Charles Knowles - WCN Executive Director
Charlie retired early as a successful Stanford-educated entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. He founded Mountain View software company Rubicon Technology in 1989 and sold it in 1994. His retirement lasted six days, until he launched full-time into applying his business acumen and experience to the field of wildlife conservation. In the 1990s, Charlie helped the Cheetah Conservation Fund and the Snow Leopard Conservancy grow into world-class, community-based conservation programs. In doing so, he recognized the opportunity for a new model of wildlife conservation, and in 2002 he co-founded the Wildlife Conservation Network to identify, qualify and invest in the best and brightest conservationists around the world. The synthesis of creativity and practicality in Knowles' approach has inspired thousands of passionate donors, as well as a rising generation of conservation pioneers.

John Lukas - WCN Director
John, who is currently Director of the White Oak Conservation Center and President of the International Rhino Foundation, has over 20 years of international conservation experience. From his work with okapi in the Congo to saving rhinos in Sumatra, John has seen first-hand the importance of integrating local people into conservation strategies. The White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Florida is considered the world's premier facility for the conservation and research of endangered species around the world.

Akiko Yamazaki - WCN Director
Akiko, who developed her passion for wildlife and wilderness areas during her childhood in Costa Rica, believes that the goals of conservation are best served by a combination of entrepreneurial energy and commitment to local involvement and development. Akiko and her husband, Jerry Yang, founder of Yahoo, are active supporters of a number of philanthropic organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Akiko is a board member serving on the Executive Committee of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. An avid horsewoman, she also serves on the National Advisory Committee of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. Additionally, she and her husband are ardent supporters of their alma matter, Stanford University, having co-chaired the $1 billion Campaign for Undergraduate Education and provided the naming gift for the Environment and Energy Building.

Christine Hemrick - WCN Director
Christine retired as an executive of Cisco Systems after 30 years in the high technology industry. She is an avid conservationist and a Trustee of the African Wildlife Foundation. She is also a leading supporter of the Andean Cat Alliance, a multinational group of researchers and conservationists dedicated to conserving the Andean mountain cat.

Elaine Iverson - WCN Program Manager/ Accounting Manager
Elaine worked in the high-tech industry for 17 years in various departments including accounting, sales, legal, product management and information technology. While pursuing a lifelong interest in wild cats, she became involved with the Cheetah Conservation Fund and Snow Leopard Conservancy and joined WCN as a volunteer in 2002. Her participation on an Earthwatch expedition trapping carnivores in the Argentine Pampas convinced her to follow a different career path, and she is now the Program Manager for Andean Cat Alliance. Elaine also manages all the accounting and technology needs for WCN. In her spare time she enjoys hiking in the hills above the WCN office.

Eve Schaeffer - WCN Program Manager
Eve is the Program Manager for Save the Elephants, Snow Leopard Conservancy and the Sidney Byers Scholarship for Wildlife Conservation. She has worked with many environmental groups and presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. After receiving her B.A. in Native American Studies at Harvard, she worked as an advocate for people facing the death penalty. On the weekends she laces up her running shoes and works as a Coach for the AIDS Marathon Training Program. She is thrilled to pursue her lifelong passion for wildlife and wild places with WCN.

Nichole Baker - WCN Program Manager/ Events and Volunteers Coordinator
Nichole grew up in Ohio where she earned degrees in Conservation Biology and Anthropology. Before graduating, she volunteered her free time to many organizations including Habitat for Humanity, The Student Conservation Association, and The Nature Conservancy. Through her volunteer work, she was able to experience the wild beauty of Alaska, the inspiring deserts and sagebrush country of Nevada, and the majestic mountain valleys of Colorado, where she worked on a 100,000 acre buffalo ranch for a summer! These journeys solidified her desire to work toward the environmental health of the planet and the sustained biodiversity of the many animals and plants that call it home. Nichole is a certified Wildland Firefighter and an avid camper. Since moving to California, Nichole has taken up backpacking as well. She is currently working towards her Masters in Public Administration.

Stacey Iverson - WCN Program Manager
Stacey spent 2 ½ years in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa as a wildlife biologist, studying the West Africa cheetah and working with local communities around W National Park. After managing the Northern California Chapter of Cheetah Conservation Fund, she assisted in the formation and founding of WCN. Combining her lifelong commitment to animal welfare and the environment, Stacey serves as the Program Manager for several of WCN's Partners in Africa (Cheetah Conservation Fund, Painted Dog Conservation, Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program, Cheetah Conservation Botswana) as well as Proyecto Tití and Saiga Conservation Alliance. Her interests include trail running and racing and having fun with her horse, Henry.