders to promote responsible and eco-friendly transportation options. As a General Partner at Ambo Ventures, a venture capital firm dedicated to promoting positive change through investing in climate startups, he has gained a wealth of knowledge in identifying and supporting impactful ventures. Through Ambo Ventures, he’s been at the forefront of driving investment in innovative and sustainable solutions across various sectors, including renewable energy, clean technology, ag tech and social enterprises. This experience has further deepened his commitment to addressing the climate crisis and finding sustainable solutions to pressing global challenges. Loic and his partner founded Emboo in 2019, the first carbon-neutral lodge in Africa. In his role as a Director, he drives strategic growth and business development and plays a leading role in implementing all sustainability initiatives.

Barbara has been in the insurance industry for 18 years and is passionate to see insurance play a role in increasing financial resilience across the continent. She co-founded AB Entheos in 2014 and has grown AB Entheos to be a world-renowned insurance catalyst that has projects across 12 countries in Africa. AB Entheos has pioneered insurance for Human-Wildlife Conflict covering 10 million people in Kenya and Zambia. The company has also developed ResilientME!, a financial literacy game that has been played by over 400,000 people across 6 countries in Africa.

Barbara is a Henry Arnold Fellow with the Mulago Foundation, receiving support to scale and replicate AB Entheos’ Human-Wildlife Conflict Insurance solution across Africa. She is also a member of the IUCN Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Specialist Group.

Barbara is an Oxford Graduate, graduating with a Postgraduate Degree in Global Business from Said Business School in 2024. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Calgary in Canada minoring in Statistics and Economics and has a Diploma in Actuarial Techniques. She serves on various boards including Britam Insurance and St. Andrew’s School Turi.

Elsie is a passionate entrepreneur specializing in financial and technical advisory for energy and infrastructure transactions on the African Continent. She is an accomplished energy trader with extensive experience in global energy markets having worked for top financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs and J.P Morgan in London, Houston and New York. Most recently, she has committed herself to working on challenging transactions in Energy and Infrastructure in East Africa and is considered a thought leader in East Africa’s energy markets. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Leadwood Energy, an award winning advisory firm specializing in the provision of oil and gas, renewable energy and climate change related transactions. She is also the co-founder of a charitable water infrastructure non-profit – Ekenywa – which provides access to clean water in rural parts of Kenya. She sits on the United States Board of the BOMA Project which deploys capital to women entrepreneurs in industries and sectors that are most vulnerable to climate change across Africa and is on the Board of Kenya Pipeline Corporation as the Technical Chair responsible for the company’s capital expenditure budget, projects and technical oversight.

Frank-Astère Ndiyo-Butoyi is an accomplished investment professional with over ten years of experience in investment banking and private equity with a specific focus on Africa. He has worked extensively in the United States, France, and Africa. For the past eight years, Frank held the position of Investment Director at Amethis, where he is responsible for overseeing investment and portfolio activities in East and Southern Africa. Amethis is a unique Private Equity platform that is exclusively dedicated to the African continent. As a member of the Edmond De Rothschild partnership, it employs investment tools designed to support African entrepreneurs and companies, with the ultimate goal of fostering the growth of African champions. Moreover, Amethis aims to make a positive impact on the economic development and inclusivity of the companies, countries and regions it invests in. Since 2018, Frank has relocated to Kenya to establish and manage Amethis operations in the East African region. During his time there, he has developed a profound affection for the country, particularly the communities and wildlife around Maasai Mara were for example he organized food drives to assist the Maasai communities during the challenging times of the COVID-19 crisis. Prior to joining Amethis, Frank achieved a successful career in Banking and Finance, having worked at renowned institutions such as Société Générale in New York, as well as HSBC, Natixis, and KPMG in Paris. Alongside his professional endeavors, Frank is an active contributor to various organizations and boards, including the East African Venture Capital Association, Ramco Group, and the French Chamber of Commerce in Kenya. He is a native of Burundi where he grew up and holds a master’s degree in Global Markets and Investment Banking from Dauphine University in Paris.

Valery Joanne Super is the co-founder of Painted Wolves Limited and CEO of its hospitality branch ‘Emboo River’, the region’s first carbon neutral safari destination. Valery sits on the Mara Tourism Stakeholders Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, supporting development projects within the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem. Valery is also the founder of sustainable fashion company Moto Moto. Valery’s background lies in International Criminal Law and diplomacy, and throughout her professional and personal life she has always had a focus on circularity and sustainability. Previous work experience includes roles with the International Criminal Court and roles as legal advisor and coordination officers within the EU and UN.

