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, Washington 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
India Staff
Kyrgyz Republic Staff
Mongolia Staff
Pakistan Staff
United States Staff
Board of Directors

China Staff Members

		Cheng Yun China Program Coordinator
Where I live:		Beijing, China
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		My first involvement with snow leopards was accidental. And these fascinating animals attract me even more these days. I do hope I can continue to do more for the them.
Favorite food:		Chinese food!
My background:		I have 3 years' work experience at Xinjaing Environmental Protection Bureau. After this, I began work at Xinjiang Conservation Fund in 2003. My bachelor's degree is in Global Information Systems and Cartography, and I am working on a masters degree in Management of Nature Reserves. Conservation of the snow leopard and all of nature is very exciting work. I will continue to do it all my life.
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		Ma Ming China Program Researcher
Where I live:		Urumqi, Xinjiang (China)
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		Snow Leopard is a very rare species in the world. And in China there are few people researching the species. I like being challenged by the hard work needed in the field when researching the snow leopard.
Favorite food:		Noodles
My background:		I have been a wildlife biologist since the mid-1980 when I worked on the ecology research of birds, e.g. swans, storks, groundjays and saker falcon. About 90 science articles, and 6 works were published by us, such as Wild Swans (1993), Birds of Xinjiang (1995), Wildlife in Xinjiang, China(2000), Swans in China(2000), A checklist of the birds in Xinjiang, China (2001), Fauna Sinica, Vol. 5 (2005), Xinjiang Ground Jay (2003) et al., were published at home and abroad. From 1993 to 2005, I went to many araes and countries for co-operative research and communion, including Latvia (1993), UK (1993, 2005), Sweden (1993), Malaysia (1997), Kazakhstan (1995), Hong Kong (1993\1996\2003), Australia (1999-2000), Japan (2000), USA (2001), United Arab Emirates (2003), Tibet (1987\1988\2003\2004) and Taiwan (2003).
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India Staff Members

		Dr. Charudutt Mishra, India Program Director
Where I live:		Mysore, Karnataka (India)
Why I am 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
My background:		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 Associate Director
Where I live:		Mysore, Karnataka (India)
Why I am 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
My background:		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 am 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)
My background:		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 am 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
My background:		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.
		Dr. Cholpon Dyikanova Director of Bashat - CBF
Where I live:		Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic)
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		Because they are kind and beautiful animals symbolizing the high mountains of Kyrgyzstan.
Favorite food:		Kyrgyz Kuurdak (fried lamb with potatoes)
My background:		Bashat - Community and Business Forum was established in 1999 as a national non-governmental organization promoting sustainable development of communities. The Chair of Bashat - CBF is Dr. Cholpon Dyikanova. Dr. Dyikanova is a well-known specialist in community development working in remote areas with rich wildlife, promoting sustainable development and supporting conservation activities.
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		Jarkyn Samanchina Projects Coordinator
Where I live:		Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic)
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		Because they are very beautiful animals which are endemic to Kyrgyzstan and threatened by extinction.
My background:		Ms. Jarkyn Samanchina joined the Bashat - CBF core staff in September 2004. In the capacity of Projects Coordinator she assists with implementation of various projects, including the community conservation aspect of ISLT work in Kyrgyzstan. Jarkyn has extensive work experience with non-governmental and educational institutions both in Kyrgyzstan and abroad. Jarkyn is fluent in Kyrgyz, Russian, English, and Turkish languages.
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Mongolia Staff Members

		Agvaantseren Bayarjargal Mongolia Program Coordinator
Where I live:		Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		Because it is beautiful animal and I can help to save it. I am also invovled because I want to provide help for women through Snow Leopard Enterprises.
Favorite food:		Tsuivan
My background:		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. Everytime 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 recearch 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 am involved in snow leopard conservation:		Snow leopards are beautiful and interesting animals.
Favorite food:		Rice with beef and vegetables
My background:		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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Pakistan Staff Members

