Project Leaders
Volunteer Teaching in Kenya

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.

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.

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.