Wanjira Mathai

Wanjira Mathai is the Director for the wPOWER Project, a new Partnership for Women’s Entrepreneurship on Renewables (wPower) Hub at the Wangari Maathai Institute. Funded by the US Department of State, wPOWER aims to empower more than 8,000 women clean energy entrepreneurs across East Africa, Nigeria and India who will deliver clean energy access to more than 3.5 million people over the next three years. Prior to this she directed International Affairs at the Green Belt Movement (GBM), where she managed International outreach and resource mobilization. For 6 years prior to joining GBM, Ms. Mathai worked as Sr. Program Officer at the Carter Presidential Center, Atlanta, Georgia (USA), monitoring & evaluating disease eradication programs. Since 2002, Ms. Mathai directed International Affairs at GBM, which was founded by her mother, the late Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai.

Wanjira is the current Chair of the Green Belt Movement Board where she is overseeing the growth and transition of the movement under the leadership of the Executive Director, Ms. Aisha Karanja. The Movement is implementing a 5-year strategic plan (2011-2016) that is focused on 3 key pillars: A watershed-based approach to forest restoration, strengthening of internal systems & structures, and the development of a strong advocacy department. Wanjira is also on the Board of the Green Belt Movement International Europe and USA.

In addition to GBM, GBMI and WMI, Wanjira also serves as the Board Chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation, a World Future Councilor, Advisory Council Member of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, Co-chair of the Global Restoration Council (World Resources Institute) and is a member of the Earth Charter International Council.

Wanjira is Kenyan and a graduate in (Biological Sciences) from Hobart & William Smith Colleges (New York, USA). She also earned graduate degrees in Public Health and Business from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and Goizueta School of Business (Atlanta, USA).