Executive Team

Ian Craig – Executive Director
Ian has spent most of his life in northern Kenya and is familiar with the challenges of wildlife conservation and community development in the region. He has developed a personal relationship with many communities based on a foundation of trust, continuity, shared experiences and a common vision. He was a founding board member of both Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust and Il Ngwesi Group Ranch in 1995. As Executive Director of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ian was a founding member of the Northern Rangelands Trust together with key individuals from the community member areas.

Matt Rice – Director of Operations
Matt has nearly 20 years experience in conservation and community development. He spent approximately 10 years in Namibia working on communal conservancy development and then went on to become involved in wildlife policy work largely revolving around CITES over a period of four years. Over the past six years he has managed a diverse portfolio of projects in East, Central and Southern Africa for Fauna & Flora International (FFI). Matt was seconded by FFI to the Northern Rangelands Trust for three years in March 2006.

James Munyugi – Community Development Manager
James has experience and expertise in community-based conservation with unique skills in ‘turn around strategies’ for community development. He coordinated the Community Mobilisation and Education Programme for the Kenya Wildlife Service in the 1990s and was previously a KWS warden in Samburu. During 2000-2004, Mr. Munyugi was the Community Development Manager for the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and established the Conservancy’s community programme.

Tom Lalampaa – Community Development Assistant
Tom is a Samburu from the West Gate Community Conservancy. He was appointed as Community Development Assistant in April, 2006. He has an MBA in Strategic Management and a BA in Social Work from the University of Nairobi. Tom has ten years’ management experience gained from working with community-based organizations in Kenya and brings invaluable experience and skills to the Trust with his background in Community Development, Conservancy Management and fundraising.

Dr Juliet King – Research & Monitoring Manager
Juliet is a Zooloigist with a Ph.D from the University of Western Australia. She was born and raised in Kenya and returned to work there in 1998. She has previous conservation experience in Kenya working with Save the Elephants, the Kenya Wildlife Service and as a consultant to several conservation NGOs in the country. Juliet is implementing community-based ecological monitoring in the Community Conservancies of the Northern Rangelands Trust. She brings a broad knowledge of Kenyan conservation issues as well as contemporary skills in community conservation.

Dominic Lesimirdana – Research & Monitoring Assistant
Dominic Lesimirdana is a Samburu from northern Kenya. He is a graduate of the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute with a certificate in Sanctuary and Wildlife Management. Dominic has experience in research and monitoring through his work with the African Wildlife Foundation as Research Assistant on their Grevy’s Zebra Research Project. He has also worked as field assistant on the Earthwatch Zebras of Kenya project.

Jimmy Lengima – Finance Manager
Jimmy is a Samburu from Archer’s Post. Before assuming his post as Finance Manager for the Northern Rangelands Trust, he worked as the accountant for the Sera Wildlife Conservation Trust. One of his primary roles is to liaise with the book-keepers of individual Community Conservancies to assist them in preparing financial reports and budgets as needed. Jimmy also prepares annual budgets, monthly and grant financial accounts and is responsible for establishing and implementing financial systems and protocols.

Celina Butali – Enterprise & Product Development Officer
Celina graduated from the Institute of Community Development with a Diploma in Project Planning and Community Development. Before coming to the Northern Rangelands Trust, Celina worked for the Kenya Wildlife Service as Community Wildlife Assistant. She also coordinated an early childhood programme based at the slums in Nairobi and was involved in several Aids awareness initiatives. Through her experience with communities, Celina is successfully engaging women’s groups in product development training.

Agnes Lekomet – Enterprise & Product Development Assistant
Agnes has worked with African Wildlife Foundation on their Samburu Heartland Programme. She participated in PRA exercises and identification of problems that faced women and communities living near the Samburu National Reserve. Issues were focused on human-wildlife conflict and identifying potential solutions to the problems. She has a lot of experience working with women. Being a Samburu herself, the women feel comfortable approaching Agnes regarding the issues they face.

Caroline Karwitha – Livestock Programme Manager
Caroline is an expert in Animal Production. She obtained a BSC in Animal Production from Egerton University and an MSC in World Animal Production from the University of Wales, Bangor. She has extensive knowledge in animal production nutrition, breeding, health and systems. Caroline worked for Land O’ Lakes International where she learned the positive impact of co-operatives on local communities.  She also worked with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as a research assistant, where she outlined the food safety challenges that arise in the supply chain while processing and marketing camel products. Caroline recently joined the Northern Rangelands Trust where she coordinates and manages the Livestock Programme. She helps the local communities who promote biodiversity conservation on their land to develop an integrated management of livestock and wildlife.

Grace Njeru – Office Manager
Grace was appointed as Office Manager by the Executive Director in August 2006. She has an M.A. in Economics and has qualified in other administrative courses. She brings invaluable experience and skills to the Trust with her background in development economics, projects management, administration and institutional fundraising. Grace has five years’ administrative and management experience gained from working in multicultural non-governmental organization.