Kenya

Betty is a graduate student and a Fulbright scholar at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, pursuing a master's in Natural Resource Science with a specialization in GIS. She also holds a hold Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Information Science and Remote Sensing from Dedan Kimathi University. With a background in geospatial analysis and remote sensing, Betty has worked with the University of Nebraska, the National Drought Mitigation Center, and the Kenya Red Cross to support disaster response and preparedness by analyzing community risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities.

Merceline Ojwala is a seasoned GIS and Remote Sensing Expert with over 15 years of experience in the field. Armed with a Master of Science degree in Geospatial Information System and Remote Sensing, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Conservation and Natural Resource Management, Merceline possesses a solid educational foundation.

Nancy Marangu is a water governance professional in Kenya specialized in advocating for the uptake of space technologies by women and indigenous peoples’ communities for water governance. This with the appreciation that women are exposed to challenges of water scarcity and poverty due to inaccessible water systems. Besides, poor water quality by virtue that they lack the technical capacity and knowledge to monitor water quality despite the availability of technologies.

Tom Ogalo serves as the Executive Director at the Jijenge Youth Organisation based in Kenya. Professionally, he is recognized as a social development expert with a particular focus on the restoration of the Lake Victoria ecosystem. Tom is deeply committed to leveraging space technology to monitor the situation of the lake, aiming to contribute significantly to its preservation and sustainable management.

Judith Murungi is a lawyer and legal researcher with expertise in various aspects of law. Holding a bachelor's degree in law with honors from Uganda Christian University, Judith's academic journey continued with the completion of a master of laws degree from University of Nairobi. Additionally, she possesses a postgraduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law. Throughout her career, Judith has focused her efforts on legal research, particularly in the fields of international human rights and water law.

Harriette Okal is a passionate young professional in the field of water resources, dedicated to driving impactful change in sustainable water resource management and conservation. Her commitment extends to fostering awareness and forging partnerships in data and information systems, as well as climate change. She aspires to become a leading advocate for strategic investments in building African water and climate expertise, aiming to enhance the dissemination of climate and water knowledge for informed decision-making on a resilient continent.

Am from pastoralist communities living in Kenya. I am a mother, a gender champion, I have more than 10 years of experience working with non-governmental organizations, I have been passionate about championing women and girls' rights since I was a young girl. I grew up in an atypical traditional culture where women are regarded as children, they were not allowed to own properties or make any decision. I learnt to voice out issues, I learnt to speak out on the right of other girls and myself. I have learnt, too, that women's rights are human rights regardless of age, tribe, color.