Paula Kahumbu named among 33 global visionaries by National Geographic

Kenyan conservationist Paula Kahumbu has been named among the prestigious National Geographic 33, a global list celebrating visionary changemakers tackling the world’s most urgent challenges.

She is the only Kenyan featured in the 2026 cohort, a recognition that places her work in wildlife conservation and environmental storytelling firmly on the global stage.

Kahumbu’s inclusion is rooted in a career that has blended science, activism, and storytelling. She rose to national prominence for pushing Kenya’s justice system to aggressively prosecute ivory poachers, helping shift the conversation from sympathy to enforcement.

“The experience inspired the National Geographic Explorer to produce documentaries that foreground African- led conservation efforts,” journalist James Ross Gardner wrote about Kahumbu in the National Geographic feature.

“Last summer, the organization she leads, WildlifeDirect, premiered a suite of short films to promote a new platform for reporting environmental crimes. Film fest accolades followed, but the real award? Kahumbu says the campaign has already led to valuable tips and even arrests.”

“The big thing I’m trying to do in Africa is to persuade the broadcast industry, the film industry, the storytelling industry that our nature stories are this fantastic, valuable asset,” Kahumbu said, underscoring her mission to reposition African storytelling as both cultural capital and conservation tool.

The National Geographic 33 honours individuals from across the world who are driving meaningful progress in science, conservation, storytelling and innovation.

Among those featured alongside Kahumbu include Hollywood stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Idris Elba, Shailene Woodley and Harrison Ford, as well as American basketball player Russel Westbrook.

Also included in the list if Italian conservationist Paolo Fanciulli, known for his grassroots efforts to protect marine ecosystems, as well as a diverse mix of scientists, explorers and environmental defenders working on climate resilience and biodiversity protection.

The cohort reflects a growing shift toward locally led solutions and voices that have historically been underrepresented in global conversations.