TOGETHER WE THRIVE
kaya's people
We are a team of nature-loving people that bring together a diverse range of skills and decades of experience.
With unwavering commitment, we strive to make a lasting impact, empowering communities and restoring harmony between people and the planet.
Together, we are dedicated to creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
Advisors
Deeply experienced advisors from the environmental and impact-driven sectors help us realize positive impacts for the communities we serve.
Prof. Dr.
Charlotte Streck
Climate Policy Expert
Prof. Dr. Charlotte Streck is co-founder of the climate consultancy Climate Focus and a Professor honoris causa at the University of Potsdam. She serves as a climate change advisor to numerous governments, private companies, foundations, and not-for-profit organizations, sits on multiple advisory panels and is actively involved in shaping the debate on the role of carbon and climate finance in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. Previously Senior Legal Counsel with the World Bank, she is a proliferate writer and an associate editor of the Climate Policy journal.
Dr.
Elias Ayrey
Carbon Forestry Expert
Dr. Elias Ayrey is a forest remote sensing scientist and currently head of science at a carbon rating agency called Renoster. He holds a Master’s and PhD in forest resources from the University of Maine, and he’s been doing applied forest mensuration and remote sensing work for the past ten years. For the past four years Dr. Ayrey has worked in the carbon offset industry, first as head scientist at a large carbon broker called Pachama, and then at Renoster. In his current role, he leads a team that both develops algorithms for quantifying forest characteristics, and evaluates carbon offset projects to quantify their effectiveness. To date, Dr. Ayrey has evaluated more than 140 nature-based carbon projects. In his spare time he makes educational and thought provoking youtube videos about the carbon industry.
Dr.
Mark Ritchie
Grasslands and Soil Scientist
Mark is an entrepreneur and Professor of Biology at Syracuse University in New York, USA, where he teaches environmental science. He has studied the effects of grazing animals on rangelands in North America and Africa over the past 30 years. He is the author of a book, “Scale, Heterogeneity, and the Structure and Diversity of Ecological Communities” (Princeton University Press), and author or co-author of over 90 scientific journal publications. His expertise is on soils, plants, and grazing in grassland and savanna ecosystems. In addition, he has consulted with several large private ranches in the United States on livestock grazing management and wildlife conservation.
Germany
The brains of our operation, meticulously designing and orchestrating each endeavor.
Chaitanya Sure
Chief Executive Officer & Head of Climate
An engineer and a scientist by education, Chaitanya is a terrestrial ecosystem specialist who has been part of many conservation and restoration initiatives globally. Besides building the organisation as the Co-founder, he is the executive leader and is heading the climate department at KAYA which has the mandate to develop land use projects and solutions. Chaitanya’s biggest passion is food, both cooking and eating!
Christopher Stephenson
Policy & Market Specialist
Chris is a sustainability and natural climate solutions professional, drawing on a wealth of expertise in carbon finance, carbon markets, certification schemes, nature-based solutions and corporate social responsibility. His most recent focus has been on policy developments impacting carbon markets, particularly Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the VCM space. He is delighted to take part in shaping KAYA’s mission that puts local communities at the heart of environmental solutions. In his spare time, he is a permaculture fan and puts theory into practice in his garden.
Giuseppe Dal Bosco
Forestry Specialist
A forestry manager with more than 20 years of experience in over 10 countries worldwide specializing in plantations and natural forest management.
At KAYA, Giuseppe oversees planning, assessing, and monitoring forest management operations and training of technical teams and coordination with local partners. He refers to himself as a traditional family man who loves nature, history, outdoor life and 4×4 driving.
Johan Karlsson
Earth Observation Specialist
A biologist and a remote sensing expert Johan has a keen eye for Earth Observation and satellite imagery. At KAYA, he helps to leverage Earth Observation technologies to gain valuable insights and solve complex problems. In his free time, Johan enjoys spending quality time with his family.
Josephine Mwasaru
Community Engagement Specialist
As a development specialist with 12 years of experience in project management and community development, Josephine brings extensive expertise to KAYA. With a Master’s in Project Planning and Management and a Bachelor’s in Development Studies, she has led various projects across multiple African countries, including humanitarian efforts, renewable energy initiatives, and community development programs. At KAYA, Josephine focuses on maintaining high standards in community mobilisation and social impact, ensuring that projects align with international certifications. Her commitment to environmental and humanitarian causes drives her to combine strategic vision with practical experience, contributing to sustainable and impactful change. In her spare time she enjoys experimenting with cooking.
Matthias Reichel
Head of Finance & Legal
Matthias is an economist with many years of experience in finance and with a focus on impact start ups. At KAYA he will make sure that all financial aspects of our business are covered and that we allocate our financial resources to maximum impact.
As a grandfather, the world being “enkeltauglich”, i.e., suitable for grandchildren, is what matters to him the most.
