The trustees of the Mpala Research Centre are searching for a new Executive Director to replace Dr. Dino Martins, who will become CEO of the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI) Kenya effective August 1. “I am deeply grateful for Dino’s service to Mpala over the last seven years,” said board chair Dr. Aly Kassam-Remtulla. “The trustees appreciate and respect his desire to return to TBI and are pleased that he plans to continue his plant and insect research at Mpala as a principal investigator.”
Over the last seven years, Dr. Martins has led Mpala to great strides on numerous operational, scientific, and regulatory fronts. The organization has experienced significant growth during his tenure, including broadening and deepening global partnerships, increasing scientific and operational infrastructure, committing to more inclusive science through capacity building among Kenyan students and scientists, strengthening relationships with government locally and nationally, and building out a first-rate senior team and adding administrative capacity at all levels. Dr. Martins has also maintained an active research agenda and advised students as they pursue their own projects.
The board is delighted that beginning July 1, Nelly Palmeris, our inaugural Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director will serve as Acting Executive Director. Prior to joining Mpala in 2021, Nelly worked for almost 20 years at the Kenya Wildlife Service. Her main roles focused on managing complex operations in multiple national parks and surrounding communities, as a senior park manager and eventually as the Conservation Area Manager for the Coast and Southern Conservation Area.
Mpala is entering into the implementation phase of an exciting new strategic plan. The board is thrilled to partner with Nelly and the entire Mpala team to continue building on Mpala’s successes during this transitional period.
The board looks forward to announcing a new Executive Director in the coming months.
