James Ole Lesikar Laizer (Director) has over 20 years of experience working in natural resources management in Africa, both terrestrial and marine and both public and private sectors. 

Beginning his working life in local government, James moved to socio-economic and ecological research. He became head of communications and strategy for a private agribusiness, developing a number of community projects, then a tourist camp manager, before setting up Kilimanyika and co-leading a dynamic private consultancy business for many years. James then took on the responsibility of a senior position in the natural resources extractives sector, working for a significant gold mining investor and operator as the corporate social responsibility manager. James then became Managing Director of Sound and Fair Tanzania, an initiative focused on the trade of FSC®️ certified hardwoods from community managed, certified forests. He has subsequently returned to combining his time between managing Sound and Fair and engaging in specialist consultancy and advisory work through Kilimanyika. 

James has a Master Degree in Community Development from Tengeru Institute of community Development, Arusha and an advanced diploma in wildlife management (from Mweka) and in tourism.