Founder and Director of Kumbe. Judith has over 25 years of experience in IT and project & operations management. Both in Europe and in Africa. For the last 5 years her focus has been on IT solutions for data collection, analysis and reporting for nature conservation organizations. She moved to Arusha because she feels that the real impact can be made here.

Director Enock Chengullah is an expert on natural resources and development. He is both a naturalist and social scientist who holds MSc CED (OUT); BA Sociology (OUT); BSc Zoology (UDSM); Dip – Wildlife Management (MWEKA). Possess significant experience in community mobilisation and community training facilitation, planning and hosting international exchange programs.

Ardgard Essau Mwamgeni is an explorer, photographer, and herpetologist dedicated to surveying Tanzania's forests, with a special focus on the Eastern Arc Mountains. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science and Conservation from the University of Dar es Salaam. Mwamgeni has extensive experience conducting herpetological surveys across the Eastern Arc Mountains, including the Mkingu, Uluguru, and Usambara Nature Forest Reserves. Currently, he is leading a research project investigating the ecology and coexistence of two endemic Callulina frog species in the Mkingu Nature Forest Reserve. This project, set to conclude in July 2025, aligns with his broader conservation efforts in the region. By the same time, Mwamgeni is expected to complete his Master's degree, further solidifying his expertise in biodiversity research and conservation.

John Lyakurwa is an assistant lecturer in the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and received an M.Sc. in life sciences from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology. He has taken part in various field-based projects studying herpetofauna throughout Tanzania.

Pius Silas Mollel is a young Tanzanian herpetologist.  After completing his Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science and Conservation at the University of Dar es Salaam, he participated as a research assistant in the Ukaguru mountains on the Eastern Arc Mountains Endemic Hepertofauna Conservation project. He also participated in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park Herpetological survey as an expert in this group. Through these experiences, he realised that exploring amphibians and reptiles would be his area of interest in wildlife. Currently, he is furthering his expertise through a Master’s degree program in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Dar es Salaam and his thesis is on the distribution and breeding ecology of the Ukaguru spiny-throated reed frog. 

Yusuph Abdallah Wilangali is a laboratory scientist and herpetologist at the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam. He has participated in herpetological surveys in the Uluguru and Nguru Mountains, as well as biodiversity inventories and monitoring for development projects, focusing on reptiles and amphibians. Currently pursuing an MSc in Wildlife Ecology, his research explores the taxonomy, population status, and roosting ecology of Uluguru pygmy chameleons. Yusuph also has  contributed to studies on bats, birds and mammals, underscoring his versatility and dedication to biodiversity conservation.

A passionate and dedicated conservationist, a holder of a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science and Conservation from the University of Dar es Salaam. National research winner for Quarry Life Awards 5th edition. Committed to exploring nature and applying innovative technology in conservation. As well as, communicate findings to the local community for engagement in conservation of wildlife resources.

Holder of  bachelor in Wildlife Science and Conservation from the University of Dar es Salaam, Neema’s goal remains to strengthen skills within wildlife research and field methods, supporting evidence-based conservation programs that safeguard biodiversity and enhance ecosystem health.

Professor of genetics and genomics at University of Verona, Italy. A pioneer in on site DNA barcoding for species identification, he specialises in eDNA sampling and analysis.

Biologist and conservationist known for his work on East African biodiversity. He has been involved in biological exploration and groundbreaking projects, such as using advanced genetic sequencing technologies in the field to analyze DNA samples in real-time.

Managing partner and Chief Datascience & AI at DIKW Intelligence in the Netherlands. Hugo holds a master degree in mechanical engineering from Technical University of Eindhoven. He has more than 25 years experience in the field of statistical data analysis, now called data science or Artificial Intelligence. Hugo is passionate about nature and data and focused on creating value where the two domains meet.

Andrea Bianchi is an Italian botanist. After a degree in natural sciences, he started working for MUSE - the Science Museum of Trento, Italy. At MUSE, he recreated a section of submontane forest of the Udzungwa Mountains in a tropical greenhouse. He collaborates with the Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre on taxonomic research (ongoing) and studied the impact of poaching and wildlife depletion on the floristic composition and dynamics of the Eastern Arc rainforests. Since 2021, he has been living in Tanzania, focusing on the botanical aspects of various reforestation projects, particularly on species selection, seed collection, storage, and germination.

Chris gained his PhD at the University of Basel Switzerland in 2017, assessing the biodiversity and conservation of East African coastal forest amphibians. He has lived and worked across Tanzania on several occasions since his first visit in 2004 and still holds a deep connection to the country, its people and biodiversity. Now based in the Netherlands as a researcher at the Centre for Genetic Resources (Wageningen University and Research) he uses genomics and modelling to categorise and protect threatened biodiversity, in Europe, Africa and other tropical regions. He recently established an eDNA project to monitor biodiversity in the Netherlands and is keen to apply it to projects in Tanzania, and to promote and empower local scientists to lead the way forward for these efforts in their own countries for years to come.

Kathryn is an Associate Professor at Leiden University whose research focuses on the development and implementation of cutting-edge eDNA tools to monitor and manage biodiversity across a wide range of habitats and countries. She earned her PhD at Queen’s University in Canada and have since built an international research portfolio working in Canada, USA, China, and the Netherlands to design, optimize, and apply innovative molecular approaches for conservation. Her work has pioneered new eDNA methodologies, informed biodiversity policy, and been adopted by government agencies, NGOs, and protected-area managers. Together, this reflects her strong commitment to impactful, applied science. Having worked across multiple cultures, ecosystems, and governance contexts, she is passionate about ensuring that knowledge, training, and data ownership remain in the hands of local people. She actively builds capacity by mentoring early-career researchers, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and developing citizen science protocols and large public engagement initiatives to democratise access to environmental data and empower communities to participate in biodiversity stewardship.