from expertise to impact

Understanding how cutting edge research can make a difference in complex social-ecological systems is not straight forward. Academic research provides critical practical and theoretical advances. However, understanding how these can make a difference in complex social-ecological systems is not straight forward. Our team are a rare combination of experts who have spent years as both academic researchers and practitioners. By working closely with cut-edge researchers, leading practitioners, and ambitious policy makers, we aim to help clients achieve real-world impact.

Our team

Director, senior consultant - Dr. Peadar Brehony

Dr. Peadar Brehony has spent over a decade conducting research and working in conservation across several countries, primarily in East Africa. As a practitioner, his roles included being coordinator of a cross-border conservation initiative between conservation, research, and community NGOs; as a technical advisor; and as a data scientist. Peadar holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where his research focussed on understanding the impact that conservation efforts have on social-ecological systems with a focus on the interplay between drought, conservation, and livelihoods in southern Kenya.

External senior consultant - Dr. Peter Tyrrell

Dr. Peter Tyrrell recently finished his PhD at the University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), where he is a Mistler Graduate Scholar focusing on the ecological and socio-economic interplay between livestock, wildlife and conservation in the South Rift, Kenya. Previously to this Peter was a researcher at South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO), starting in 2014, where he worked with local communities to improve the management of natural resources through the collection, processing and communication of information relevant to decision making. During his time at SORALO and WildCRU, Peter developed an interest and skills in spatial ecology, ungulate and rangeland ecology, the impacts of infrastructure on landscapes, and social-ecological systems theory. Peadar and Pete have worked together on a number of research projects which aim to move conservation to be more socio-economically and socio-ecologically sustainable, and to take a holistic, social-ecological systems approach to conservation challenges. Their work centres around engaging with policy makers and practitioners to find long-term solutions to conservation challenges.

External senior consultant - Dr. Lauren Evans

Lauren has worked in conservation in East Africa for 15 years, always in an interdisciplinary way. Lauren's PhD and post-doctoral research at the University of Cambridge looked at the political ecology of electrified 'elephant' fences in Laikipia, Kenya: the politics they represent and create. Lauren delved into issues of identity and access in relation to land by pastoralists and conservationists and the agency of elephants as political actors in breaking fences. She then directed the conservation science department for NGO Space for Giants for eight years: building and mentoring a team of scientists and students; working with farmers, researchers, governments and NGOs to understand and mitigate human-elephant conflict in Kenya, Uganda and Gabon; ensuring the social and ecological impact of conservation practice was measured and evaluated. She is currently training as a practitioner in nonviolent communication and conflict resolution.

External consultant - Rose Muiyuro

Rose Muiyuro is currently undertaking her MSc at University of Nairobi, Institute of Climate Change and Adaptation. Her interests revolve around the use of data science to influence environmental conservation and sustainable use of available resources and exploring the nexus between communities, conservation and development. She has previously worked with the Ministry of Environment (Climate Change Directorate) in various climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in Kenya revolving around the Climate Change Act (2016) and The National Climate Change Action Plan (2018-2022). Additionally, she also worked in Osilalei Ltd, an environmental consulting firm that specializes in harnessing the power of data and information to address real-world challenges in environmental conservation and development. She has experience in project management; research and monitoring; data collection, analysis and utilization in policy development; and stakeholder capacity building in the areas of environment and climate change.

External consultant - Esther Wairimu

Before joining the Sustain East Africa team, Esther worked as a research assistant in a project dubbed ‘Inclusive and Climate Smart Business Models in Ethiopian and Kenyan Dairy Value Chains (CSDEK)’ which is connected to the CCAFS project NAMA for dairy development in Kenya. Esther is currently studying for her MSc in Climate Change and Adaptation at the University of Nairobi where her research thesis focuses on quantification of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the smallholder dairy value chain in Kenya. Prior to starting her MSc, Esther graduated with honors in BSc Range Management from the University of Nairobi. She later obtained proficiency mainly in drought management and disaster risk reduction against climate change effects while volunteering at National Drought Management Authority, Kilifi County and at Kakuzi Limited. She has expertise in data collection, cleaning and utilization and has over time developed more passion around dryland ecosystem and sustainable management.

External consultant - Freddie Hunter

Freddie works on the development of methods for the monitoring and evaluation of environmental processes and natural resources using satellite imagery and data science. Freddie has extensive knowledge of statistics and data science for ecological and geo-spatial data, and of electromagnetic radiation for remote sensing theory. His past work involved the use of a range of satellites and instrument types (Multi/Hyper Spectral, SAR, LIDAR) for mapping, change detection, and classification. He is a competent programmer in several languages (R, Python, Javascript and shell), which he use for data processing, statistical modelling, machine learning and software engineering.

External consultant - David Tyrrell

A management professional with experience in Europe and Africa focused on agriculture, climate change and renewable energy. Roles with Multinational Companies including technical development, sales and marketing, and Board level management positions. Consulting experience on numerous projects many focused on business development and promoting and commercializing small holder farmer businesses. He specialises on linking SME’s to investors and donors, writing concept notes for donor funds (including DFID and USAID) and evaluating concept notes and Business plans for various investment funds. He has carried out assignments in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. He have 41 years experience in the Agricultural field including 7 years as Managing Director of Rhone Poulenc/ Aventis in Nairobi and 18 years as a consultant in East Africa where he has been working on projects including clean energy, climate change, animal health, moringa, essential oils, tilapia farming, seed companies, chicken production, agro inputs, hybrid rice, mango, avocado, chilli, herbs, and dairy.

Masters students

Fenrick Msigwa

Fenrick Msigwa is currently completing his MSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) of Tanzania. His MSc project focuses on understanding local community perspectives on trophy hunting in Tanzania’s Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem. Fenrick has completed a Bachelor of Tourism Management at SUA. After completion of his Bachelor’s degree, he started as volunteer in 2015, on tourism and conservation related activities in the Serengeti National Park. In 2016 Fenrick joined the Ruaha Carnivore Project as a research assistant, where he focused on the assessment of large carnivore ecology, as well as evaluating and developing human-carnivore conflict mitigation strategies. Fenrick has been involved in other research projects such as the assessment of the impacts of climate change on the wildlife and tourism sector in the Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem; an assessment of the impacts of livestock incursions in western Ruaha National Park; an assessment of the African lion population in Ruaha National Park; the exploration and assessment of wildlife meat butcheries in Tanzania; and an exploration of ethnozoological knowledge and attitude towards pangolins in the Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape. Currently Fenrick is among one of the co-founders of the “Tanzania Research and Conservation Organization” which aims to conduct research and conservation interventions in Tanzania. Fenrick’s interest is to focus his research on political ecology, hunting tourism, wildlife trade and natural resource governance.

Ezra Mremi

Ezra Peter Mremi is currently enrolled as a Masters student at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), pursuing an MSc. in Wildlife Management and Conservation. Before starting his postgraduate studies, Ezra completed a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management at Sokoine University of Agriculture. He developed a strong passion for wildlife conservation and wanted to play an active role in wildlife conservation. To contribute towards Tanzania’ s wildlife conservation, Ezra wants to conduct research on land cover change and sustainable trophy hunting in Tanzania’s protected areas. Climatic change and anthropogenic activities have seriously affected wildlife in Tanzania, and Ezra believes he can play a role in minimizing these impacts.

Interns

Spaces available

We want a world that is thriving, sustainable, and inclusive.

We are committed to finding solutions to the social and ecological challenges of today and tomorrow.

We use social and ecological knowledge, science and tools to help our clients make evidence informed strategic decisions.