Richard Leese
Communication & Media Manager
With a master’s degree in multi-media journalism, and more than 15 years of experience in the field of communication, Richard is proud to bring his skills and knowledge to help tell KAYA’s story. A lover of nature and animals, he’s happy to be a part of a strong team dedicated to creating positive and lasting environmental impact. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, various sports and is a keen guitar player.
Sandra Wulff
Head of People & Culture
A diploma in economics and several years of freelance project management assistance later, today Sandra looks back at eight stimulating years as a People & Culture Generalist. In her role as People & Culture Manager at KAYA, she grows and nurtures all people-related topics making sure to cater to our many organisational and administrative Backoffice needs. When she isn’t pouring her heart into her job or learning about permaculture and forest gardening, Sandra can be spotted on the road in her van Ama, along with her dog Sookie.
Dr. Wirong Chanthorn
GHG Accounting
Specialist
As a community and ecosystem scientist from Thailand, Wirong has over two decades of research in tropical forests. He brings to KAYA extensive knowledge and fieldwork experience as well as proficiency in data science and modeling which produces high-quality greenhouse gas accounting. Wirong is a nature explorer, finding joy in hiking and bird watching, plus cooking spicy Thai cuisine and spending family time with his two daughters.
Yevheniia Fastryha
Recruiter
Born and raised in Ukraine, Yevheniia discovered a deep connection with Berlin’s vibrant culture and made it her home in 2019. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Management, which blended her interests for understanding human behavior with a strategic business approach.
Yevheniia’s career has always been driven by her curiosity about people – their motivations, emotions, and actions. Her work in recruitment allows her to explore these interests while helping others find their place within organizations. She began her career in recruitment within the agricultural sector, which eventually led her to the field of nature conservation. Today, she is proud to contribute to KAYA’s mission of preserving and protecting the environment.
Outside of work, Yevheniia’s home is filled with a variety of indoor plants. Each summer, she enjoys transforming her balcony into a mini-garden, growing tomatoes, herbs, and other plants.
Angola
The heartbeat of our operation, dedicated to building our shared dream, step by step.
Américo Fernandes
Cultural and Public Relations Manager
Américo (aka Petinha) oversees the Public Relations, Office Maintenance and overall management of KAYA´s administrative tasks at the KAYA office in the Province of Malanje. He brings extensive experience in the micro and small business sector, trading goods and services with the banking sector, fisheries and administration services, as well as strong connections across the province.
Américo loves dancing and listening to music, specifically the pure Angolan Semba (music and dance style).
Cláudio Lopes
Head of HR, Legal & Finance
Cláudio is a keen practitioner of competitive, inclusive and resilient sustainable development and innovation initiatives, with a focus on people development, process improvement and digital transformation. He holds a Bachelor´s degree in the Sciences of Education, with over 30 years experience in Management, Social Investment, Oil & Gas and Food and Nutrition Programs.
At KAYA Angola, Cláudio oversees the HR, Legal and Finance functions, in addition to his responsibilities for the Tactical and Operational Planning of the Country Office.
Cláudio is passionate about sports, gardening and reading.
Francisco Clove
Community & Livelihood Manager
At KAYA Angola, Francisco is our Community and Livelihoods Management, hence, building trust with the communities we work closely with and organising communications and education around our project.
Francisco’s has extensive community engagement experience, as well as working on livelihoods generation programs and supporting micro enterprise businesses at the community level, building opportunities and local empowerment. He has worked for NGOs across Angola, Malawi and Mozambique for over 25 years.
He spends most of his free time watching football matches.
Rupa Oscar Amaya
Site Manager
Rupa is formally trained as a Conservation Biologist, specializing in forest management, successional ecology, agroforestry, and pollinators. At KAYA Angola, he wears the principal hat of Field Operations Manager. When not hard at work in the field, you can find Rupa pursuing his passions for native stingless bee keeping, gardening and scuba diving.
Oscar Sousa
Head of Cultural and Public Relations
Oscar transitioned from the Angolan Air Forces to a distinguished career as chief consultant and advisor to a leading American diamond company in Angola, where he directed the company’s strategic initiatives for a decade. His expertise across the Angolan public sector will help KAYA’s outreach and engagement across sectors. In his spare time Oscar enjoys working on his farm, where he raises chickens and grows excellent coffee, as well as travelling to remote locations.
Dr. Tamar Ron
Ecology Consultant
Tamar is an independent international biodiversity conservation and stakeholder engagement advisor to governments, UN agencies, and conservation organizations. She has over 40 years of varied experience in this field, including over 20 years as a consultant to the Government of Angola. She works as a part-time consultant with KAYA. She is the author of hundreds of technical, scientific and popular publications, articles, reports and stories. A good story and a good laugh will always make her day.
Yelena Balon
Nursery Manager
Yelena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, specialized in plant production, transformation and conservation of agricultural products and the production of hybrid seeds. At KAYA Angola she works as Nursery Manager in Malanje.
When she is not getting her hands dirty out in the field, we can find her practicing sports and is a lover of researching the biodiversity of the local fauna and flora.
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