Hadley Becha

Hadley Becha is a multi-disciplinary environmentalist with twenty-six years professional and practical experience in conservation work. He holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies and Rural Development obtained from York University, Ontario, Canada. He has a Bachelor’s of Art Degree in Geography and Sociology, and Post-graduate Diploma in Education, obtained at the University of Nairobi and Kenya University college respectively. In addition, Becha increased his competence and capacity by acquiring additional knowledge and job-skills through training in the fields of Human Resources Management (Kenya Institute of Management), NGO Management and Organizational Development (MS-TCDC, Arusha, Tanzania), Finance for Non-finance Managers (KPMG), International Environmental Law (UNITAR), Analysis of Behavior in Conservation (The Nature Conservancy/World Resource Institute – Zimbabwe), Gender Awareness and Planning in Program Development (Egerton University), Advocacy, Networking and Resource Mobilization (USAID/PACT-K/ACT!, IUCN & WWF), Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting (IUCN, PACT-K/ACT!, WWF), Environmental and Social Impact Assessment/ Land Acquisition and Resettlement in Upstream Petroleum Development (Ministry of Petroleum and mining/HSE International).

Becha is currently the chairperson of Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, chair of SWIOTUNA and Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya -TUFAK, Co-chair of National Environmental Civil Society Alliance of Kenya – NECSA-K, member of the National Ramsar Committee, and board member of Natural Justice.

Previously Becha worked at the East African Wild Life Society (EAWLS) for sixteen years rising from a project liaison officer (Tana Delta Wetlands Project), Deputy Director and Head of Conservation Programs to Executive Director. In addition, he worked at the Eastern Africa Environmental Network -EAEN for about two years as the Executive Director. He was also a high school teacher at Pangani Girls School and Huruma Girls High School, both in Nairobi respectively.

In the course of his professional work, Becha has mentored and coached many young persons both graduate and non-graduate in their career and professional development and growth. He has also mobilized, organized and build capacity of grassroot community (individuals and their organizations) for individual and collective action on matters of sustainable natural resource management, good environmental governance, environmental and social justice as well as organizational development Becha is married and has one child, an adult daughter.