Cheikh Mbow holds academic degrees from Cheikh Anta Diop University and University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He has been on the academic and research faculty at Cheikh Anta Diop University and Michigan State University. He has worked as a Senior Scientist at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and a Member of the Science Committee of Future Earth. Cheikh is a regional expert on disturbances of savanna vegetative systems, particularly the impact of bush fires and other land cover changes in rural areas. He has experience with above-ground in situ carbon stock assessments, vegetation inventory the use for carbon models, and the monitoring of vegetative communities.

As Director of Programs, Sarah develops project concept notes and program proposals, designs and leads execution of project activities, manages START budgets and engages in outreach to START partners and donors. She also manages day-to-day activities of START program staff. Previously, Sarah was a Research Associate for the Colorado State University Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, where she managed the NSF sponsored project: Climate Change Education Partnership. She has investigated climate change resilience, communication, and decision-making within the U.S. National Park Service and helped to develop the agency’s national climate change response strategy. She holds a Master of Science in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Communication from Colorado State University.

Mzime Ndebele-Murisa recently joined START as the Program Specialist managing the Future Resilience for African Cities and Lands (FRACTAL) Program. She has been based at Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe. Mzime has coordinated several multi-disciplinary, collaborative projects in southern Africa focusing on aquaculture; climate change modelling and adaptation such as the SADC Aquaculture Mentorship Program, Climate Impact Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement and, CODESRIA’s Comparative Research Network. Mzime has several publications, with contributions in the IPCC’s AR5 Working Group II as well as a Climate Smart Agriculture Manual for Zimbabwe. She holds a PhD in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa; a Masters in Tropical Resource Ecology and a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Zimbabwe.

Marina joined START in February 2017 as Communications Specialist. Before joining START, she developed web content for WWF International. Previously, she worked at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, where, among other projects, she developed the online and social media component of the World Wetlands Day campaign. She also managed the website and social media presence of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). At GAIN, she contributed to event-related communications, the development and implementation of branding guidelines and the production of marketing materials. While completing her Master’s degree in Translation from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, she interned at local media outlets as well as at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Roland Fuchs led START’s work and activities until 2008. Prior to joining START he served as Professor of Geography. Roland Fuchs has held various positions within academia and international organizations. Prior to joining START he served as Professor of Geography and Department Chair at the University of Hawaii and later Vice-Rector of the United Nations University in Japan. He has also served as President of the International Geographical Union (IGU) and Secretary-General of the Pacific Science Association (PSA). During his career he has been associated with a number of institutions, including Moscow State University, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, National Taiwan University, Clark University, Ohio State University, and the East-West Center. His research has focused on urbanization and global change.