Dr. Samuel  Kasiki is an expert in  sustainable natural resources management, planning,  tourism and related policy formulation. He worked for Kenya Wildlife Service  (KWS) for 36 years, twelve and a half  of which he was the Director Biodiversity Research and Monitoring. During his early years with KWS, Dr. Kasiki worked in the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA)  for 17 years as the resident scientist,  during which time he carried out various studies on elephant ecology and behaviour, among other wildlife species research. He has extensive knowledge of the challenges facing elephant conservation and management in Kenya.

After retiring from KWS in July 2020 he has been a consultant offering services in environmental conservation and socio-economic development focussed on promoting effective and sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources.  Dr. Kasiki holds a PhD in Ecology, a MSc in Conservation Biology and BSc in Botany and Zoology.

Dr. Kasiki and Dr. McKnight will provide leadership to the NGO, based on their many years of elephant research in the Tsavo ecosystem. Dr. Kasiki’s wide network of government, local community leaders and private sector contacts in the wildlife sector will benefit the foundation.