Philip Coulson has practised law in Nairobi since 1994. He was a partner in the law firm of Kaplan & Stratton before, alongside Richard Harney, founding Coulson Harney LLP which trades as Bowmans Kenya in 2008 where he remains one of the partners.
Philip specialises in company and commercial law, capital markets, property development, finance, acquisitions, take-overs, joint ventures, investments, corporate re-organisations, commercial contracts, tax, employment and land law matters tourism and conservation.
His expertise has been recognised by Chambers Global (Corporate & Commercial) and by IFLR1000 over many years. In 2023 he was awarded the Chambers Lifetime Achievement Award, only the third recipient of the award in the African continent and the first from East Africa Philip is a member of Law Society of Kenya, Law Society of England and Wales, the International BarAssociation and Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association.
Philip was the lawyer who handled the transaction which resulted in the exit of Lonrho group from Ol Pejeta in 2004. He set up Ol Pejeta Conservancy Limited and put in place the current Ol Pejeta corporate structure.
Since 31 December 2014, Philip has been chairman of Ol Pejeta Conservancy Limited and also of its trading subsidiary, Ol Pejeta Ranching Limited.
Philip has extensive experience in the conservation world over the past three decades. He has set up many private and community owned conservancies and advised on their operations once established. He has also been involved in advising urban and pastoral communities in forming effective communal land holding and operational vehicles.
Philip sits on various other boards, these include Muthaiga Country Club where he sits as chairman, the Bowmans group partnership board, he is one of the founding shareholders and a director of the Performing & Visual Arts Centre Limited trading as the Godown Arts Centre, he is also a director of UAP Insurance South Sudan Limited and a trustee of the Old Mutual Foundation and he is also a trustee of Justice
Defenders (formerly African Prisons Project). He is also a director of the Special Economic Zones Authority a Kenyan governmental agency set up to promote and regulate local and foreign investment.
Hon. Francis Ole Kaparo is a lawyer by profession with vast experience in Kenya’s political anddevelopment discourse. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Nairobiand a post graduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law. He was admitted to the roll ofAdvocates as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1977.
He also served as the Commission Chairman for National Cohesion Integrated Commission (NCIC)since August 2014 to October 2019. Before joining NCIC, Hon. Kaparo was appointed by the thenPresident of Kenya as the chief mediator for the Marsabit and Mandera Counties Peace Processes,together with Senator Mohamed Yusuf Haji. Hon. Kaparo had also been the Chairman of the UnitedRepublican Party (URP).
Hon. Kaparo has been the Chairman of several Conservancies in Kenya. These include Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Northern Rangelands Trust, Ilngwesi Bandas, Lekurruki Conservancy and Kijabe Conservancy. He currently serves as a board member for Ol Pejeta Conservancy since 30thNovember 2005.
He has served the Government and the people of Kenya in different capacities and was the second longest-serving Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, having served from 1993 to 2007.
Helen Gichohi is the immediate past Ambassador for Conservation in Africa for Fauna andFlora International where she served in the role on a part time basis from June 2018 untilDecember 2023. She joined FFI from Equity Group Foundation where she had served asmanaging director from 2012 to 2017. Prior to that, she spent 11 years with the AfricanWildlife Foundation (AWF) serving as its first director of the African Heartlands Programfrom 2001 before quickly rising to become the Vice President for Programs in February2002. She took over leadership of the entire program and its operations including, leading theexpansion of AWF’s program in Africa from 5 countries to 16 as well as negotiating a Headquarter agreement that led to the relocation of AWF headquarters from Washington, DCto Nairobi. Before joining AWF Helen served as the managing director of the African Conservation Centre.
Helen has received numerous honours, including three presidential awards, the Order of Grand Warrior and two Moran of the Order of Burning Spear for her distinguished service to conservation and development in Kenya.
She holds a doctorate in ecology from the University of Leicester in the UK, a Master of Science in Biology of Conservation from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Kenyatta University. She currently serves on the boards of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Nawiri Group, Equity Group Holdings Limited, Equity Group Foundation, Bamburi PLC and the Advisory Board of Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation. She is a Yale School of Forestry Dorothy McCluskey Fellow as well as a CATTO Global Environmental Fellow of the Aspen Institute in Washington DC.