		Jaffar Ud-Din Snow Leopard Field Biologist
Where I live:		Chitral, Northwest Forest Province (Pakistan)
Why I am 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
My background:		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 am 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
My background:		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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		Dr. Tom McCarthy Conservation Director
Where I live:		Redmond, Washington (United States)
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		My first involvement with snow leopards was quite accidental, but they are such an amazing animal, and occur in some of the most fascinating places on the planet, that I have never really considered changing my focus.
Favorite food:		Spaghetti
My background:		I have been a wildlife biologist since the mid-1980s when I worked on bear, mountain goats and caribou in Alaska. I first started working with snow leopards in 1993 and conducted a long-term radio collaring study of snow leopards in Mongolia which was completed in 1998 and formed the basis of my Ph.D. After a short time away from snow leopards, doing biodiversity conservation in the Caribbean, I became the Science and Conservation Director with the Snow Leopard Trust in 2000.
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		Jennifer Snell Rullman Conservation Programs Director
Where I live:		Bainbridge Island, Washington (United States)
Why I am 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
My background:		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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		Jennifer Akin Program Manager
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		I planned on working to alleviate poverty, but I also wanted to do something for the environment. I thought I had to choose, but then I found the Snow Leopard Trust and realized I could do both. The more I learn about these cats and the mountains, the less I can imagine doing anything else.
Favorite food:		Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup)
My background:		I joined the Snow Leopard Trust as an intern in 2003 and was fortunate enough to become a full-fledged team member after completing a Masters of Public Administration in the spring of 2005. I grew up in St. Louis and studied Mandarin Chinese there at Washington University. Over the past few years I have studied Chinese history in Nanjing, worked as a translation project manager in St. Louis and San Francisco, and studied computational linguistics at the University of Colorado. I hope to be working for the snow leopards and the environment for many years to come.
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		Marissa Niranjan Program Manager
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Why I am 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!
My background:		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 Program Assistant
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Why I am 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
My background:		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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		Jeff Brown Technology Director
Where I live:		Seattle, Washington (United States)
Why I am involved in snow leopard conservation:		I had trekked in Bhutan where the kind people and their reverence for all wildlife, including snow leopards was inspiring. I came across the Trust soon after in 2005, 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 the Trust.
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 technology industry for several years, including nearly ten years at Microsoft, I decided it was time to change direction. It has been a joy to use my experience in technology to try to help such an amazing animal and the special people of Central Asia.
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Board of Directors

Board Officers

President – Norma Cole
Norma Cole has been an active board member since joining the Trust in 1999. Norma is a clinical social worker for the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center. Norma has been active in the Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents and is the association’s past president.

Vice-President – Robert Pennell
Bob Pennell is a Partner with Appropriate Balance Financial Services, a Seattle based investment advisory service. He has been a member of the Trust's board of directors since 1998 and has been active with CARE, Friends of Youth, and University Prep. Mr. Pennell received his BS from University of Washington and an MBA from Harvard University.

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 is Associate General Counsel for The Garden City Group, Inc. (GCG), a nationwide legal services administration firm, and Deputy Manager of West Coast Operations. Prior to joining GCG, Betsy had been an attorney with Perkins Coie LLP since 1991. Before becoming an attorney Betsy was a Communications Specialist for United Way of Orange County, California 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.

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.

Henry (Hap) Happel
Henry was a founding partner of Mundt MacGregor LLP, a Seattle, Washington law firm, where he practiced corporate and commercial law from 1976 until 2001.  Since leaving Mundt MacGregor, Henry has served as CEO of Advanced Robotic Vehicles, Inc. and is currently the Managing Director of Exbiblio B.V., a recently formed technology information company.  Henry received a B.A. in Economics from Yale University in 1967 and a law degree from Stanford University in 1970.

Lewis Macfarlane
Lew Macfarlane, an international business specialist and former U.S. diplomat, is a native of Seattle.  During his Foreign Service career, he specialized in developing world issues, having served in a variety of posts in Washington, D.C., Zaire, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Nepal.  In 1994, Mr. Macfarlane founded and became President of TechSolutions International (TSI), an independent international business concern with a focus on disaster assistance.

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.

Andrea Gates Sanford
Andrea Gates Sanford has worked for Woodland Park Zoo for the past 6 years. Prior to joining the zoo staff Andrea worked for more than twenty years in communications. Ms. Sanford received her formal education at Oberlin College and is a graduate of the University of Michigan, earning a BFA in 1983. In 1994, Ms. Sanford started She Can Do It, a production management firm, specializing in publications and production support to art directors and editors. Andrea’s strengths are in the organization, design and production of communications projects, providing production and management services to clients tailored to the specific needs of each organization. At She Can Do it, Andrea worked with wide variety of clients, including Discovery Channel, The Nature Conservancy and Woodland Park Zoo.   

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.

Michael Waller
Mike Waller is the former Director of the Woodland Park Zoo and has more than 30 years experience working with the City of Seattle in planning, project management, budgeting, and economic development. Mike has been an active board member of the Trust since 1998 and is a member of the Trust’s Conservation Committee.

Founder

Helen Freeman
Helen founded the Snow Leopard Trust in 1981 while the education director at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. From 1982 to 1987 Freeman headed the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan for the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. She directed the Trust until 1996 when she transitioned to an active board member for the Trust.