Elizabeth Kariuki is a seasoned leader in social and environmental justice, with over 15 years of experience in governance, human rights, climate change, conservation and sustainable development. As the East Africa Hub Director for Natural Justice, Elizabeth leads the organization’s work on environmental justice across the East African region, providing strategic guidance and overseeing impactful programmatic, financial, and administrative operations. Her expertise spans a wide range of sectors, including conservation, natural resource governance, peacebuilding, labour rights and business and human rights.
Elizabeth’s career is marked by her ability to navigate complex, multi-country projects while advocating for equitable and inclusive policy reforms. She has led high-profile initiatives in natural resource governance, including advising governments, businesses, and civil society organisations on human rights and environmental due diligence, with a focus on promoting ethical business practices and sustainable resource management. Her leadership in spearheading projects across Africa and globally has resulted in measurable improvements in governance, inclusivity, and human rights protections in vulnerable sectors such as mining, energy and agriculture.
Previously, Elizabeth held senior roles in organizations such as Levin Sources, WWF International, International Alert and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, where she built capacity, led advocacy campaigns, and provided technical advisory to enhance the integration of human rights within environmental and economic development frameworks. She was instrumental in advancing initiatives to protect environmental defenders, strengthen global policies on conservation, and integrate gender-sensitive approaches into sustainable development programmes.
Along with her Master of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Nairobi, Elizabeth has authored and contributed to a wide range of publications exploring the links between economic development, human rights and peacebuilding. Fluent in both English and Swahili, she is a respected thought leader and expert dedicated to promoting climate and environmental justice across the Global South, with a particular emphasis on Africa.
