Leadership & Governance
Rooted in traditional pastoral landownership and recognized under Kenya's Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, AET operates under a clear, multi-tiered governance structure that unites indigenous group ranch leaders, conservation experts, and professional executives.
Governing Council
Composed of chairpersons and representatives from the original seven group ranches, providing democratic community ownership and ultimate policy oversight.
Board of Trustees
Distinguished conservation leaders, legal trustees, and fiduciary stewards who ensure strategic execution, financial integrity, and partner governance.
AET Secretariat
Professional technical executive team based at the Noonkotiak Resource Centre executing day-to-day programs, ranger coordination, and landscape spatial planning.
The Governing Council
The Governing Council is the highest governance authority in the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust. Drawn directly from the leadership structures of the seven original Maasai group ranches that founded AET in 2009, the Council ensures that all decisions protect pastoral land rights, corridor connectivity, and community dividends.
James Lenkiuntei
Chairperson, Governing CouncilDistinguished pastoral elder and community leader spearheading landscape harmony, collective land tenure rights, and inter-group ranch consensus.
Joel Ketukei
Member, Governing CouncilProminent pastoral representative coordinating community resolutions, group ranch cohesion, and institutional alignment across Amboseli.
Joshua Suyianka
Secretary, Governing CouncilCommunity administrator facilitating statutory council proceedings, inter-conservancy records, and pastoral assembly communications.
Note: The Governing Council membership includes elected community representatives across the 7 landscape group ranch clusters (Kimana, Olgulului-Ololarashi, Imbirikani, Rombo, Kuku, Eselengei, and Nasaru Olosho). Updated representative profiles will be published following the confirmation of the new cycle.
The Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees provides statutory governance, financial stewardship, and strategic guidance. Per approved organizational hierarchy, the Board Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Treasurer share visual leadership at the top tier, followed by the Executive Director and esteemed Trustees.
Daniel Leturesh
Board ChairpersonVisionary conservation leader and longstanding pioneer of community conservancies in southern Kenya, steering AET's board with deep landscape wisdom.
Nice Lengete
Board Vice ChairpersonGlobally recognized human rights advocate, TIME 100 honoree, and champion of Maasai women inclusion and sustainable community empowerment.
Johnson Ole Sipitiek
Board TreasurerExperienced financial steward and conservation program manager ensuring transparent fiscal oversight, audit compliance, and partner accountability.
Jackson Mwato
Executive Director / TrusteeChief Executive of AET coordinating ecosystem planning, donor alliances, institutional development, and landscape-scale execution since 2009.
Dickson Kaelo
Board MemberPioneer in Kenyan community conservation, former CEO of KWCA, and specialist in community-based natural resource management policy.
James Isiche
Board MemberRegional wildlife conservation leader with decades of executive experience in landscape connectivity, elephant protection, and environmental governance.
Sam Weru
Board MemberRenowned biodiversity and wildlife security strategist advising on wildlife monitoring, cross-border anti-poaching, and corridor protection.
Wallace Kentai
Board MemberLegal and community land tenure expert safeguarding pastoral land ownership, conservancy contracts, and equitable benefit-sharing frameworks.
AET Secretariat
Based at the Noonkotiak Resource Centre in Loitokitok/Kimana, the operational Secretariat executes the Strategic Plan 2024–2028, supports 744 rangers, facilitates grazing committees, and implements spatial plans across 42 conservancies.
Jackson Mwato
Executive DirectorLeading the operational secretariat, strategic planning, partner liaison, and ecosystem-wide governance.
Daniel Kaaka
Conservancies CoordinatorGuiding conservancy registration, governance structures, institutional training, and landowner liaison across all 42 conservancies.
Susan Kinuthia
Finance OfficerManaging statutory accounting, grant accounting, fiduciary reporting, and procurement audits.
Purity Mwende
Rangeland Project AssistantSupporting rangeland health assessments, field restoration workflows, and community grass seedbank mobilization.
Kenneth Sokoine
Rangelands OfficerDirecting seasonal grazing management plans, Zonal Grazing Committees, and pasture restoration interventions.
John Kasaine
Communication & Development OfficerSpearheading institutional communications, external partner development, storytelling, and digital media dissemination.
Agnes Muntet
Finance OfficerManaging day-to-day accounts, payment processing, donor fund accountability, and financial reporting.
Jesse Mwingirwa
Monitoring & Evaluation OfficerTracking conservation KPIs, field impact metrics, spatial corridor surveillance, and project evaluation indicators.
Mirriam Metipari
Office AssistantFacilitating secretariat administrative support, hospitality, document processing, and Noonkotiak Resource Centre logistics.
Jackson Lekoko
SecurityEnsuring facility security, asset protection, perimeter safety, and operational access management at Noonkotiak HQ.
William Kupere
SecurityProviding dedicated security surveillance, institutional safety, and logistics support at the Noonkotiak Resource Centre.
Wilson Tikwa
Field OfficerConducting grassroots community engagements, conservancy field monitoring, corridor liaison, and ranger coordination.
Connect With AET Governance
Our leadership is dedicated to ethical landscape stewardship, transparent financial distributions, and long-term community prosperity.