THE BOARD
Harrison Pemba Taga, aka Prince, is a native Maasai and lifelong advocate for living sustainably with nature and wildlife. As the founder of Friends of Maasai Mara, Harris' goal is to teach young people about their rich wildlife heritage and to engage his home community around the Maasai Mara National Preserve in protecting wildlife and the local ecosystem for future generations. He accomplishes this through educational outreach to students and families, through conservation programs in local schools, and by taking children for their first visit to the Maasai Mara Preserve, to witness that which they would otherwise never see. Harris believes in nurturing the natural empathy that young people have, and that this is the key to coexistence between humans and wildlife in the 21st century.
Harris is the lead organizer of the Global March for Elephants, Rhinos, and Lions in the Maasai Mara, with thousands of participants every fall. In addition to his advocacy work, he is the architect and construction coordinator for the Mara Napa Center and Mara Napa Camps.
Harris holds a BS in mechanical and manufacturing engineering from the University of Nairobi.
Founder/ CEO
Harrison Pemba Taga
Director
Michelle Schmidt Nirenstein
Michelle has always been a wildlife advocate. Her global passions are education, women's empowerment, and conservation. In addition to her involvement with the Friends of Maasai Mara, she is a former Rotary club president and a founding member of her The Rotary Club for Global Action in the U.S. She has long supported local as well as international projects including H2Open Doors. Currently she is chief designer for Mara Napa Camps and Mara Napa Center.
Michelle holds a bachelors degree in clinical psychology and business. Her background includes careers in new product development, commercial real estate, interior design, and fashion design. She holds several U.S. patents in the footwear industry, including a pneumatic shoe sole called Energaire®, that was licensed to Reebok and Spaulding.
Michelle grew up in rural Woodside in the San Francisco Bay Area where as a child, she was always rescuing and rehabilitating small animals. She now resides in Austin, Texas with her rescue dog Toby, and a French Bulldog named Moo. Michelle is the mother of two grown children, Parker and Madison.