People
Trustees of Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) are Samson Parashina, Luca Belpietro and Antonella Bonomi. The Trust started small, but grew into the key player in the conservation of the entire ecosystem. It currently employs more than 200 local people and has an annual budget of US$1,100,000.
The current board is composed of:
Samson Parashina (Kenyan), Chairman of the Board, Chairman of Advisory Board, Trustee
Member of Kuku A and Kuku (B) Group Ranches. Outstanding Maasai with a great vision about conservation. Respected community leader. Silver level guide Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association. Manager of Campi ya Kanzi.
Stephen Mwenesi (Kenyan), Vice Chairman and legal adviser
Experienced lawyer with deep knowledge of Land issues and Group Ranches issues.
Luca Belpietro (Kenyan), Treasurer and Executive Director. Trustee
Doctorate in Economics, with a thesis on Wildlife as a Natural Resource in Kenya. Founder of Campi ya Kanzi and MWCT.
Antonella Bonomi (Italian). Board member and Trustee
Doctorate in law. Founder Campi ya Kanzi and MWCT. Supervisor of Kanzi Academy and -at interim – of health programs.
Muterian Ntanin (Kenyan), Board member and Game Scouts coordinator
Member of Kuku A and Kuku (B). Head of game scouts, passionately dedicated to conservation.
James Robertson (Kenyan). Board member
Founder Mara Conservancy and Kenya Wildlife Trust. Director of Ker&Downey Safaris. Outstanding conservationist.
Titus Naikuni (Kenyan). Board member
CEO Kenya Airways. Was a member of a team of World Bank sponsored Kenyan technocrats, known as the “Dream Team” who were engaged by the Government to turn around the economy. In this capacity he served as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications. He has extensive boardroom experience having served on various company boards including as a member of the board of Brunner Mond (South Africa), as Chairman of Kenya Power & Lighting Company and as Chairman of Housing Finance Company Limited. He received the Manager of the Year Award in Kenya in 2002.
Danny Woodley (Kenyan). Board member
Senior Warden of Tsavo West NP, passionate conservationist.
Mark Nicholson (British)
Doctorate in Veterinary. Experienced botanist and conservationist with decades of experience in managing grassland ecosystems. Equity holder on Naibosho Group Ranch (Maasai Mara), where he advices on botanical conservation and pastoralism.
David Raffman (Kenyan), Board member
Well known lawyer based in Nairobi with considerable experience of land-law, conveyancing, corporate and commercial law, trusts and INGOs, and similar, now practising as a consultant.
Edward Norton (USA), Board member
UN Ambassador for Biodiversity (appointed by UN Sec Gen, Ban Ki Moon in 2010). President MWCF, the US affiliate of MWCT. Founder of Crowdrise.com. Member of United Sates of America President’s Committee for Arts and Humanities (appointed by President Obama in 2009). He was awarded the Global Citizen Award by the Harvard Center for Environmental Health and the International Conservation Caucus Foundation’s “Good Steward” Award at the Inaugural Gala in 2009. He recently testified on the issue of greening affordable housing models before the House Select Committee on Climate Change.
Filmmaker (acted, produced, written and directed in 25 films ; nominated for two Academy Awards for acting).
Pio Cabanillas (Spain), Board member
A former hunter with an experience of more than 30 safari in the Continent.
Former Minister of Information for the Spanish Government, former spokesman of the Government, former CEO of the Spanish National TV. General Director for Marketing at Acciona, World leader in renewable energies, relevant infrastructures and water.
Developing Committee: 6 Maasai men and 4 Maasai women, chosen by the community, serve in a Developing Committee.
Advisory Board: 6 officials elected by the Community serve in the Advisory Board, together with MWCT Board Chairman, Samson Parashina.
If you have any questions regarding MWCT, please contact Luca at luca@maasai.com