Jorge is an investment director at the Liechtenstein Group, where he is responsible for the firm’s portfolio and investments in the agriculture & food and forestry sectors. The Group, owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, has been investing over generations in sustainable and innovative business models and provides patient capital across the agriculture & food, forestry, renewable energy, and real estate sectors. In the past, he’s served as a senior vice president at McKinsey & Company, led the business transformation efforts of Galp and Abanca, worked as an investment professional at EBG Capital, the European Investment Bank and LeapFrog Investments, and as an entrepreneur in the farming and AgTech sectors in Spain and in West Africa. Jorge loves teaching and is an adjunct professor of strategy at IE Business School; and he’s taught in executive programs at other schools (e.g., MIT Sloan, Loyola University, University of Alicante, EF Business School). He is also a research fellow at the Center for African and Development Studies (CEsA) of University of Lisbon. Jorge has spent extensive periods of time in Africa, and he’s been to 100+ countries (and counting). He’s a voracious reader and collector and student of Contemporary African art, serving on Tate’s Africa Acquisition Committee.

Chief executive officer

Affectionately known around the Mara, and Kenya, as the “flying CEO”, Marc Goss has been the Chief Executive Officer of Mara Elephant Project (MEP) since its inception in 2011. Marc has worked in the greater Maasai Mara for over a decade, starting as manager for Olchoro Oiroua Conservancy and then Mara North Conservancy. Marc assembled the first rapid response unit for MEP in 2011 and has overseen the growth to more than 100 Kenyan employees. Before Marc moved to the Mara, he completed his bachelor’s degree at The Evergreen State College in Washington. During his time in school, Marc started sustainable woodlot cycles and tracked the bongo antelope (a species MEP now protects) in Kenya’s Aberdare National Park under the guidance of Richard Leakey. In the Mara, Marc built the partnerships that made it possible to collar and monitor elephants and launched the first drone program to respond to human-elephant conflict. He is also the current Kenya Wildlife Service Honorary Warden for the Maasai Mara.

Chief Financial Officer

Stanley Misoka joined Mara Elephant Project in 2018 and is a Certified Public Accountant with experience in accounting, budgeting, and grants financial management. Previously, Stanley worked at Heifer International, Amref Health Africa, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development under various capacities in the accounting and finance sections. Stanley grew up in Nakuru and graduated from Egerton University with a Bachelor of Science specializing in Mathematics & Statistics.

Deputy chief executive officer

Meshack Gaga joined the Mara Elephant Project in August 2023 as the Grants Manager, bringing a strong background in project management and conservation. Previously, he served as the Grants & Reporting Officer at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, gaining extensive experience in grants management, donor reporting and relations, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and grants administration. Gaga holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Management Science and currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Project Management at JKUAT. You can reach out to Meshack via email at meshack@maraelephantproject.org.

Special projects manager

Wilson grew up in the Maasai Mara and joined the MEP team in 2015. Wilson currently leads the Linda Misitu Project under the LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation at the Loita Forest and also oversees the tracking of all MEP’s collared elephants. He digitally monitors and reports their locations to MEP rangers in the field for data collection and human elephant conflict mitigation. He must monitor near-real-time alerts for elephants in danger or collar failures. He also manages the backend data required to track MEP ranger movements and other collected information. Additionally, Wilson has taken a leading role in MEP’s school planting initiative, chili fence project, and the upcoming UAV re-integration. After high school, Wilson earned a Diploma in Social Work and Community Development from the Maasai Mara University.

Human ResourceS Manager

CHRP-K, Patrick Kisenga, joined the Mara Elephant Project in January 2024. He is a Certified Human Resource Professional with extensive experience in Human Resource Management & Administration, Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, and Organizational Development. Patrick has a comprehensive understanding of labor laws and best HR practices and is adept at developing and implementing HR strategies aligned with organizational goals to drive business growth and enhance employee engagement. Additionally, he is a certified professional Trainer.

Before his current role, Patrick worked as an HR Business Partner at Proto Energy Limited and Zetech University, as an Assistant HR Manager at Securex Agencies (K) Limited, and as an HR Officer at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Born in Kitui County, Patrick is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on HR and Strategic Management from Daystar University. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management and a Diploma in Human Resource Management (KNEC). Furthermore, Patrick underwent paramilitary basic training with the National Youth Service in Gilgil Recruit Training College before beginning his professional studies.

