Susie Weeks
Executive Officer
Susie has 14 years experience in conservation and community development in Kenya and Tanzania. She graduated from London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies with a BA in Geography with specific reference to Africa and Asia, and obtained a postgraduate Masters degree in Environmental Management and Protection at Edinburgh University a few years later. Susie has been running the Mount Kenya Trust since 2002. Previously she worked for the African Environmental Film Foundation with renowned wildlife film maker Simon Trevor, as a Director of African Operations for Blue Heron Films and as a Community Development Director and Lodge Manager for Loisaba Wilderness. She has also worked as a safari guide, a PADI Divemaster and as a voluntary marine research scientist on Mafia Island off the coast of Tanzania.
Susie was born in Kenya and grew up in Nanyuki, Malindi and Mombasa where she went to school. Her passion for and East Africa’s wildlife, habitats and environmental security have been with her since childhood. Susie is fluent in Swahili and has had professional training in GIS, TEFL, Environmental Impact Assessment and Scuba Diving. She is also a member of the the Kenya Professional Guides Association.
Recently Susie was nominated as Woman of the Year for the Wildlife and Conservation category in Kenya’s ‘Eve Woman of the Year Awards’. She was short-listed as one of the three finalists, who included Fleur Ng’weno and Dame Daphne Sheldrick. Fleur & Daphene are no less than institutions in Kenya. Fleur N’gweno was awarded first prize. Fleur is a National bird and wildlife expert who writes and talks tirelessly about these subjects.
As the Trust’s Executive Officer Susie has been instrumental in building up the Trust from its 2nd year of existence. Originally set up by the Trustees and established by her predecessor Jessica, she has been running the Trust now for nearly 6 years. The position entails managing the Trust at every level: fundraising, research, marketing, project conception, project management (with Humphrey our Field Co-ordinator) and until July 2006 all the accounts and administration.
As part of the fundraising efforts for the Trust Susie organises Kenya’s top mountain biking event , the 10to4, which is featured regularly on local and international media including Transworld Sport following the 2007 event. The 10to4 attracts both international and proffessional competitors.
Humphrey Munene Njagi
Field Co-ordinator
Born in January 1970 in Meru District, Humphrey started schooling at Kimuchia Primary School in 1976 and admitted to Meru School for secondary education in 1986. After passing the KCSE examination in 1989, he joined Moi University for a Bachelor’s degree in 1990. Humphrey successfully completed a 4 year course in Wildlife Management attaining a Second Class Honors – Upper Division.
After completing the University, Humphrey worked at Ntulili Secondary School and Chief Mbogori Secondary School between 1995 and 1998. While teaching at Chief Mbogori Secondary School Humphrey did a Post Graduate Diploma Course in Education and attained a Credit One. 1n July 2000, he joined the Bill Woodley Mt. Kenya Trust as the Field Coordinator, a position he has excelled at. Humphrey works with local communities, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forest Service among others to plan and implement our projects. Humphrey has worked on all of our programmes which include: fencing, mapping, setting up tree nurseries and working on education projects and workshops.
Lillian A. Wanjiku
Administration Officer
Lillian was brought up and schooled in Nairobi. In 1999 she completed her degree in Economics and Geography at Nairobi University. She then went on to get a Diploma in IMIS (Institute for the Management of Information Systems) and ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Stage 1 at Strathmore University. Lillian also worked as an Accounts and Computer Clerk while at Strathmore. On completion of her courses, Lillian started working as Audit Assistant preparing financial statements for a variety of clients.
Keen to get experience in conservation, Lillian later joined the East African Wildlife Society as an Intern in the Deputy Directors office as his understudy and Personal Assistant. Having gained experience in areas related to conservation she became the Assistant Programme Officer of the Wetlands Program for the EAWLS. In this position she managed to acquire over 100 members involved in wetlands issues. The Kenya Wetlands Forum is a committee that holds monthly meetings which help to solve problems related to wetlands use and sustainability. Lillian joined The Bill Woodley Mount Kenya Trust as the Administration Officer in July 2006. Though Lillian’s role is varied and her responsibilities will increase with experience, Lillian essentially takes care of the accounts and administration of the Nairobi office and acts as a PA to Susie.
Lillian has also been present at various training courses and workshops concerned with environmental conservation. These include the Global Water Partnership regional Workshop for Effective Water Governance, the Integrated Water Resource Management Plan Workshop, and the WaterNet Facilitation and Presentation Skills course in Eritrea.
