Board of Directors

Dr. Jonas Kipokola

Dr Jonas Kipokola has served as a HAT chairman for three years from 2015 till present. He is an economist by profession but has made a substantial contribution in the tourism industry. He was very involved in launching and strengthening of the apprenticeship program to close the skills gap in the market. Dr Kipokola has served in many capacities as Head of Tourism Desk in the EAC, at Kilimanjaro Hotels, Non-Executive Director of Selous Safari Company Ltd and as a Member of Climate Monitoring Committee. He remains a great asset in the initiatives to enable investments and growth of tourism sector.

Joerg Gabriel

Joerg was born in Germany but grew up in India and East Africa and is a renowned travel writer, photographer and safari guide, Jörg has brought his love for the outdoors and his passion for conservation to Tanzania. He studied political science and geography. While still a student, Joerg and a friend operated a special travel agency for exceptional safaris to East Africa. He lives now with his wife Marlies and their son at the foot of Mt Meru running Hatari Lodge.

Malcolm Ryen

Malcom is a biologist by profession and has been conducting research in Tarangire for 7 years. He started working in the tourism industry as a camp manager in Ruaha for two years. For more than a decade now, he is based in Dar-es-salaam managing several properties between the northern and southern circuit as well as on the coast. Malcolm has a seat at the Executive Committee focusing particularly on advocacy in regards to the Tourism Act, wildlife regulations and poaching issues.

Kyle

Kyle is the executive director of Rivertrees Country Inn and has been based full time in the country since 2008, gaining first-hand experience of Northern Tanzania’s tourism. He has amassed a vast amount of local knowledge with respect to market trends, the legal landscape and the business environment. Kyle has a background in International Hospitality Management specializing in property development with experience across all phases of the development and investment life-cycle.

Sibylle Riedmiller

A German-born Social Scientist, she spent most of her professional life in Latin America and Africa, working with education reform and natural resource management projects with UNESCO, GTZ/GIZ and others. From 1991, she developed award-winning Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) in Zanzibar, a not-for-profit privately managed the marine park, forest reserve and eco-lodge, for local schools, fishers and community members. Ms Sibylle is highly involved in researching and preserving historical heritage buildings in Tanga / Tanzania and is an ecotourism ambassador.

Richard Wood

Richard Wood (Woody) is the Managing Director of Wild Lodges, Wild Thing Safaris and Safari Manager Software.

Woody manages 3 sustainable properties across Tanzania’s southern circuit Udzungwa Forest Camp (Hondo Hondo), Adjacent to Udzungwa Mountains National Park (this property brings in a TANAPA-confirmed 87% of visitiors to the Udzungwa National Park) ,Wami River Bush Retreat (Kisampa), West of Saadani National Park, Amani Forest Camp (Emau Hill) – Amani Nature Reserve, East Usambara.
He has been resident in the country for 17 years, and has utilised much of his extensive experience in the development of the Safari Manager software system. Before coming to Tanzania, Woody worked in the IT security business in the UK.

Woody hopes to bring his experience as a small business owner to HAT and represent the interests of both the Southern Circuit and the smaller individually owned and owner managed properties. Woody is keen on conservation and low ecological impact business practices, as well as community responsibility and positive social impact, and his companies have built numerous hospitals, clinics and schools for local communities. Woody has a wife and two small children who live in Usa River, and he enjoys mountain climbing and hiking in his spare time.

Petra Meyr

Petra has extensive experience in the safari industry, having been involved in Tanzanian safaris across the country since 2001, and with Nomad Tanzania as Head of Safari Operations since 2011. Her expertise in safari operations, logistics and camp management makes her a vital part of the team at Nomad. Petra hails from Germany and speaks Swahili, English and German fluently.

Cosmas Kisela

Cosmas is a multi-skilled Business Leader, self-driven Chartered Accountant, Finance and Taxation specialist with over 15 years experience based on senior auditing, accounting, taxation, and finance roles. Extensive background in Corporate Finance, Business Management, Leadership, Directorship, Financial Reporting, Strategic Planning, Budgeting and forecasting, working knowledge in accounting system administration & familiar with HR function, including employee benefits and relations. Hard working, meticulous, and results oriented with demonstrated track record of maximizing and consistently achieving corporate and financial performance goals. Recognized as a hands-on expert problems solver who can rapidly resolve cross-functional business process problems, formulate strategic plans and implement changes, with benefits to the Company bottom line. Accomplished leader accustomed with working in a high performing international environment, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; Negotiation skills, demonstrated Leadership and Management skill and always abreast with business and regulatory changes.