Assistant Senior Warden

Jackson Maitai joined the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) in 2011 as one of the first pioneer recruits, beginning his career with anti-poaching and patrol operations across the Mara ecosystem. At the time, no formal ranks existed—just dedicated rangers from the Mara North Conservancy committed to protecting wildlife. Driven by passion and perseverance, Jackson worked tirelessly on the frontlines, helping build the foundation and reputation of MEP. His efforts earned him steady promotions—from Corporal to Sergeant, and ultimately to Warden in late 2018, after consistently delivering outstanding performance across multiple assignments.

As the Assistant Senior Warden, oversees Training, Drone Operations, and Community Affairs. He plays a critical role in developing ranger capacity, integrating drone technology in field operations, and strengthening community engagement around conservation. Jackson is a graduate of Prescott College in Arizona, holding a Certificate in Wildlife and Tourism, and also an alumnus of the Wildlife Training College of Maasai Mara. A certified Ranger Trainer and trained nature guide, he has completed multiple advanced ranger and leadership courses throughout his career.

Assistant Senior Warden

Dickson Njapit joined MEP in 2011 as one of the first pioneer ranger recruits during the height of the poaching crisis in Kenya. He joined a lean team of dedicated rangers at MEP from the Maasai Mara committed to protecting wildlife and ending poaching. In 2012, Njapit joined other rangers at the Manyani training camp for a rigorous physical, discipline, and conservation-based training, making him one of the celebrated rangers of the Mara landscape with such training. Njapit and a team of other rangers who left the Manyani training worked tirelessly that by 2015, the poaching crisis had reduced to almost nil. Today, Njapit is a proud Assistant Senior Warden leading a team of over 80 MEP rangers spread across the Greater Mara Ecosystem, dedicated to mitigating human wildlife conflict, protecting elephants, the community, and their habitats.

Operations Officer

Eric Mepukori joined MEP in 2022 as a Ranger serving the “Kilo” Ranger team before joined other teams as he grew the ranks. Born and grown in the Mara, Mepukori developed a keen interest in wildlife conservation. He holds a Diploma in Social Science from Eldoret Technical Training College. As an operations officer, Mepukori receives all wildlife emergency calls, human elephant conflict reports, and monitors the big screens in the operations room, checking on the status of all collared elephants and watching out for any warning alerts from the collars. He ensures that every ranger team deployed to respond or conduct patrols is well briefed.

Communications Officer

Dennis Matara is a Kenyan multimedia storyteller and communications specialist with a strong passion for conservation and human-interest storytelling. He currently leads strategic communications to amplify MEP’s mission of protecting elephants and their habitats. With a background in journalism and public relations, Dennis previously worked as a TV reporter and producer with K24 TV and served as the Public Relations Manager at St John Ambulance Kenya. His storytelling blends video production, field reporting, and digital media to raise awareness and drive meaningful impact.

Dennis brings over a decade of experience in crafting compelling narratives across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. He is especially passionate about using media to connect communities with conservation efforts on the ground. You can reach Dennis for all media and communications enquiries through dennism@maraelephantproject.org.

COMMUNITY engagement and OUTREACH coordinator

Dibblex Lesalon grew up in Narok County surrounded by a plethora of wildlife species. He developed a keen interest in nature and conservation from a young age and later graduated from Strathmore University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Tourism Management. Dibblex currently leads community liaison activities at MEP, including guest relations and visitor experience activities. He is a Kenyan fellow of the Inaugural African Conservation Voices Media Labs co-created by Jackson Wild and African Wildlife Foundation. Dibblex is the visionary force behind the captivating podcast, Boots on the Ground, he is the creative lead, embracing the power of storytelling to amplify the voices of conservation, one conversation at a time. Get in touch with Dibblex by emailing him at dibblex@maraelephantproject.org.

Administrator

Benson Sunkuli joined Mara Elephant Project in 2022 as a ranger tasked with protecting the Loita Forest and was later promoted to his role. Benson holds a Higher Diploma in Information Technology from the Eldoret Technical Institute and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology at Mount Kenya University. He has undergone a paramilitary course at the Kenya Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Academy in Tsavo West, and he is also a seasoned athlete and has represented MEP in the UltraMARAthon.

Admin and Finance Assistant

Faith Atieno joined MEP in 2023 in the Finance Department at our Nairobi Office. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Kenya Methodist University, where she specialized in Finance and Accounts. She is currently pursuing her Certified Public Accounts certification and has a keen interest in financial audit, grants administration, monitoring and evaluation.

