Founder and Managing Director

Joshua is the Founder and Managing Director of the Freshwater Guardians Organization (FGO). He is also a PhD candidate and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Biology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. His doctoral research focuses on “Longitudinal Changes in Fish Assemblages, Macroinvertebrate Communities, and Trace Element Distributions within the Mara River.” In addition to his PhD, Joshua is pursuing certificates in Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) and Sustainable Development Practice (SDP) at the University of Florida.
Joshua completed a Joint MSc in Environmental Science with a specialization in Limnology and Wetlands Management at BOKU University in Austria and IHE-Delft in the Netherlands. During his master’s program, he researched benthic macroinvertebrates' longitudinal abundance, distribution, and functional feeding groups in the Gura River, Kenya. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from Karatina University, Kenya. Furthermore, Joshua has received GIS and Remote Sensing training from IHE-Delft and advanced data analysis techniques from the University of Groningen.
Joshua’s academic and professional achievements have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including grants from WWF-EFN, the National Geographic Society's Rufford Foundation, the Explorers Club, and Sigma Xi. He has also been honored with a Certificate of Outstanding Merit from the International Center at the University of Florida.
Joshua’s work is centered on his commitment to freshwater biodiversity conservation, his strong academic background, and his dedication to capacity building and sustainable development.

Co-founder & General Secretary

Mildren is a dedicated professional with an interest in the field of conservation biology and ecology. My academic journey has a strong foundation in biology of conservation and Natural resources. I am in a pursuit to refining my knowledge through a Master's of Science in Biology of Conservation greatly contributing to academic achievements and publications, at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She has a Bachelors of Science in Natural Resources from Karatina University in Kenya. 
Mildren has 5 years experience as a Research Fellow at the Zoology department, National Museums of Kenya. As a result of expertise gained in research, she became a member of the Kenya Wetlands Biodiversity Research team (KENWEB). She is also a member of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition (LYCD) Research Working Group with . She holds a certification on Climate Justice from the Nairobi Summer School of Climate Justice (NSSCJ) at Kenyatta University in partnership with Pan African Climate Justice Alliance( PACJA) 1st cohort, 2021.
Mildren has also been recognised of her exemplary contribution towards filling the knowledge gaps of the transboundary Mara river Ecosystem by being awarded the Berlin World Wild Conservation Scholarship 2023 by the Zoo and Tier park Berlin. She is committed through her research work to add more into the existing knowledge on freshwater biodiversity and its conservation.

Co-founder & General Treasurer

Josphat is a seasoned full-stack system development expert with over 8 years of experience in IT project management and system development. His extensive portfolio spans across diverse sectors, including private industry, academia, NGOs, and government institutions. With a robust foundation in both front-end and back-end development, Josphat specializes in PHP and Laravel, consistently delivering innovative and scalable solutions.

At NurtureFirst, Josphat is deeply involved in advancing the organization's mission to create digital products that drive positive change in the HBCC sector. He is currently supporting the Murang’a pilot, where he plays a key role in developing the HBCC service providers' database and service directorate.

Josphat holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and his technical expertise includes PHP, Laravel frameworks, Object-Oriented Design Principles, Data Structures, Algorithms, and proficiency in both SQL/NoSQL databases. He is also skilled in eLearning development, data engineering from analysis to interpretation, and source control using Git.

A collaborative leader, Josphat actively contributes to the planning and design of projects, reviews UX/UI components, and maintains seamless communication with developers, product owners, and clients throughout the development process.

Co-founder and Communication Manager

Lee Ndeda's background in science, laboratory work, and project management makes him a strong candidate for the role of co-founder and communication manager of the Freshwater Guardians Organization. His experience in water analysis, including wastewater, boiler water, and chlorine determination, provides a crucial technical understanding of the challenges facing Kenyan rivers and streams. Ndeda has hands-on experience collecting samples, conducting experiments, and operating lab equipment, essential for monitoring and assessing water quality. His work at the Water Resources Authority involved collecting samples from various sources, including treatment plants and groundwater wells. Additionally, his previous roles demonstrate an ability to generate technical recommendations based on data reports.

Ndeda's expertise extends beyond the laboratory, encompassing project management and client interaction. At Electra Recyclers and Systems Limited, he coordinated with technicians, created work schedules, and ensured client satisfaction. This experience in project coordination, client relations, and documentation is critical to the success of the Freshwater Guardians Organization. Furthermore, his role in the National Aids & STI Control Program (NASCOP) in training and coaching health workers highlights his leadership and facilitation skills. Ndeda also possesses the ability to work with diverse teams, manage programs, and interpret strategies. The skills and experience he has developed will be key to managing the organization and its projects and building relationships within the community. His expertise in data analysis using Excel and Python will be critical for tracking project progress and generating reports.

Co-founder & Finance Officer

Thomas Nyaranga Odeyo is a passionate researcher and MSc candidate in Animal Ecology at Kenyatta University, where he explores reptile diversity and conservation. He holds a BSc in Biology from the same institution and has participated in the prestigious Harvard University Summer Program in Kenya, studying climate science and human evolution. With an extensive experience as a researcher at the National Museums of Kenya, Thomas specializes in ecology and conservation. He has led several projects to conserve wetlands across the country and endangered species such as the Kinyongia tenuis and the Taita Hills Warty Frog. Thomas has completed the COALITIONWILD EXCELerator Program, a leadership and capacity-building training designed to equip emerging conservation leaders. Outside of work, he enjoys mentoring young conservationists, exploring Kenya’s rich biodiversity, and promoting sustainable practices within local communities.

Co-founder

Beryl is an interdisciplinary scientist and PhD candidate at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. She specializes in freshwater biodiversity and is an expert in ecological modeling. She has conducted research in China, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ghana. Notably, she was the first African scientist to study stream biodiversity on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Her research focuses on predicting ecosystem responses to global change.

Beryl has served as lead plankton scientist for a National Natural Science Foundation of China project and worked as an algal scientist at Yunnan Alphy Biotech, specializing in green algae cultivation for biotechnology and aquaculture. She has collaborated with institutions such as the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre, TAFIRI, the Institute of Ecological Research in Hungary, Technical University of Kenya, and Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Ghana. Her research has been published in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals.

A member of the IUCN Young Professional Taskforce, AQUACOSM, the British Ecological Society, and the Ecological Society of America, Beryl aims to advance global understanding of freshwater ecosystems and contribute to their conservation in the face of environmental change.