Elizabeth Kariuki

Elizabeth Kariuki is the Head of Board, Strategy and Legal Affairs and is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Elizabeth joined in 2004 as a Programme Administrative Officer in the Office of the Deputy Director-General, Research and has served in various capacities. In 2008, she was appointed the Head of Contracts and Grants, where she successfully led the establishment of the Contracts and Grants Office. In 2014, she was appointed Executive Manager with oversight for policy development, risk management and special projects within the Director-General’s Office. In 2020 she was appointed Board Secretary to the CIFOR-ICRAF Common Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining CIFOR-ICRAF, Elizabeth worked at Japan External Trade Organization as a Project Officer where she was responsible for trade relations between the Government of Japan and Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, Tanzania and Seychelles. Elizabeth served as a Director on the Board of KIMISITU Sacco Ltd for nine years, where she acquired expertise in the governance of savings and credit cooperative societies in Kenya.

She holds a Masters’ degree in International Business Administration (Strategic Management) and a Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration (Information Systems), both from the United States International University. She holds certification in Enterprise Risk Management, Change Management, Contract Management, Intellectual Property Management and Trade.