The Snow Leopard Trust employs staff members in China, India, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, and Pakistan as well as in the United States (in Seattle, WA where our home office is located). These dedicated researchers and conservationists work closely with local communities in snow leopard countries to develop conservation programs that protect snow leopards and their habitat while improving the lives of the cats' human neighbors.

Meet these exceptional people:

China Staff Members

		Ge Yun China Program Coordinator
Where I live:		Beijing, China
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		When I joined Xinjiang Conservation Fund snow leopard conservation is the major part of my work. More importantly, snow leopard is the flagship species of the fragile mountaineous ecosystem in Xinjiang. I love this mysterious cat with beautiful fur and an extraordinary tail.
Favorite food:		fried Xinjiang big plate chicken
A little about me:		Master degree in International Relations from Peking University, China.
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India Staff Members

		Dr. Charudutt Mishra, Science & Conservation Director
Where I live:		Mysore, Karnataka (India)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		The snow leopard has such a powerful appeal. It is a fantastic ambassador for wildlife conservation across the mountains of south and central Asia.
Favorite food:		Thai Food
Hobbies:		Cooking and sports. I mainly play volleyball and tennis.
A little about me:		I began my professional career in conservation biology in 1991, when I joined a Master's program in wildlife Science. I started working in snow leopard habitat in 1996, and was a doctoral student at the Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen Unviersity, between 1997 and 2001. I co-founded the Nature Conservation Foundation, from where we run our India program.
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		Dr. Yash Veer Bhatnagar India Program Director
Where I live:		Mysore, Karnataka (India)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		I have always liked the Himalaya. In 1991 got the chance to study ibex for my PhD in Spiti. I have had the chance to see snow leopards on 8 occasions - once for a full 9 hours. The whole experience was so exciting that I never thought of doing anything else...
Favorite food:		Dosa & sambar
Hobbies:		No 'favorite' hobby, but love traveling into the mountains and near the sea. Enjoy collecting fossils and photography too.
A little about me:		After a bachelors and Masters in agriculture, I switched to conservation with another Masters in Wildlife at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) during 1989-91. My PhD study on ibex in the Indian Trans-Himalaya till 1995 was exciting and led to the award of my degree in 1997. In between, I had a wonderful chance to participate in the country's 15th Antarctic expedition to enumurate penguins and seals apart from other wildlife near the Indian station. Between 1998-99 I worked with the Snow Leopard Trust, starting their India country program before moving on to WII as a faculty member, where I continued work in the Himalaya. Later, in 2003 re-joined the Trust.
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		Pranav Trivedi Head - India Education & Outreach
Where I live:		Ahmedabad, Gujarat (India)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		I have been attracted by the Himalyas and led student groups for environmental education programmes for the past 10 years. The present work offered me the first opportunity and challenge to carry out systematic education and outreach work with diverse target groups.
Favorite food:		Sandwiches, salads & south Indian cuisine (e.g. Dosa)
Hobbies:		Listening to Indian classical music, reading, being outdoors, sports (cricket, table tennis, badminton) and sleeping.
A little about me:		I was fond of wild cats and joined my Master's degree with an intention of doing my PhD studying the leopard. Somehow, it didn't work out but the fascination and interest survived. I did several education and awareness activities with WWF-India from 1993 to 2002 and then as an independent consultant until February 2005. My desire to increase awareness and sensitivity about the earth's biota among people through a long term education programme brought me to this endeavour with ISLT and NCF.
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Kyrgyz Republic Staff Members

		Alexander Vereshagin Kyrgyz Program Researcher
Where I live:		Karakol, Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyz Republic)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		The Snow Leopard is becoming extinct all over the Earth. The quantity of the snow leopard in Kyrgyzstan has greatly decreased, especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But nevertheless there are still some areas of the natural habitat of the snow leopard with rather good feeding base. The Sarychat-Ertash State Reserve, where I work, is an area of important snow leopard habitat which much be protected. In the future I would like to create an International Research Laboratory for researching the whole Central Tyan-Shan’s Ecosystem. As I’m the disciple of E.Kashkarev and V.Vyrypaev I’m continuing their work.
Favorite food:		Plov, pelmeni, and lagman
Hobbies:		Photography, books, art, creating the "Nature of Tyan-Shan" film and work on the photo album "The life of the mountains"
A little about me:		I have devoted the whole my life to studying the nature of Tyan-Shan and I would like to keep it in a pristine and beautiful state.
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Mongolia Staff Members

