Dr. Benson Okita

Dr. Benson Okita-Ouma, MBS, is a prominent Kenyan conservationist and Director of the Wyss Academy for Nature’s East Africa Hub since April 2022, leading efforts to integrate conservation with sustainable development. He has co-chaired the IUCN SSC African Elephant Specialist Group since 2018, working with a global network to protect Africa’s elephants. With over 25 years of experience, he has played pivotal roles in the conservation of black rhinos and elephants through positions at IUCN, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Save the Elephants. He holds a PhD in black rhino population dynamics from Wageningen University and sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Kent’s Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology. Honored with the Moran Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) by the President of Kenya, he champions community development and securing of wildlife movement corridors and habitat connectivity.