Volker
Bassen, Founder, is originally from Sweden and has
lived on the Kenya coast for 16 years. He is a highly qualified
diver and has opened numerous diving schools along this coast.
As a diving consultant his specialities include marine videography,
technical diving with rebreather equipment, underwater photography
and underwater naturalist research. He is currently running
a big-game fishing club as well as the only recreational parasailing
operation in East Africa. He first decided to found the EAWST
in 2001 due to the increasing amount of whale sharks, recognizing
at an early stage that they needed better protection. Volker
has dived with hundreds of whale sharks and has accumulated
an extensive library of underwater video footage of the sharks
as well as other marine life.
Carey
Ngini, Trustee
Carey
Ngini, Trustee, is the Executive Director of a Property Development
and Management Company based in Nairobi. Carey also sits on the Boards
of various companies in Kenya involved in Insurance, Banking and Education.
In addition, he has been involved with several charitable organisations
both as part of the Executive Committee and as a Trustee over the
last 11 years.
Torben
Rune, Trustee
Torben
Rune, Trustee has worked with Southern Cross Safaris for over 10 years
and has vast experience and contacts within the Kenyan Tourist Industry. Born
in 1971 Torben was educated initially in Kenya and then later
on in the UK and South Africa. He has a diploma in marketing
as well as in business management. As a Director of Southern
Cross' marine based Adventure Company Southern cross Scuba,
Torben's experience and knowledge is used to support the
EAWST in its efforts to generate both funds and awareness that
is now so urgently required for the preservation of the whale
shark in Kenya. Torben is also currently a Director and shareholder
of Satao Camps Ltd.
Jan
Westin, Trustee
Jan
Westin, Trustee, is a doctor of zoology and the initiator/creator
of Universeum in Gothenburg on the Swedish West coast. Universeum
is a non-profit public aquarium with 3 million litres of water,
a Swedish landscape, a South American rainforest and a science
centre. The establishment opened to the general public in June
2001 and has about half a million visitors yearly. The purpose
of Universeum is to awaken the visitor’s environmental
awareness and to get young people interested in natural sciences
and technology. The whale shark project is a perfect means of
achieving this goal. The study to reveal the mysteries of these
gentle giants engages researchers from many different fields
using high tech equipment and sophisticated analysing methods.
Jeni
Kenyatta, Trustee
Daughter
of Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta, Jeni, Trustee,
was born in Kiambu on the outskirts of Nairobi on 9.11.47. She
was educated at the Kenya High School and then read Psychology
in the US. She is well-travelled and has contacts all over the
world. She is particularly interested in the Trust’s education programmes. A mother of 3 she is a conservation enthusiast and involves herself
with other charities and organizations. One of her current projects is counseling women in prison. A keen sportswoman, she ran for Kenya in her late teens. She now finds
golf and whale shark watching more pleasurable than running.
Nimu
Njonjo, Manager
Nimu
Njonjo, Manager, is Kenyan and was educated primarily
in England. She is a lawyer by profession and spent many years practicing
criminal law at the London Bar. She relocated back to Kenya 2
years ago after many years abroad. She is an enthusiastic diver
and a fully qualified PADI diving instructor. Wairimu has involved
herself in various charity projects on her return home and is
a trustee of Tumaini Children’s Home. She runs a dive base and is diving consultant. As
the operations manager, she is setting up the Trust’s
projects and initiating fundraising campaigns.