		Agvaantseren Bayarjargal Mongolia Program Coordinator
Where I live:		Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		Because it is beautiful animal and I can help to save it. I am also involved because I want to provide help for women through Snow Leopard Enterprises.
Favorite food:		Tsuivan
Hobbies:		Chatting with my friends in quiet places and riding horses in the countryside
A little about me:		I joined snow leopard conservation work in 1998 starting as an English teacher for Great Gobi National Park staff and a community school in the town of Bayantooroi. The Snow Leopard Enterprises program was initiated the following year in 1999, and I had the opportunity to take part and help save snow leopards while helping herder women to increase their income. Every time I meets rural herders I see that people love what they are doing and I sees that women need to be more empowered. Recently, I finished my Master's degree in Development Studies and did research to see whether men and women get benefit from conservation equally. This work helped me to understand broader social issues within conservation efforts in Mongolia.
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		Lkhagvajav Purejav Mongolia Program Researcher
Where I live:		Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		Snow leopards are beautiful and interesting animals.
Favorite food:		Rice with beef and vegetables
Hobbies:		Playing basketball and watching TV
A little about me:		When I was third course student in 1997, my teacher was VSO Megan Cartin and she arranged for me to take part in a project in Khovsgol. I met there a woman named Susan Holland, and she suggested that I go to Great Gobi National Park with her. Here I met Dr. Tom McCarthy and I studied many kinds of animal research methodologies. Through this work, I obtained a position as a researcher and snow leopard database manager for the Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment (MACNE). I also began working with the Snow Leopard Trust at this time. My scientific and English skills have improved a great deal since I have held this position. In the future I want to continue to study more than anything else.
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		Jaffar Ud-Din Snow Leopard Field Biologist
Where I live:		Chitral, Northwest Forest Province (Pakistan)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		Being a zoologist and more importantly sharing the alpine ecosystem with the snow leopard; I think, I had no other choice than to join the Snow Leopard Trust and conserve the snow leopard, so future generations could also have a glimpse of it.
Favorite food:		Continental
Hobbies:		Cricket, football and volleyball. Was captain of school and college cricket team. Also like trekking and camping in wilderness.
A little about me:		After completing my one and half years reseach work on "Distribution and Diversity of Butterflies of Chitral" in early 2000, I joined Kalash Indigineous Survival Programme as coordinator from 2000-2001. In June 2001 I took over as the Snow Leopard Field Biologist with the Snow Leopard Trust until July 2003. Thereafter, I moved to the Environmental Education Division of WWF-Pakistan as Environmental Education Officer until December 2004. Then, I  rejoined the Snow Leopard Trust on February, 2005 as the Snow Leopard Field Biologist based at Chitral, Pakistan.
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United States Staff Members

