Our Crew

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.

**Nivi Sharma** is an expert in innovation, impact, and scale-up strategies in ascending markets. She is currently the CEO of Bridges to Prosperity, the global leader in rural infrastructure development. Previously, she was the COO at BRCK, a tech startup and innovated the award-winning Kio Kit for education. In 2011, she co-founded eLimu, the first company to digitize the Kenyan Primary School curriculum content. Nivi is driven by learning, development, access, and impact. She serves on the boards of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya and The Open Institute. Nivi is an Acumen fellow and a Fast Forward Leaders’ Circle member. She lives in her hometown, Nairobi with her husband, their children, and dogs. They enjoy cooking and camping together.

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.

**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.

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.