Meet The Team

Leadership Team

  • Dr Claire Okell (BVSc, PhD)

    CEO & FOUNDER

    After completing her PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health she worked for several years in the humanitarian and development sector in South Sudan, northern Kenya and Somalia.  Her interest for Pangolin was sparked by the lack on information on them and that they were clearly the underdog of the wildlife world. After working as an independent researcher she founded TPP in 2020.  Today she is passionate about space for  biodiversity,  building teams that are inspired and equipped to save the natural world and using a data led evidence base to create support. 

    Connect on LinkedIn

  • Beryl Makori 

    CONSERVATION MANAGER

    Beyrl grew up in western Kenya. Her father was hugely influential in inspiring her to believe and care about nature.  After graduating from the University of Karatina, Beryl worked across Kenya on the research and protection of bats with conservation greats including Paul Webala. Beryl joined TPP in 2020 as a lead researcher and has grown with the project. Her passion is community led conservation. 

    Connect on LinkedIn

  • MICHAEL KOSKEI

    CONSERVATION MONITORING MANAGER

    Michael grew up in south of the Rift Valley in Kenya; in the county neighbouring the Maasai Mara Ecosystem. As a young boy he visited his uncle who was working in Massai Mara and was intrigued to see “the big five” of Kenya. Michael has a Bachelors in Geography and a Master of Science in Geospatial Information Systems and Remote Sensing and joined our team in June 2024 after 10 years working on monitoring of elephants.

  • JOEL SIOLOLO

    SENIOR HABITAT PROTECTION OFFICER

    Joel is the longest serving employee of The Pangolin Project having met Claire in 2019. Armed with a camera trap Joel collected the first camera trap footage of Temmincks Ground Pangolin in Kenya. Joel is from Ol Derkesi conservancy and grew up alongside Pangolin. Joel led our feidl research activities from 2020 – 2022 but his passion is for community engagement and he works tirelessly to engage every individual in the conservation of Pangolin and their habitat.

  • SABINA LELEMOYOG

    FINANCE & GRANTS MANAGER

    Connect on LinkedIn

  • EBONY ESCALONA

    HEAD OF DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNITY

    Connect on LinkedIn

FIELD TEAM

  • JULIUS MEPUKORI

    MONITORING OFFICER

  • JEREMIAH MUSUKA

    MONITORING OFFICER

  • WILSON PARKESUI

    HABITAT PROTECTION OFFICER

  • PAUL NANGIDA

    MONITORING OFFICER

  • WILLIAM KIRONKAI

  • JOB SEUREI

    ORGANISATION DRIVER