Annette Lanjouw is a behavioral ecologist and primatologist with four decades of experience focused on the research and conservation of great apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. More recently she has also focused on the Asian apes, including orangutans and gibbons.
Annette’s career includes a 15-year tenure as Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme. She has also served as a scientific advisor to the renowned wildlife filmmaker Alan Root and has held key positions including Central Africa Program Officer for the Wildlife Conservation Society, Project Manager and Field Director for the Frankfurt Zoological Society’s Chimpanzee Conservation Project in eastern DRC, International Program Officer for the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and Regional Director for Fauna & Flora International. Annette has been with the Arcus Foundation since 2007, where she currently serves as the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer while continuing to oversee the Great Apes & Gibbons Program.
Originally from the Netherlands, Annette holds a BSc in Zoology and Psychology from Victoria University in New Zealand and a doctorandus degree in Behavioral Ecology from Rijks Universiteit in the Netherlands. Highly respected in the conservation community, she serves as a scientific advisor to the Trust for African Rock Art, Vice Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group, a member of both the IUCN Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group and the World Commission on Protected Areas. Additionally, she is a trustee of Fauna & Flora, the Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, as well as the Virunga Foundation.
Annette brings valuable expertise to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where she serves on the main
Board in Kenya and is a founding Trustee of Ol Pejeta UK.
Vijay Gidoomal qualified as a lawyer (Bachelor of Laws) from Clifford Chance in the UK in 1992. He returned to Kenya in 1993 and was responsible for establishing Car & General operations in Uganda and Tanzania as Executive Director. He became the CEO of Car &General in 1996 and oversaw a complete restructuring of the company’s revenue base, gradually introducing new product lines that included the pioneering of the introduction of three wheelers and two wheelers as taxis in East Africa.
Vijay has seen the company grow regionally with representation in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,Rwanda, Burundi, Seychelles, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. He has also seen C&G expand its key businesses to include automotive and equipment distribution, financial services, agriculture, real estate and manufacturing sectors with franchise representation that includes
Develon construction equipment, ACE construction equipment, Kubota tractors, Toyota forklifts, Briggs & Stratton power equipment, TVS motorcycles, Piaggio three wheelers, Mercury outboard engines, Ingersoll-Rand air compressors, Motorol lubricants and MRF tyres.
Vijay is an active member of the Young Presidents Association, its past Chairman (Kenya Chapter) and regional board member. He sits on various Boards including Equity Group Holding, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Securex Ltd. He is also a board member of Cummins C&G, Kibo Poultry Ltd, Boda Plus Ltd, Watu Africa Ltd and Fincom Ltd.
Major General (rtd) Michael Gichangi joined the Kenya Air Force as a pilot in 1975, and
rose through the ranks serving in all its flying operations hierarchy command positions. He retired from the military in 2006 as the Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy at the Defence Headquarters, on being appointed the Director General of The National Intelligence Service a position he held until 2014.
During his military and public service careers, he has been involved in, participated or been party to numerous security, diplomatic and social economic initiatives at the national, regional and international levels and fora.
He holds a Masters Degree in Aviation Management from Griffith University in Australia and is a graduate of the National Defence College. He has participated in many
management and operational related courses, workshops and conferences and has also served as Instructor at the Defence Staff College. He has a Commercial Pilots License from the Federal Aviation Authority of The United States of America and one from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and is a qualified flying instructor.
In recognition of his service to the nation, he has been honoured as an Elder of the Order
of the Golden Heart (EGH) and a Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS). He was
awarded the Distinguished Conduct Order (DCO) medal for an act of Valour while flying in the Kenya Air Force.
I am a 55 year old Kenyan entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in Agribusiness, Conservation and IT sectors.
I am married with 3 kids and my wife and I run our businesses based out of Nanyuki, and we have developed a series of successful ventures in the Agricultural sector, but also we helped establish an international ISP partnering with Microsoft to provide broadband connectivity to rural communities around East Africa. Our home farm, Tambuzi Ltd, is an accredited B – Corp and we view business as a force for good and look at how we can make the largest environmental and social impact in everything we do.