		Brad Rutherford Executive Director
Where I live:		Hansville, Washington (United States)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		I first fell in love with the people of the region and it was while working with them that I came to understand the conservation issues of the region and the role of the snow leopard as the top predator. The Trust's approach of partnering with communities to protect the cats is one that I completely agree with.
Favorite food:		Anything spicy
Hobbies:		Chasing my 4 year old - she keeps me young.
A little about me:		After Peace Corps and Grad School I worked for 6 years for Winrock International on community development in Africa and later Central Asia. The Trust's community-based approach to conservation is what attracted me to the position. The opportunity to partner with communities to develop programs that improve people's quality of life while protecting snow leopards and the environment makes this a dream job.
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		Jennifer Snell Rullman Conservation Program Director
Where I live:		Bainbridge Island, Washington (United States)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		I am passionate about conservation of our wildlife and wilderness areas, especially those that are threatened and endangered like the snow leopard. I am also interested in conservation that focuses on a balanced ecosystem and works with local communities in a sustainable and respectful way.
Favorite food:		Mangos
Hobbies:		Hiking in the mountains, looking for wildlife in a variety of habitats, enjoying friends and family, and spending time on and near rivers and bodies of water.
A little about me:		I joined the Snow Leopard Trust in June 2003 to help guide and further develop the Trust’s Conservation Programs, including the community-based conservation programs. I also direct the Trust’s zoo conservation program called Natural Partnerships Program, creating conservation alliances with zoos around the world to help fund critical field programs. My background in environmental education and community-based conservation includes experience working in the design and opening of IslandWood, an environmental learning center in Washington; working with the Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots program in Tanzania; and six years working directly with threatened and endangered cats with the Cincinnati Zoo’s Cat Ambassador Program..
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		Siri Okamoto Development Director
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
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		Marissa Niranjan Conservation Commerce Manager
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		While studying at the University of Washington, I became very passionate about the issue of sustainability. I support the Trust's philosophy of community based conservation, and my profound belief that the endangered snow leopard deserves a place on this Earth makes it easy to come to work everyday.
Favorite food:		Any kind of cheese!
Hobbies:		I love to cook, read, watch Italian movies, be in the mountains, and spend time with friends and family.
A little about me:		I grew up in Glenwood Springs, Colorado before moving to Seattle to go to college. I have a B.A. in Geography with a concentration in Society and Environment. I minored in Italian and studied abroad in Perugia, Italy. I started working at the Trust in November of 2004. I feel so fortunate that I get to come to work everyday and be immersed in such a great cause, surrounded by wonderful people who are passionate about what they do. Plus, what is a better conversation starter than, "I work for the Snow Leopard Trust?"
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		Gina Robertson Project Coordinator
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		I’ve always had a passion for wildlife, especially big cats. The Snow Leopard inhabits an area of the world that I’ve been fascinated with. By working to conserve this magnificent and majestic animal I know that I am also helping to protect its natural environment. It’s a great feeling to wake up and know that each day I am doing something to help wildlife, people and an environment that are all struggling to survive.
Favorite food:		It’s a toss up between Thai and Indian
A little about me:		Believe it or not, I grew up many, many miles away from any sort of wildlife (except for large populations of pigeons) in New York City. My first career was in Theatre Arts, where I worked as a performer, writer, director and teacher. Although it was fun and incredibly rewarding, Wildlife Conservation tugged at my heart strings. I made my career change after being a stay-at-home mom for 2 years with my daughter, Montana.
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		Katie Yankula Administrative Assistant
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
		Rana Bayrakci Research & Conservation Associate
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Why I'm involved in snow leopard conservation:		I met my first snow leopard as a zoo keeper in 1995 and fell in love. I finished my masters degree in 1999 and started my work with the Trust in the science department in 2007. I am inspired every day by the people I work with and the cats and communities that we support.
Favorite food:		Fresh, ripe watermelon & figs
A little about me:		I continue to work part time as a zoo keeper, caring primarily for sloth bears, sun bears, lions and hyena. I also coordinate the Snow Leopard Network. Other than snow leopards, my passions include world travel (especially visiting my family in Turkey), running, swimming, hiking, cooking, writing and reading. And I apparently seem to enjoy remodeling a 1910 home, since I seem to spend an awful lot of time doing just that!
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		Jeff Brown Technology Director
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		I had traveled in Bhutan where the kind people and their respect for all wildlife, including snow leopards was inspiring. I found the Snow Leopard Trust a few months later, and feel lucky to be a part of the team. The snow leopard is such a unique and majestic animal, and I firmly believe in the community-based approach of SLT.
Favorite food:		Pizza
My background:		I have always had a deep appreciation of nature and animals, and grew up in a rural community where I spent a lot of time in the outdoors. But from a young age I was also fascinated by computers and technology. After working in the software industry for several years, including nearly ten years at Microsoft, I decided to change direction. It is a great joy and challenge to try to help such an amazing animal and the special people of Central Asia.

Board of Directors

Board Officers

President – Craig Zehnder
Originally from Michigan, Craig moved to Seattle in 1994. He studied architecture at the University of Michigan and graduated with a Masters degree in 1993. Having worked in the residential construction industry for several years, Craig has increasingly viewed himself as an all around designer, consultant, artist, and furniture maker. Craig Joined the Trust in 2007 and became an active member of the board. Before assuming his role as board president, he was chair of the Development Committee and Vice President.

