Our Crew

Executive Team

**Ali Skanda**
Co-Founder, General Manager

**Dipesh Pabari**
Co-Founder, Managing Director

**Victor Béguerie**
Monitoring & Evaluation

**Abubakr Khalid**
Community Coordinator

**Hassan Twaha**
Research and Development

**Simon Scott-Harden**
Technical Advisor

**Nassir Bakari Mohammed**
Mangrove Coordinator

**Mick Warwick**
Comms and Admin Support

Board of Trustees

Our trustees ensure that the Flipflopi Project is run in accordance with its charitable purpose and in the interest of its beneficiaries.

The Board defines The Flipflopi Project's strategy and delegates its powers and responsibilities to the Executive Team, led by the Managing Director.

As the Co-Founder of The Flipflopi Project and its Managing Director, leading the Executive Team, **Dipesh Pabari** has grown The Flipflopi Project from its volunteer driven roots based in Lamu to a full systems approach organisation with activities across East Africa that has received international acclamation as “Africa’s Blue Planet Moment” with formal relationships with the Kenya Government as well as financial support from leading international and multilateral agencies including UNEP, AFD and the FCDO.

**Carlotta Dal Lago,** Head of Business Development, Marketing & Communications at ALN Nairobi since 2020, is a seasoned Independent Strategic Communications Consultant with over ten years of experience in business development, brand building, and corporate communications. She has worked with notable organizations including Accenture, Bain & Company, the Ministry of Welfare in Italy, and the World Economic Forum. Carlotta has been instrumental to defining the advocacy strategy for the adoption of the East Africa Community's single-use plastic bill drafted by ALN.

**Shyam Radia** is Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Big Win Philanthrophy, a charitable foundation focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. Shyam has been a corporate lawyer for almost 15 years, having trained and qualified at Slaughter and May, working in London, Nairobi and Hong Kong. Shyam has been involved with The Flipflopi Project since 2017.

Advisory Board

We are fortunate to be able to draw on the support of an external Advisory Board - an important part of our support network and experience bank whose advice and guidance forms an invaluable part of the The Flipflopi Project's day to day activities.

**Prof. Judi Wakhungu** is the former Kenyan ambassador to France and former Cabinet Secretary for Environment. Prior to her diplomatic role, she played a crucial role in environmental protection in Kenya, notably introducing the plastic bag ban in 2017. Prof. Wakhungu has an extensive background, having served on various national and international boards, including roles at the World Bank, Stockholm Environment Institute and the UN. Her tenure saw the implementation of significant environmental laws in Kenya, including the Climate Change Act 2016 and the Wildlife Conservation & Management Act 2013.

**Tamsin Jones** is a social entrepreneur known for designing and expanding high-social impact initiatives. As the co-founder and executive director of TheBoardroom Africa, she focuses on bringing exceptional female talent into boardrooms and investment committees by creating an extensive network of board-ready women across the continent. Tamsin is a sought-after speaker and advisor on social innovation, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Her career includes senior advisory roles for a leading innovator in last-mile cellular and internet connectivity and the UK Government development finance institution, CDC Group, contributing to the launch and expansion of The Africa List. Previously, Tamsin co-founded Workshop17, South Africa's premier innovation and entrepreneurship hub, in partnership with the V&A Waterfront.

**Dr. Ali Kaka** is a distinguished conservation leader in East Africa, boasting a remarkable 23-year career with the Kenya Wildlife Service and an additional 9 years as the Executive Director of the East African Wild Life Society (EAWLS), the region's oldest local conservation organization. During this time, Dr. Kaka played a key role at the international level, serving as Vice Chair for Eastern Africa on the IUCN-World Commission on Protected Areas and later becoming the Regional Director of the IUCN Office for the Eastern and Southern Africa Office.

**Colonel John Blashford Snell, CBE**, referred to as 'The last of the great adventurers', is a world-renowned explorer known for leading iconic expeditions such as the first descent of the Blue Nile in 1968, the crossing of the Darien Gap in 1970, a complete navigation of the Congo River in 1974 and the first excavations of ancient ruins at Shanga on Pate Island. He is also the founder of Operation Raleigh, an educational initiative that has sent over 40,000 young people on community-focused expeditions globally. He has authored numerous books and guides related to his expeditions, and his autobiography 'Something Lost Behind The Ranges'. He currently heads the Scientific Exploration Society.

David Obura is a Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa and the current chairperson of IPBES. He is dedicated to supporting the sustainability of coral reefs and marine systems in the Western Indian Ocean by translating research into effective management and policy, building capacity, and collaborating with stakeholders, managers, and policymakers. Obura's primary research revolves around coral reef resilience, particularly in the face of climate change, and the biogeography of the Indian Ocean. Obura served on the Earth Commission (2019-2022), contributing to defining a 'safe and just corridor' for the future of both people and the planet.

Our Crew

Executive Team

Board of Trustees

Advisory Board

Ambassadors

current Funders and Partners