I worked for Ol Pejeta in the mid 90’s, as well as the commercial board of Lewa in the early 2000’s, so conservation has always been a keen interest. I was thrilled to be asked to join the board of Ol Pejeta in 2022, as I hold Ol Pejeta very dear in my heart as an outstanding example of Conservation as a positive environmental force, and support for community development in the Laikipia region and beyond.
I have really enjoyed working with the dynamic board and executive team at Ol Pejeta, and I feel there is a lot to be done over the coming 5 years to build on the foundation of success that Ol Pejeta has established.
Dan Karuga is the African Lead for SC Ventures, the fintech, investments and ventures arm of Standard Chartered Bank. Prior to joining SC Ventures Dan was the East Africa Managing Director Branch International, a Visa and a16z backed growth stage fintech startup providing digital financial services in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and India. As East Africa MD, Dan grew Branch’s monthly userbase, turned around performance, and directed the company in acquiring a microfinance bank in Kenya (first bank acquisition by a tech company). Before Branch, Dan had a 10-year international consulting career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Nairobi, New York, and Los Angeles). He serves on the boards of three SC Ventures’ portfolio companies in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana.
Dan holds an MBA degree from University of California, Berkeley and a BA degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Certified Executive Coach with The Academy of Executive Coaching, UK, Certified Practitioner of Human-Centered Design from Luma Institute USA, and Certified Director from Centre for Corporate Governance in Kenya. Outside of work,
Dan enjoys extreme hiking, running and hanging out with his Holstein cows at smallexperiential dairy farm in central Kenya.
Alison Ngibuini is a visionary leader who seamlessly blends communication and film. Her expertise goes beyond crafting communication strategies; she’s a weaver of narratives,
captivating audiences with compelling content through diverse media channels. She has been involved in the curation of multiple award-winning campaigns that have scaled across the African continent and beyond. With an intuitive grasp of behaviour change communication, she unlocks results by forging genuine connections with target audiences. Her ability to influence mindsets and evoke powerful emotional bonds with brands and messaging is the bedrock of her success.
A seasoned navigator of the communication and film landscape, Alison has captained over fifty successful campaigns, guiding diverse organizations toward impactful content creation. From private enterprises and development agencies to esteemed bodies like the EU, AU, Government of Kenya (GoK), European Development Fund (EDF), USAID, UNDP, German Cooperation (GIZ), and UNICEF. Alison possesses a deep understanding of multiple communication strategies and cultural nuances across the African continent, weaving narratives that resonate and span Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Seychelles making her a true communication ambassador for Africa.
Alison holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool and a Fellowship MBA in Global Entrepreneurship from Babson College, among other certifications.
a thought leader who translates strategy into impactful action. Her footprint extends beyond film sets to the boardroom, as she has served as a trusted advisor to organizations like United Nations Global Compact (Kenya), Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya Tourism Board, World Athletics Cross Country Championships, Akina Mama Wa Africa, Kenya Cultural Centre among other organizations. Recognized as a top female entrepreneur, her
influence is undeniable. Alison’s creative mind and highly skilled approach to communication conceptualization and delivery have seen her coordinate internationally acclaimed films and shows the Constant Gardener, Love Actually, Africa Challenge, Shuga, Siri, Mali, and Impure among other productions. Alison’s mantra is “creativity for impact and value,” she champions the creation of stable job opportunities within the burgeoning African creative economy.
Justin Heath was appointed as CEO of Ol Pejeta Conservancy in April 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience in conservation, community engagement, commerce, and renewable energy. A Kenyan citizen with a global perspective, Justin has lived and worked across four continents.
Justin’s career has been marked by leadership roles that bridge the gap between conservation and community needs. He has overseen tourism operations on a global scale and has been instrumental in driving exponential growth in rural renewable energy in Africa.
In the Greater Mara Ecosystem, he managed three community conservation areas, balancing the interests of local communities and tourism operators while pioneering wildlife and livestock integration programmes.