Admin Assistant

Human Resources Department. Purity holds a Diploma in Wildlife Conservation and Management from the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) and has since developed a passion for wildlife protection, sustainable land use, and community-driven conservation efforts. She believes people and wildlife can thrive together when conservation is inclusive and rooted in local knowledge.

COEXISTENCE manager

Abigael was born and raised in Kajiado County. She holds a Degree in Agronomic Engineering from the EARTH University in Costa Rica and also a Diploma in Accounting from Starehe Institute. While growing up, Abigael’s single mother depended on charcoal burning as a source of income. Seeing the devastating effects of land degradation in her home area sparked her passion for conservation. She founded an environmental conservation group for youth, Save Our World, and they planted over 5,000 trees in her hometown. After her undergraduate, Abigael and her friends formed the Naramat Olosho Environmental women’s group to plant trees and educate school children on environmental conservation in the savanna areas. Abigael Simaloi Pertet is researching solutions for agricultural communities living in human-elephant conflict-prone areas through the MEP Coexistence Farm Project. Under her leadership, the Coexistence Farm has identified 5 crops that are economically viable to locals but are not edible to wildlife. This project is now in the implementation stage with local farmers. A successful solution that will see reduced wildlife crop raiding but still offer direct income to local farmers.

LTM Team leader

Sarafina Sironka was born and raised in Narok County and joined MEP in 2021 as a research assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Natural Resource Management from Africa Nazarene University and a Diploma in Wildlife Management from the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute (KWSTI). Sarafina’s passion for conservation began at a young age, sparked by wildlife safaris and her involvement in environmental clubs. Her deep dedication to elephant conservation in her research role became especially evident, prompting her colleagues to christen her the “Elephant Queen.”

Ltm Team leader

Amos grew up in the Maasai Mara and works as a research assistant on the LTM team and focuses on GIS. Prior to joining MEP, he worked for high-end camps and lodges in the Mara. Amos holds a bachelor’s degree in tourism from Moi University.

Data and reporting manager

Francis Odero joined MEP as an Ecoscope Engineer.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geomatics Engineering and Geospatial Information Science from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. He began his career as a junior developer at Castify.ai mobile application company, before joining MEP. Over the years, Francis has grown significantly in the fields of spatial data engineering, data science, and Python development. He has developed robust data pipelines, implemented advanced analytical workflows, and worked with both spatial and non-spatial datasets to support conservation and reporting efforts. He is deeply passionate about software development, data-driven decision-making, and cartography, with a strong interest in leveraging technology for real-world impact.

Geospatial Data Manager

Eugene joined the MEP in 2023 as an Ecoscope Engineer. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology from the University of Nairobi. He began his career at the Kenya Meteorological Department as a GIS Analyst Intern, where he utilized his skills to manage climate models. He later joined the National Drought Management Authority as a GIS Intern, leveraging tools such as QGIS, ArcGIS, and R to conduct spatial analysis. In addition to his academic background, Eugene earned a Data Science nanodegree from Moringa School, further enhancing his expertise in data analysis and visualization. He has a strong passion for machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), exploring innovative ways to integrate these technologies into environmental and conservation work. Currently, he applies his analytical skills to drive conservation efforts, combining technology and data to create impactful solutions for environmental sustainability.

Research Assistant

Sylvia Nyarangi is a passionate young conservationist actively engaged in elephant protection and habitat conservation through elephant identification, re-identification, and elephant monitoring at MEP under the Long Term Monitoring (LTM) team. She engages guests and school children through in-person and virtual presentations, sharing field insights and raising awareness about elephant protection. Sylvia holds a Diploma in Wildlife Management and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. She is particularly passionate about the social structures of female elephants, the dynamics of elephant bulls, and aims to become an expert in elephant family systems. With a growing interest in storytelling, grant writing, and conservation reporting, Sylvia aspires to be a leading voice in conservation communication and research support.

Research Assistant

Caroline was born and raised near Nairobi and holds a degree in Wildlife Management from the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, and also has a Degree in Community Health, an industry where she first began her career. Caroline joined the Mara Elephant Project as an intern but was later absorbed into the Research Department, where she is pursuing her passion for wildlife and natural resources conservation.

Research Assistant

Sharon was born and raised in the Maasai Mara. She joined MEP in 2024 as an intern and was later absorbed into the Long Term Monitoring (LTM) team tasked with elephant monitoring and research. Sharon holds a Diploma in Wildlife Conservation and Management and is passionate about the study of elephants and their habitat conservation.