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.
Back to Top

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.
Back to Top
		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...
Back to Top
		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.
Back to Top

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.
Back to Top

Mongolia Staff Members

		Agvaantseren Bayarjargal Mongolia Program Director
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.
Back to Top
		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.
Back to Top

Pakistan Staff Members

		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.
Back to Top

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.
Back to Top
		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.
Back to Top
		Siri Okamoto Development Director
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Back to Top
		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.
Back to Top
		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.
Back to Top
		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.
Back to Top
		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.

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
Jed Gorden is a native of Bethesda, Maryland with roots in Mississippi. A Graduate of Vanderbuilt School of Medicine in Nashville he moved to Seattle in 1997 to do his residency at the University of Washington. He is a Pulmonary Critical Care Physician and the Director of Interventional Pulmonary at the Swedish Cancer institute in Seattle. His work and research interests have taken him to many remote areas of Asia where he experienced first hand the need for thoughtful partnerships between NGOs and local peoples.

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.