Justin’s vision for Ol Pejeta is deeply rooted in teamwork and dedication. Since joining, he has led a comprehensive restructuring process, boosted commercial revenues and strengthened the conservancy’s asset management. Justin has recently been elected to the National Board for the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion initiative. In this role, he will collaborate with the Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service and the Head of the Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institute. This ambitious initiative will spearhead rhino conservation aiming to expand protected habitats for rhinos across Kenya, with Ol Pejeta’s home range, Laikipia, playing a pivotal role.
Geoffrey joined Ol Pejeta as the Chief Programs Officer in April 2024 and has settled in well. Geoff brings with him extensive experience and hands-on stewardship in policy, governance, research and mentorship in conservation of natural resources in Kenya.
Geoff is not new to the landscape as he has carried out research on Black Rhino habitats here at Ol Pejeta since 2002. His research findings have translated into several practical management decisions currently being implemented including the establishment and operationalization of the OPC Research and Ecological Monitoring Unit (REMU) and the development of its research protocols, management of Acacia habitats using enclosures, discontinuation of use of fires as a habitat management tool and control of encroachment of Euclea bushes among others.
Geoffrey began his career as a junior officer with the Kenya Wildlife Service before moving on to teach Wildlife Management at Moi University, where he served as Chair of Department and then moved on to be the founding Dean of the School Environment and Natural Resources at Karatina University. He has taught for Colorado State, McGill, Rutgers and Linkoping universities amongothers.
Geoff was the Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA Kenya) between 2012 and 2019, where he is credited with the internationally acclaimed 2017 national ban on plastic carrier bags in Kenya. He has also served in the boards of UNESCO, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), National Bio-safety Authority (NBA) and the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) among others. While at NEMA he was focal point and government of Kenya negotiator in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Nagoya protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS). Geoff holds Bsc in Wildlife Management, Msc in Primate Ecology from Moi University and PhD in ecology from the Australian School of Environmental Studies, Griffith University. He is widely published and has served as editor and reviewer for several journals. He has consulted in the establishment of many private and community-based conservancies in the Laikipia, Nakuru and Amboseli ecosystems in Kenya. His other strengths include grant management and project evaluations.
He is a member of the Environment Institute of Kenya (EIK), Ecological Society of Eastern Africa and the Wildlife Professionals Association of Kenya. He has a passion for the outdoors and likes to spend time landscaping.
Geoffrey joined Ol Pejeta as the Chief Programs Officer in April 2024 and has settled in well. Geoff brings with him extensive experience and hands-on stewardship in policy, governance, research and mentorship in conservation of natural resources in Kenya.
Geoff is not new to the landscape as he has carried out research on Black Rhino habitats here at Ol Pejeta since 2002. His research findings have translated into several practical management decisions currently being implemented including the establishment and operationalization of the OPC Research and Ecological Monitoring Unit (REMU) and the development of its research protocols, management of Acacia habitats using enclosures, discontinuation of use of fires as a habitat management tool and control of encroachment of Euclea bushes among others.
Geoffrey began his career as a junior officer with the Kenya Wildlife Service before moving on to teach Wildlife Management at Moi University, where he served as Chair of Department and then moved on to be the founding Dean of the School Environment and Natural Resources at Karatina University. He has taught for Colorado State, McGill, Rutgers and Linkoping universities amongothers.
Geoff was the Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA Kenya) between 2012 and 2019, where he is credited with the internationally acclaimed 2017 national ban on plastic carrier bags in Kenya. He has also served in the boards of UNESCO, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), National Bio-safety Authority (NBA) and the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) among others. While at NEMA he was focal point and government of Kenya negotiator in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Nagoya protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS). Geoff holds Bsc in Wildlife Management, Msc in Primate Ecology from Moi University and PhD in ecology from the Australian School of Environmental Studies, Griffith University. He is widely published and has served as editor and reviewer for several journals. He has consulted in the establishment of many private and community-based conservancies in the Laikipia, Nakuru and Amboseli ecosystems in Kenya. His other strengths include grant management and project evaluations.
