Internship Leaders
Marine Mammal, Primate and Coastal Habitat Environmental Internship in Kenya, Africa

Graham Corti - Regional Director

Graham first joined GVI in November 2005 as Expedition Manager in Kenya, and has to date over 6 years experience working in East Africa, with over 20 expeditions under his belt. He obtained his degree in Zoology at the University of Southampton, undertaking his thesis in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, with research on the behavioural ecology of a feral cat population. After graduation he followed his one real passion and came to Africa, volunteering on a conservation research expedition in central Tanzania before taking a staff position. In addition to Kiswahili language, his time in Tanzania provided him with a broad range of research experience in forest, savanna and wetland habitats. In addition to initiating the first long term research on Africa’s most conservation critical population of the puku antelope he was involved in research projects as diverse as butterfly, amphibian and small mammal biodiversity, bat netting, wetland bird surveys, large mammal tracking, boat-based crocodile surveys and fisheries monitoring. He also delivered training and assessment for BTEC qualifications, co-authored 6 scientific publications and trekked to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Since then he has added two years management experience from the business sector.

In Kenya Graham has gained diverse knowledge and experience in environmental awareness, alternative livelihoods and sustainable development with both coastal and in land communities. He is a qualified Emergency First Response Instructor, RYA level 2 power boat handling certified, PADI open water certified as well as having completed basic freefall parachute training.

Shafii Vuyaa - Field Staff

Shafii was born and raised in Mkwiro village, Wasini island, where GVI Kenya has its expedition base. Not surprisingly his wealth of knowledge and experience regarding the local marine environment and the community we serve have proven invaluable. Shafii first earned his livelihood from the Indian Ocean as a fisherman. He went on to attain his boat driving qualification with his coxswain’s licence, and moved in to tourism, captaining dolphin watching safaris in and around the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Protected Area.

He joined GVI on its arrival in Kenya as boat captain in January 2006, and has since embarked on training in cetaceans and research protocol, becoming a valuable member of the staff team, and assisting in the training of expedition members. He has also developed a passion for the terrestrial environment having joined us during our census of the colobus populations and is keen to take more time off the boat and develop his knowledge of coastal forest research. Shafii lives in Mkwiro with his wife and two young daughters.

Emma Hankinson - Field Staff

Emma first joined GVI in Kenya as a volunteer in January 2007, becoming an intern the following expedition. She was then taken on as the Marine Science Officer, before assuming the role of Terrestrial Research Officer, overseeing the coastal forest research programme, where her previous experience has enabled the programme to develop and diversify. Coming from England, Emma obtained her degree in Zoology from Liverpool John Moore’s University before taking her masters at Manchester Metropolitan University in Animal Behaviour. Her master’s research project first brought her to Kenya in 2004 undertaking research on grooming behaviour in chimpanzees at Sweetwaters Game Reserve. Since graduating, Emma has worked as an Ecologist with a UK based consultancy working towards her Crested Newt and Bat licenses as well as becoming a qualified tree climber. She has worked on otter surveys as well as reintroduction programmes for both water voles and beavers. Emma has also spent a year travelling and working around Australia, is a PADI qualified scuba diver, holds the RYA level 2 boat handling qualification as well being an associate member of the Institute of Ecological and Environmental Management and a member of the Primate Society of Great Britain.

Ines Gomes - Base Manager- Kenya

Inês is from Portugal, joining GVI Kenya in July as the Base Manager, whilst her background, experience and enthusiasm ensures she takes an active role supporting the marine, coastal forest and community development programmes. She holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Lisbon University and has studied in both the US and Canary Islands. She has worked with animals at both Lisbon Zoo and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, and on a veterinary project in Cape Verde off the West coast of Africa which has equipped her with experience in working with and providing education to local communities. She brings valuable experience of cetaceans and seabirds having worked as a whale watching guide and skipper in the Azores, participating in environmental education projects with children and whale and dolphin monitoring, so will be a valuable addition to our marine research programme, supported by a number of marine mammal, bird and terrestrial wildlife courses as well as photography. Inês holds a Local Skipper Yachtsman’s licence, as a qualified EFR Instructor already has the experience in delivering the first aid training. Her participation in sport, dance and fitness makes her a popular addition to the Mkwiro community.

Sergi Pèrez - Field Staff

Sergi comes from Barcelona and joins GVI as our Marine Science Officer, with exceptional experience of working with cetaceans. He holds a degree in Marine Biology and a Masters in Marine Science for which his thesis was ‘Absolute abundance and residency of bottlenose dolphins in the Strait of Gibraltar’. His extensive research experience includes: the Sea Watch Foundation and Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre in Wales with both vessel-based and land-based surveys on bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins and other cetaceans, and work on their photo identification catalogue; the CIRCE LIFE project in Spain on numerous projects covering environmental impact assessments of wind farms and impacts of maritime traffic on cetaceans and marine turtles, socio-economic impacts of the whale watching industry, diet patterns of killer whales, reproduction of bottlenose dolphins, and conservation of cetaceans and turtles; environmental inspector on dredging operations in Spain; and surveys of cetaceans in Greenland. His experience is backed up by numerous contributions to scientific publications and presentations.

Sergi has also worked with children before and is keen to involve himself in both the community and coastal forest research. He joins us with the RYA Powerboat Handling qualification as one of the expedition’s boat captains.

Adam Vasey - Field Staff

Adam is from the UK where he studied for his BSc in Wildlife Biology and MSc in Environmental Resource Assessment at Newcastle Upon Tyne University. Since then Adam has travelled extensively and gained wide-ranging experience, starting as a Reserves Officer for the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, working with the British Trust for Countryside Volunteers, then a Ranger with the National Trust for Scotland becoming involved in environmental education. After a stint with the Student Conservation Association in Ohio working on a Maple Syrup production facility as a sustainable development initiative, and ecological monitoring on Corsica, Adam followed up a passion for education with a CELTA qualification and two years teaching English in China and Indonesia. His next stop was New Zealand, working for the Department of Conservation on the remote Stewart Island, undertaking species monitoring and ensuring the safety and well-being of visitors.

Adam now joins GVI from Peru, where he has been teaching English, to lead our community education programme in Kenya and welcomes the opportunity to combine his profession in teaching with his long standing interest and commitment to conservation. A member of St John’s Ambulance, Adam will be one of our expedition’s qualified EFR Instructors.