Meet the team
MARC GOSS, Founder and Managing Director
Affectionately known around the Mara, and Kenya, as the “flying CEO”, Marc Goss has been the Chief Executive Officer of Mara Elephant Project (MEP) since its inception in 2011. Marc has worked in the greater Maasai Mara for over a decade, starting as manager for Olchoro Oiroua Conservancy and then Mara North Conservancy. Marc assembled the first rapid response unit for MEP in 2011 and has overseen the growth to more than 70 Kenyan employees. In the Mara, Marc built the partnerships that made it possible to collar and monitor elephants and launched the first drone program to respond to human-elephant conflict. He is also the current Kenya Wildlife Service Honorary Warden for the Maasai Mara. He and his wife Madde have two young children and are proud to call the Mara home.
SEAN OWENS, PROJECT DIRECTOR (DMV, Dipl. ACVP)
Sean Owens is a veterinarian, board certified veterinary clinical pathologist, and wildlife photographer with over 14 years of experience as a professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Sean leads efforts to build strategic partnerships and secure vital funding, working with local and international stakeholders to advance conservation goals. He also oversees ECO’s educational and research programs, ensuring that externship and volunteer initiatives align with best practices in conservation education, fostering engagement with local communities and international institutions. Through his leadership, Sean supports both research and educational outreach efforts that drive meaningful wildlife conservation across East Africa.
ROBERT FYUMAGWA, MENTOR VET
From January 1991 to August 1998, Dr. Fyumagwa worked in a private mixed veterinary practice in Dar es Salaam before working with the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) as a wildlife veterinarian. Specializing in animal diseases at the human-livestock-wildlife interface and ecosystem health, Dr. Fyumagwa has participated in research including wildlife ecology, behavioral studies and disease surveillance at the livestock-wildlife interface, and game capture for deploying telemetry devices, translocation and rescue.
THERESE HARD, CONSULTANT VET
Therese has worked as a veterinarian for almost two decades, with wildlife and captive African mammals, including breeding of elephants, as well as in large and small animal practice. She is a lecturer on chemical immobilization and working safety. Therese is also working as an associated researcher and is the founder of the Mara Cat Project, focusing on conservation, one-health and animal welfare in the Maasai Mara.
MEET OUR PARTNERS
ECO partners with organizations to increase the capacity to protect wildlife in Tanzania
MEP
Mara Elephant Project (MEP)’s protects elephants and their habitats across the Greater Mara Ecosystem, of which a large portion is in Tanzania. MEP has been working there for over a decade by providing technical assistance to the TANAPA and the TAWIRI. Through this, it has developed a close relationship with government agencies and communities. MEP is now replicating its method in Tanzania by establishing and cultivating ECO.
TANAPA
Tanzania National Parks Authority is responsible for protecting Tanzania’s National Parks. ECO works closely with TANAPA inside the national parks and plans to support the four TANAPA vets.
WCI
The Wildlife Conservation Initiative (WCI) is a voluntary, collaborative partnership between the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI) to conserve fish and wildlife species on private working forests.
TAWA
Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority’s core responsibilities are: biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of wildlife resources outside National Parks and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
MEET THE BOARD
Mustafa Suleimanji
Mustafa Suleimanji is an experienced business leader and has worked with business development and sales for international companies in Africa and Europe the last 15 years. He’s currently Sales Director for Aiba.ai, a Norwegian technology company ensuring safe digital lives.
KEVIN RODRIGUES
Kevin Rodrigues is an investment professional with over 18 years of global investment experience spanning Africa, Europe, South East Asia, Latin America and North America with a focus on venture capital and private equity. He is an active angel investor and entrepreneur with investments in several consumer and technology start ups in Europe, Africa and the US. Kevin currently works as the Regional Managing Director and Head of Europe at BP Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of BP. Over his extensive career, Kevin has worked for Credit Suisse First Boston, International Finance Corporation, Lightrock and Palladium. Kevin holds an MBA from London Business School, UK and a B.A. (Economics) from Northwestern University, USA.
MADELEINE GOSS
Born in Sweden and based in Kenya, Madeleine is passionate about innovation and community development. Over the past 14 years residing in the Maasai Mara, she has initiated impactful projects supporting women and conservation efforts. Some of her initiatives include: launching Mara Tatu Collections, setting up the UltraMarathon, and establishing the Mara Bushbabies homeschool to create educational opportunities for communities. Further, she has raised substantial funding for healthcare. Her previous role as GM of Endeavours Far Beyond has equipped her with expertise in managing a helicopter charter business, with experience in procurement, budgeting, sales and operations.