He is a member of the Environment Institute of Kenya (EIK), Ecological Society of Eastern Africa and the Wildlife Professionals Association of Kenya. He has a passion for the outdoors and likes to spend time landscaping.
Kirstin has 30 years of experience in international development and conservation and a passion for the natural world. She began as an anthropologist, conducting M.Sc. research on the interface between communities and wildlife in the Budongo Forest in Uganda, and later Ph.D. research in the Tsavo region of Kenya. For 15 years, she served on the Board of Directors for Il Ngwesi, a Maasai-owned and run conservancy in Kenya, in a strategic/advisory capacity.
Kirstin spent four years with ActionAid UK, 15 years with VSO (including time in Kenya and the Philippines), as well as time with WCMC and OXFAM. She joined the African Wildlife Foundation in 2017 where she led a programme of funding and strategic network building in the UK to support AWF’s work across Africa, and represented AWF in the UK with media and UK policy partners. In 2024 she joined Ol Pejeta Conservancy where she is currently serving as Chief Fundraising Officer (Interim), managing a team of seven staff responsible for raising philanthropic and institutional funding globally.
William is the Head of Shared Services at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. As the Head of Shared Services, he leads cross-functional teams and oversees a diverse portfolio encompassing
Technology & Innovations, Supply Chain and Technical Operations (Workshop, Facilities and Infrastructure). Over the last 12 years working with the Conservancy, he has delivered solutions that continue to improve conservation outcomes through wildlife monitoring, wildlife protection against wildlife trade and effective resource management. He also drives initiatives that ensure accountability and efficiency across the Conservancy. He drives the digital transformation agenda enabling the conservancy to leverage the power of modern technology to remain at the forefront of conservation and a model to be emulated.
William is passionate about emerging technologies and derives satisfaction from the impact of technology on people and operations, especially in areas that are traditionally considered to be non-tech.
William is a certified Project Management Professional and holds a BSc. Software Engineering from Kenyatta University. He has undertaken the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence program by MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems and Society.
Samuel Mutisya is a wildlife conservation biologist with over 20 years of experience in the field. He holds a Master’s in
Conservation Biology from the University of Kent, along with additional professional training in species management. His expertise encompasses wildlife management, ecological research and endangered species recovery.
He has been involved in developing and implementing conservation strategies both locally and internationally, focusing on research, strategy development, wildlife conservation and natural resource management.
Elizabeth is the Human Resources Business Partner who leads the Human Capital Team at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. She is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the Conservancy in the area of People & Culture, and Organizational Development by maximizing our employees’ potential and optimizing organizational performance.
A passionate HR professional with a love for people and culture, she has solid experience in HR strategy, talent acquisition and retention and operationalization of the HR function through the development of policies, SOPs and relevant systems. She also enjoys identifying and working on culture initiatives with the team to ensure each workplace environment is simply great. Her experience in Human Resources spans over a period of 16 years. She has worked in start-ups, Sanergy and Mobius Motors (K) Ltd and at Deloitte EA.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Human Resources Management from the University of Nairobi. She is also a member of the Institute of Human Resources Management (IHRM).
I am a commercially astute and analytically inclined financial management and accounting professional with 19+ years’ of experience in delivering a full spectrum of financial and management accounting, financial analysis and control and management reporting duties.
I joined Ol Pejeta Conservancy in September 2020 from East African Breweries Limited. My role within the business entails being as key adviser to the Core Leadership Team, and other stakeholders in making data-backed critical business decisions, managing expenditure and budgets, reducing operational costs using innovative and effective strategies.
I am a CPA (Kenya) and hold a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance & Banking from Egerton University and a Masters Degree in Finance & Accounting from KCA University.
Currently a board member in one of the community Schools, Sweet Waters Mixed Secondary School.
Ian Mungai Muiruri is a seasoned development professional and educationist with over 10 years of experience in program management development, community mobilization, and conservation. As the Head of Community Development Programs at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Ian is responsible for defining the strategy and overseeing the development and implementation of community-based conservation initiatives. He manages the community team which works closely with over 40,000 community members in the area surrounding the communities. He also oversees community donor and partner relationships and is a consummate fundraiser.
