COUNTRY PROGRAM STAFF

Dr Simon Lugandu: COUNTRY DIRECTOR

Dr Simon Lugandu is a seasoned conservationist with over 30 years of substantial experience in the field at local, national, and regional levels undertaking various functions including programme management, legal representation of organisations, networking with all government partners including the Tanzania government agencies and departments. His career began as a forestry officer before moving to conservation programme management. He has a Master’s degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University, USA and a Ph.D in Forest Management from the Open University of Tanzania.  Dr Simon joins the Wildlife Conservation Society coming from WWF where he served as the Conservation Manager/ Head of Programmes.

Noah Mpunga: TECHNICAL ADVISOR

Noah joined WCS Tanzania in 2003 as a Conservation Biologist, primarily researching carnivores and primates of the Southern Highlands. Prior to this he worked with Dr Daniela De Luca studying carnivore distribution and abundance in Udzungwa National Park and Rungwe Nature Reserve. He holds a BSc in Wildlife Ecology and a Masters Degree in Corporate Management.

Hamisi Idrissa Sadallah: COUNTRY FINANCE MANAGER 
Hamisi holds an MBA in Finance and Banking from Mzumbe University in Morogoro and CPA1 from Dar es Salaam. Before joining WCS, he worked with the Family Planning Association of Tanzania as a System Internal Auditor, Area Manager Area Finance and Administrative Officer and Area Accountant. He also worked with Tanzania Central Freight Bureau (SUMATRA) as Assistant Accountant and was dealing with foreign agency’s disbursement accounts. He has been working for WCS Tanzania Program as a Country Finance Manager since 2008.

Said Abdallah Fakih: OFFICE & LOGISTICS MANAGER 
Said is botanist and a keen field researcher. He joined WCS as the Assistant Director of the Zanzibar Forest Project, focusing his efforts on the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources by local communities. During this time he was actively involved in Red colobus monitoring, the Red colobus Census and the collection of botanical specimens and ethno botanical information in Jozani - Chwaka Bay National Park. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Plant Conservation from the Forestry Training Institute and the Tropical Pesticide Research Institute, Arusha. 

Elias Marwa: GRANTS MANAGER

Leyla Ayamba: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER

Leyla joined WCS as Human Resource Manager in February 2021. She has 9 years experience in HR management including recruitment, performance management, training and staff development, implementation of grievance and disciplinary procedures, employee retention schemes, employee engagement and succession planning. She previously worked as Senior Human Asset Management Officer-Org Development with Dangote Cement Limited, followed by a role as Country HR & Office Administrator for the British Council Tanzania. Leyla holds a Bachelors degree in Law and a Masters degree in Business Administration and Human Resource Management - both from Tumaini University, Dar es Salaam. She also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management from The Institute of Project Management.

Sarah Markes: COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Sarah was trained as a graphic designer and illustrator at Central St Martins College of Art in the UK. After working as a book illustrator she moved to Malawi and began focussing on developing creative education and awareness raising projects around public health and environmental issues in East and Southern Africa. She has trained several young designers and illustrators and created exhibitions in Europe and Africa to highlight threatened natural and cultural heritage. She first worked with WCS in 2014 co-creating an exhibition to showcase the flora and fauna of Kitulo National Park. Her artwork has been auctioned in the USA and Tanzania to raise funds for Tanzanian conservation. She joined WCS in 2015 to focus on environmental education and conservation awareness raising.