Dr. Paula Kahumbu is one of Africa’s most influential conservationists and the CEO of WildlifeDirect, where she leads innovative efforts to protect wildlife and empower African communities. She is the force behind the acclaimed Hands Off Our Elephants campaign, which helped reduce elephant poaching in Kenya by 80% and led to the historic 2016 burning of Kenya’s ivory stockpile.
A National Geographic Explorer and trustee of the National Geographic Society, Dr. Kahumbu is also the creator and host of Wildlife Warriors, an award-winning television series that celebrates African conservation heroes. She earned her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University, with earlier degrees from the University of Florida and University of Bristol.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Richard Leakey, she began her career at Kenya Wildlife Service and has since pioneered community-focused conservation, judicial reform in wildlife crime, and media outreach. Her many honors include the Whitley Gold Award, Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, and Kenya’s Order of the Grand Warrior. Dr. Kahumbu continues to champion conservation rooted in African leadership and cultural pride.