Before his current position, Ian served as Deputy Manager-Community Development Programmes at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. He joined Ol Pejeta as the Community Education Liaison Officer in 2015. Previously, he worked as a teacher in various public schools and a few stints as a freelance journalist.
Ian has a Bachelor of Education Arts in Literature and Linguistics from the University of Nairobi. When he is not working, he enjoys literature, traveling, hiking, and philanthropic causes.
A seasoned agricultural professional with a rich background in horticulture, aquaculture, and livestock management, bringing a well- rounded perspective to agricultural challenges by balancing productivity with sustainability.
Currently serving as the Head of Livestock and Agriculture at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, responsible for overseeing the integration of livestock operations with wildlife conservation initiatives, ensuring that agricultural practices support biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
Enid Nkatha is the Head of Tourism Ol Pejeta Conservancy with 20+ years of experience in leading high performing teams in fast-paced tourism and hospitality environments. Dedicated to sustainable tourism, improving guests’ satisfaction scores streamlining operations and increasing revenue.
Prior to joining Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Enid worked at Sarova Panafric, Sarova Lion Hill game Lodge, Kenya Airways, KRA, Dormans Coffee shops and Tamarind Group. Enid holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi, higher Diploma from Institute of Human Resource Management and Advanced certificate in Food and Beverage Service andSales from Kenya Utalii College.
Outside from work Enid enjoys travelling and social gatherings with family and friends.
Justin Heath was appointed as CEO of Ol Pejeta Conservancy in April 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience in conservation, community engagement, commerce, and renewable energy. A Kenyan citizen with a global perspective, Justin has lived and worked across four continents.
Justin’s career has been marked by leadership roles that bridge the gap between conservation and community needs. He has overseen tourism operations on a global scale and has been instrumental in driving exponential growth in rural renewable energy in Africa.
In the Greater Mara Ecosystem, he managed three community conservation areas, balancing the interests of local communities and tourism operators while pioneering wildlife and livestock integration programmes.
Justin’s vision for Ol Pejeta is deeply rooted in teamwork and dedication. Since joining, he has led a comprehensive restructuring process, boosted commercial revenues and strengthened the conservancy’s asset management. Justin has recently been elected to the National Board for the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion initiative. In this role, he will collaborate with the Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service and the Head of the Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institute. This ambitious initiative will spearhead rhino conservation aiming to expand protected habitats for rhinos across Kenya, with Ol Pejeta’s home range, Laikipia, playing a pivotal role.
Joanna Elliott serves on the main Ol Pejeta Board in Kenya, and she is a founding member of Ol Pejeta UK, established in 2019.
As the Global Director of Conservation at Fauna & Flora, Jo leads a diverse portfolio of teams focused on Climate & Nature Linkages, Corporate Sustainability, Social Equity, Agriculture & Enterprise, Science & Design, and Capacity & Leadership. Her leadership extends to various boards and steering committees, and she is an active member of the UK government’s Darwin Expert Committee. A Cambridge-trained economist and with an MBA from London Business School, Jo began her career in corporate banking and strategy consulting before transitioning into the environmental sector.
Having worked for ERM, the World Bank in Indonesia, WWF-Indonesia, The Nature Conservancy’s Indonesia parks program, Jo then led a World Bank project at Kenya Wildlife Service. She later joined the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), rising to the position of Vice President for Program Design and Knowledge Management across sub-Saharan Africa. Before her tenure at Fauna & Flora, Jo served as a Rural Livelihoods Advisor at DFID, where she led efforts on wildlife-poverty linkages. Jo’s career reflects a commitment to leveraging her expertise in economics and environmental conservation to drive impactful change across global conservation initiatives.
Annette Lanjouw is a behavioral ecologist and primatologist with four decades of experience focused on the research and conservation of great apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. More recently she has also focused on the Asian apes, including orangutans and gibbons.