Vice President – Carol Hosford
Carol served on the Board of Directors of the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington for twelve years where she was instrumental in developing the field conservation program for the zoo. She is now a Director Emeritus of the zoo and is a member of the Chairman's Council of Conservation International. Since 1998, Carol has been involved with various conservation projects and organizations in Tanzania such as the Tarangire Elephant Project, the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum, The Dorobo Fund for Tanzania and the Ujamaa Community Resource Team. She has participated in conservation work in Kenya, Madagascar, Bhutan and Papua, New Guinea, is a board member of the Cheetah Conservation Fund and is involved with the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Project. Through her extensive travels she has become acquainted with some of the most effective field conservation projects and scientists in the world and strives to connect these works with potential donors.

Vice President – Andrea Gates Sanford
Andrea Gates Sanford is the principal of Watchdog Graphics Production, a graphic design studio based in Seattle, Washington specializing in sustainable communications. Ms. Sanford has more than twenty years professional experience in visual communications and ten years experience with a variety of worldwide conservation programs. Ms Sanford received her formal education at Oberlin College and the University of Michigan School of Art, studying literature and fine art, earning a BFA in graphic design. She is currently an MBA candidate at Bainbridge Graduate Institute, pursuing her passion for sustainability through environmental responsibility and social justice in business.

Secretary-Treasurer – Steven Kearsley
From 1970 until his retirement in 1998 Steven Kearsley worked for Capital Research and Management Company, one of the largest mutual fund managers in the U.S.  Kearsley is a Certified Public Accountant and has been the Trust’s Treasurer since 1998. He now lives in Philomath, Oregon on Old Peak Tree Farm where he grows Christmas trees.

Board Members

Elizabeth (Betsy) Alaniz
Betsy Alaniz has been an attorney with Perkins Coie LLP since 1991 and is currently a Partner in litigation. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Alaniz was a Communications Specialist for United Way of Orange County, CA where she held several positions including Communications Director. Betsy is an active member of the community and is currently a member of the Woodland Park Zoo board of directors.

Norma Cole
Norma Cole has been an active board member since joining the Trust in 1999. She has held the position of Vice-President and most recently of board President, for the past four years. Norma is employed as a clinical social work supervisor at Harborview Medical Center. She is active in the Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents and has held positions on its board as conference advisory director and chairman.

Marilyn Fite
Marilyn Fite has been active with the Trust since its founding in 1981 and has served on the Board of Directors since 1982. Marilyn has been an active member of the Trust's Membership and Events Committee for over the past 6 years. Marilyn is also a board member of Treemendous, a Seattle based nonprofit working to restore urban forests, and the Seattle Garden Club.

Harry Freeman

Jed Gorden

Charles Morse
A native of Lake Forest, Illinois, Charles (Charlie) Morse graduated from the University of Virginia and later earned his MS in Management from MIT. Charlie came to the Pacific Northwest in 1965 with Weyerhaeuser Co. In 1971, he co-founded Kistler-Morse, a manufacturer of process control instrumentation. Charlie has served on several business boards including Autoweigh, Glacier Bay, and Racon, Inc. He has also been involved in many civic organizations and was President of the Woodland Park Zoological Society Board of Directors from 1991 to 1993.

Erica von Studnitz
Erica von Studnitz, a wildlife conservation supporter and advocate, has a M.S. in Physiological Psychology, and has worked in clinical research and medical writing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. She is active in a number of wildlife-conservation organizations and has a particular interest in wild cat conservation. She has an interest in multifaceted approaches to, and greater community involvement in, conservation efforts. She is a proponent for expanding public awareness of the importance of, and critical need for, protecting and conserving wild species and habitat.

Seshadri (Sesh) Velamoor
Mr. Velamoor, a native of Hyderabad, India, is the Director of Programs at the Foundation For the Future in Washington State.  Mr. Velamoor previously held the position of President at Kistler-Morse Corporation in Bothell, Washington, a manufacturer of instrumentation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, and has Master's degrees in Industrial Engineering and Business Administration. Mr. Velamoor has more than 30 years experience in management at top levels of industrial corporations.

Founder

Helen Freeman (1932 - 2007)
Helen founded the Snow Leopard Trust in 1981 while the education director at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. From 1982 to 1987 she headed the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan for the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. Helen directed the Trust until 1996 when she transitioned to an active board member for the Trust. Helen passed away on September 20, 2007.