Kenya Office

Dr. Paula Kahumbu, CEO

Dr. Paula Kahumbu is the CEO of WildlifeDirect. She has a PhD from Princeton and is an ecologist committed to transforming conservation results in Africa and the world through science, advocacy and education.  She is one of Africa’s best-known wildlife conservationists and sits on the boards of WWF International and National Geographic. She is the brainchild of the Hands Off Our Elephants campaign with Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, the immediate former First Lady of the Republic of Kenya. The campaign is widely recognized for its singular successes in advocacy and the engagement of the people of Kenya to support the protection of elephants. Dr. Kahumbu is the producer and presenter of Africa’s first wildlife documentary series made by Africans called Wildlife Warriors which seeks to transform the conservation literacy in Africa by shining a light on the continents front line conservationists. The award winning series is broadcast on free to air channels and in schools across Kenya through the Wildlife.  Warriors Kids program which takes children on scientific wilderness expeditions. Dr. Kahumbu holds the title Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) and is the Rolex NatGeo Explorer of the Year 2021, winner of the Whitley Gold Award 2021, and is a National Geographic Emerging Explorer.

Trish Sewe, Chief Operations Officer

Trish Sewe joined WildlifeDirect in April 2016 as a Communications Manager and is currently the Chief Operations Officer. She is also the Chief of Party for the National Geographic’s Team Sayari & Nature Positive Kids Outreach Program. Trish has over fifteen years of experience in the communications and development sector, and is leading the technical implementation and management of all aspects of the National Geographic’s Team Sayari and Nature Positive Kids Outreach  project, ensuring that the core project activities and WLD’s existing related efforts are coordinated and successfully delivered. Prior to joining WildlifeDirect, she worked with various nonprofit organizations at the grassroots, national and international levels. Trish is a self-motivated individual with a ‘can do’ approach and is passionate about empowering people with knowledge and skills that allow them to make informed choices.

Joy Omulupi, Education and Outreach Manager

Joy Omulupi  joined the organization in May 2007 and is considered the longest serving employee. She is working as the Education and Outreach Manager in charge of projects in Amboseli. Prior to joining WildlifeDirect, she worked at GTZ International Services, Coca-Cola Africa and International Rescue Committee both in Nairobi and Kigoma, Tanzania. She loves wildlife and nature and is slowly nurturing a secret passion for photography that she didn’t know she had.

Anthony Wachira, Finance Officer

Anthony joined WildlifeDirect in April 2017 as a Finance Officer. He has over 6 years of experience in the finance and accounting field. He also has a Bachelors Degree in Commerce and is a CPA-K holder. He is in charge of financial management and control, human resources and administration. Anthony is passionate, resourceful and results driven individual.

Shem Kaosa, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer

Results-driven Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Expert with a 10+ year track record of designing and implementing effective M&E systems across diverse sectors and 11 African countries. His expertise enhances project impact in areas like Health, Education, and Conservation. Hem’s contributions extend beyond the field, as he has co-authored 12 publications in peer-reviewed journals and presented at global platforms, including the International AIDS Society and the University of Nairobi STD/SRH Collaborative Group.

Charlie Khisa, Assistant Film Producer

A Storyteller on a mission to inspire and move people’s hearts and minds using the power of film. With a background in Communications and Journalism, Charlie has contributed storytelling and project management expertise with INGOs, film production studio and the EU Stories of Hope at Aga Khan University, all while working in collaborations that bring impactful stories come to life

Nicholas J. Opiyo, Wildlife Warriors Field Lab Camp Manager

Dedicated natural resources manager and educator with a passion for sustainable environmental conservation. His multifaceted background, including education and customer service, uniquely equips him to bridge the gap between sustainability and society, while his role at WildlifeDirect highlights his commitment to preserving nature for future generations.

Bakari Garise, Science Coordinator

Bakari Garise joined Wildlife Direct in January 2022 as the Lead Science Coordinator. Prior to joining, he worked as The lead Botanist at Lafarge Ecosystem in Mombasa where he worked closely with the biodiversity team in forest restoration of the limestone mined quarries. He also was responsible for studying the effects of mining and finding the best ways of mitigating the risks associated with mining to the ecosystem including all living organisms and how to create a thriving ecosystem. He has also worked at the Wakukuzu Friends of the Colobus Trust in Diani and with the team at Mchelelo Primate and Reserve Center where he was responsible for studying the various indigenous tree species, mapping them, counting endangered species of animals, most importantly, the highly endangered Tana River mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus). Bakari has a rich knowledge of flora and fauna of over 30 years of experience. During his free time, he loves reading books while taking a warm cup of coffee or spending time with his family and grandchildren whenever he can.