Annette’s career includes a 15-year tenure as Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme. She has also served as a scientific advisor to the renowned wildlife filmmaker Alan Root and has held key positions including Central Africa Program Officer for the Wildlife Conservation Society, Project Manager and Field Director for the Frankfurt Zoological Society’s Chimpanzee Conservation Project in eastern DRC, International Program Officer for the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and Regional Director for Fauna & Flora International. Annette has been with the Arcus Foundation since 2007, where she currently serves as the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer while continuing to oversee the Great Apes & Gibbons Program.
Originally from the Netherlands, Annette holds a BSc in Zoology and Psychology from Victoria University in New Zealand and a doctorandus degree in Behavioral Ecology from Rijks Universiteit in the Netherlands. Highly respected in the conservation community, she serves as a scientific advisor to the Trust for African Rock Art, Vice Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group, a member of both the IUCN Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group and the World Commission on Protected Areas. Additionally, she is a trustee of Fauna & Flora, the Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, as well as the Virunga Foundation.
Annette brings valuable expertise to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where she serves on the main Board in Kenya and is a founding Trustee of Ol Pejeta UK.
Joe Palombo is a Partner at FGS Global, a leading global communications and public affairs consultancy. In his role, Joe advises key decision-makers in private equity, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices on politics and policy.
Before joining FGS Global, Joe played a pivotal role at Global Counsel, where he built the firm’s strategic advisory business for institutional investors and GC Ventures, a corporate investment vehicle with a focus on media and the green transition. His earlier career as a U.S. diplomat took him to Mexico City, Hong Kong, and Kigali. It was during his two years in Rwanda, working on economic and environmental initiatives, that Joe developed a deep passion for wildlife conservation, nature restoration, and community impact—a passion that ultimately led him to join the Ol Pejeta UK board.
In addition to his role at Ol Pejeta, Joe serves as a Trustee for NESsT, a global impact investment charity dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable economic development. Joe’s career reflects a commitment to leveraging his extensive experience in policy and investment to drive positive environmental and social outcomes.
Dougal Freeman is the Vice President of Operations at the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), where he oversees finance strategy and operations, playing a crucial role in the organization’s growth and performance.
With over two decades of global experience across the private sector, NGOs, and not-for-profits, Dougal has worked extensively throughout Africa and the Middle East, contributing to major international development, food, and agribusiness organizations. His leadership experience includes roles as Deputy CEO and Finance Director at a public health consultancy and a Nobel Prize-winning international development organization based in the UK.
As CFO for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Switzerland, Dougal implemented best practices and led operational transformations. He was a board member and CFO at Oxford Policy Management, an international development consultancy specializing in economics. Prior to joining WCF, Dougal spent 11 months at HR Wallingford, the UK’s premier water research and consulting organization.
Dougal holds a BSc in Agricultural Business Management from Imperial College London, an MSc in Agricultural Development Economics from the University of Reading, and an MBA from the Alliance Manchester Business School.
Dougal brings his financial expertise to Ol Pejeta serving as Trustee and Treasurer of Ol Pejeta UK and a member of the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee on the main Ol Pejeta Board in Kenya.
Charles Graham, a dedicated advocate for rhino conservation, has deep roots in Kenya as a fourth-generation Kenyan by birth, alongside his British citizenship. Spending his early years in Kenya, Charles moved to the UK during his childhood. He went on to attend Eton College before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Estate Management from the University of Reading.
Charles’s career in real estate investment and development has been both international and illustrious. From 1984 to 1994, he led the American subsidiary of London & Edinburgh Trust plc, overseeing significant real estate projects across Canada and the USA. Upon returning to the UK in 1995, Charles co-founded Europa Capital LLP, a private equity real estate investment manager. Under his leadership, the firm successfully raised over £3 billion in investor equity commitments. After the successful sale of Europa Capital to Mitsubishi Estate, Charles stepped down in 2017 to embark on a new venture, co-founding MGT Investment Management with former colleagues, where he currently serves as Executive Chairman.
Beyond his main business, Charles remains committed to conservation efforts. As well as being a Trustee of Ol Pejeta Conservancy UK he is also a Board Member of the African Parks Foundation UK, the UK arm of the charity which manages 22 parks in fragile and sensitive locations across Africa.
Charles lives in London with his wife and their four children, balancing his professional pursuits with a deep commitment to family and conservation.
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