Lewa Staff

Mike Watson, Chief Executive Officer

Mike is well known to Lewa, having been Lewa’s Wildlife and Security Manager from 1996 to 2002. He has served as an officer in the British Army, and is an accomplished helicopter and fixed wing pilot. His international conservation career spans wildlife capture work in South Africa, work with FFI in Mozambique, and his previous role as Executive Officer of the Kibodo Trust, a position he had held since 2005. He brings strong leadership to Lewa at a critical stage in its transition under Project Milele.
mike.watson@lewa.org

Geoffrey Chege, Chief Conservation Officer

Geoffrey Chege served as Lewa’s Head of Research and Monitoring starting October 2004 and was promoted in March 2011 as Chief Conservation Officer.  Geoffrey completed his undergraduate studies in Wildlife Management from Moi University, Kenya, and earned a Master of Science in Conservation Biology from the University of Kent, United Kingdom, where he graduated with distinction.  He serves on the Kenya Wildlife Service Executive and Technical Committees and the Grevy’s Zebra Technical Committee.  He is also a member of the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG).  Prior to joining the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Geoffrey worked for Earthwatch Institute’s Grevy’s Zebra Programme, and as a Research Officer based out on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
geoffrey.chege@lewa.org

Ian Craig, Strategic Advisor

Ian Craig continues to provide strategic advice to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, after having served as its founding Executive Director from 1995-2008.  A Kenyan by birth, Ian returned home following his education in Ireland to manage his family’s cattle ranch at Lewa Downs.  After the family converted Lewa Downs to the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary in 1983, Ian managed the sanctuary’s wildlife and conservation operations until Lewa’s founding in 1995. Ian is a member of the Board of Directors and an Honorary Warden of the Kenya Wildlife Service; and he serves as a strategic advisor and member of the Board of Directors of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.  Ian is an experienced bush pilot with over 6,500 flight hours.
ian.craig@nrt-kenya.org

Adrian Paul, Logistics Manager

Adrian Paul has served Lewa in different capacities since 2003. In 2007, he took over the role of the Logistics Manager, a position he held until 2009 when he left to help run his deep sea fishing family business. However, his love for Lewa proved too strong, and in April 2013 he came back to take up his old role as head of the Logistics team. 

Educated at Pembroke and Hillcrest Schools, Adrian is a Kenyan citizen who has lived in Kenya his entire life. 
adrian.paul@lewa.org

John Kinoti, Community Development Manager

John Kinoti has worked for the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy since 2003, first as an assistant in the Community Development Programme, and since 2005 as LWC’s Community Development Manager.  John graduated from Moi University, Kenya, with majors in Community Development and Economics.  On September 24, 2010, he earned a Masters Degree from Nairobi University, Kenya, in Project Planning & Management.  Born and raised in northern Kenya, John serves on the Catchment Areas Advisory Board of the Northern Kenya Water Resources Management Authority.
john.kinoti@lewa.org

Lucy Ndirangu, Human Resource Manager

Lucy Ndirangu has served as Lewa’s Human Resource Manager since March 2003.  Born in Kenya, Lucy earned a Masters Degree and post-graduate diploma in Human Resource Management from the University of Natal, South Africa.  Prior to joining the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Lucy worked as a tutor at the University of Natal, South Africa.
lucy.ndirangu@lewa.org 

John Pameri, Chief Security Officer

John Pameri has served the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary since 1992, beginning as a rhino ranger and advancing through the ranks to his current position as Chief Security Officer, supervising Lewa’s 150-member security staff.  Born in a community near Lewa, John was educated in Lewa-Sponsored Schools, and in 2006 underwent a year of advanced training at the Southern African Wildlife College in South Africa.
john.pameri@lewa.org

Faith Riunga, Education Officer

Faith has served as Lewa’s Education Officer since 2004. She runs the Lewa Educations Programme and manages all aspects of this programme for the Conservancy. Born in Kenya, she holds a bachelors’ degree in education and a Masters in Education Administration with honors.
faith.riunga@lewa.org

Elodie A. Sampéré, Head of Conservation Marketing

Elodie Sampéré has served as Lewa’s Head of Conservation Marketing since August 2008. Elodie earned a BA in Political Science and Philosophy and a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. Prior to joining the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Elodie most recently served as the Director of Marketing for the African Wildlife Foundation for seven years. Elodie now divides her time between Lewa, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Northern Rangelands Trust.
elodie.sampere@olpejetaconservancy.org

Mary Siboe, Chief Administrative Officer

Mary Siboe has served as Lewa’s Finance Manager since September 2008 and is currently Lewa's Chief Administrative Officer since March 2011.  She holds an MBA (Accounting Option), and is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).  Born in Kenya, Mary has over 18 years experience in administration, accounting, and donor fund management.  Prior to joining the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Mary worked for international non- governmental organizations in Kenya and Sudan, including Oxfam GB and International Rescue Committee (IRC).
mary.siboe@lewa.org

Charles Mwitari, Finance Manager

Charles Mwitari, joined the Lewa Wildlife conservancy in May 2011.  He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) from University of Nairobi  and an MBA (Finance) from Moi University. He is a member of Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPAK) and Institute of Certified Public Secretaries (ICPSK). Born in Kenya, Charles has over 12 years experience in Accounting and Financial management. Prior to joining the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Charles worked in different sectors with premier Kenyan organizations including Unga Group, Housing Finance and Maersk Kenya.

charles.mwitari@lewa.org