Our Team

All of our projects are designed and implemented by our Canadian and Malagasy staff members in consultation with the local communities, Madagascar National Parks, and other NGO organizations working within the national park.

  • Travis Steffens, PhD

    Founder and Executive Director

    Travis Steffens is an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph. He received a BSc in Primatology and a MA in Anthropology from the University of Calgary, and a PhD in Evolutionary Anthropology from the University of Toronto. Travis specializes in primate conservation biogeography and applied conservation leveraging a One Health approach. Travis has been involved in primate research since 2002 and has conducted many research projects on endangered primates in both Belize, Central America, and Madagascar. In 2015, Travis founded Planet Madagascar to work towards building sustainable forest communities in Madagascar. He combines his research with practical conservation measures to protect lemurs and their habitat and improve the livelihoods of people who live in connection to lemurs. Steffens also serves on the Board of Directors. 

  • Mamy Razafitsalama

    Madagascar Country Director and Operations Manager

    Mamy Razafitsalama is the recipient of the prestigious Whitley Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature, the Charles Southwick Conservation Education Commitment Award through the International Primatological Society, and the American Society of Primatologists conservation award. Mamy oversees and implements all of Planet Madagascar’s programs in Madagascar. He holds a DEA degree in Primatology from the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar, where he studied the relationship between lactating mothers and infants in Coquerel’s sifakas in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar.

    A trained conservationist, Mamy has participated in the Durrell Endangered Species Management course and courses on biodiversity conservation and monitoring through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund in collaboration with Association Vahatra, Durrell Conservation Academy in Mauritius and Mauritian Wildlife Foundation in Mauritius.

  • Jessica Voary Rajaonarison

    Financial Assistant

    Rajaonarison Jessica Voary has been a Financial Assistant at Planet Madagascar since December 2020. She holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Finance and Accounting from a private university in Antananarivo. She previously worked for an NGO focused on marine conservation in northern Madagascar.

  • Bertrand Andriatsitohaina, PhD

    Research and Conservation Coordinator

    Bertrand earned his PhD in Natural Ecosystems, specializing in Ecology, Biodiversity, and Animal Conservation, from the Doctoral School of Natural Ecosystems at the University of Mahajanga in collaboration with the Institute of Zoology at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Germany (2022). He previously served as the program manager for Planet Madagascar’s fire management initiative and now holds the position of Research and Conservation Coordinator. He also serves as a temporary professor at the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Environment at the University of Mahajanga. Bertrand has conducted lemur research in eastern and northwestern Madagascar. His mission is to protect lemurs and their habitats, educate communities about the impact of human disturbances on forests, lemurs, and people, and collaborate with local communities to develop income-generating activities that improve their quality of life.

  • Thierry Razafy

    Forest restoration Project Manager

    Thierry Razafy developed a strong interest in the environment during his childhood and became an engineer in 2007. In 2008, he began working to protect the environment, particularly by focusing on reforestation techniques—a commitment he has maintained ever since. In addition to his university studies, Thierry also followed training about Agro-ecology techniques with the GSDM "Madagascar Direct Seeding Group", especially on the technique of cultivation under plant cover and the zero-till technique to have good soil conservation and to have more yields. He currently works with Planet Madagascar, where he strives to protect the environment and restore degraded habitats.

  • Ramanoelina Vanessa, MA

    Community Development Manager

    Vanessa holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Environmental Policy, as well as a second Master’s in Finance and Accounting. With experience in health projects, Vanessa has contributed to initiatives that support community well-being. Her work bridges the fields of finance, environmental policy, and sustainable development, aiming to create a meaningful impact in local communities and conservation.

  • Ratoavinarivo Sandrine Ninà

    Administrative Assistant

    Ninà graduated from the University of Antananarivo with a master's degree in Germanic Studies and also holds a certificate in Legal Studies from Madagascar’s National Distance Learning Center. Recognizing the severity of environmental degradation, she joined the Planet Madagascar team to contribute to Malagasy biodiversity conservation efforts and has dedicated seven years of experience to supporting administrative tasks, developing expertise in executive assistance and secretarial work. She is driven by the desire to enhance her professional career and expand her skills and knowledge, viewing these as crucial challenges for the future.

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is made up of passionate scientists, wildlife experts, conservationists, and educators dedicated to achieving Planet Madagascar’s mission, strategy, and goals.

  • Director at Large

    Abby Ross is a primatologist and the Founder and Executive Director of The Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation (TDARFAC).  She earned her PhD in Evolutionary Anthropology from the University of Toronto, with research focusing on maternal care, environmental endocrinology, and the nutritional ecology of lemurs.  Abby leverages her expertise in primatology and conservation to develop innovative, community-driven solutions that address Madagascar’s most pressing environmental challenges. Her dedication to mentoring Malagasy graduate students inspired the creation of TDARFAC and has driven her advocacy for conservation action since 2010.

  • Director at Large

    Amanda Chamoun earned a BSc in Anthropology from the University of Toronto but quickly shifted gears into marketing and project management. She works at Lenovo as a Global Brand Manager and serves on the Board of Directors for Planet Madagascar. She is passionate about the conservation and believes that even the smallest changes in one's daily life can make the biggest impacts. She can be found in her garden in North Carolina year-round, taking every opportunity to remove a little more lawn and add a little more biodiversity.

  • Treasurer of the Board

    Greg Bridgett completed a Master’s degree in primatology at the University of Calgary before working as a lab manager and research technician for long-term research projects focused on primate life history. He has participated in fieldwork for a variety of research projects in the neotropics and Canada based on his background in behavioural ecology. Greg is currently employed as a Learning and Engagement Coordinator at the Toronto Zoo where he focuses on science and wildlife education. He was fortunate to travel to Madagascar in the summer of 2023 to participate in a rapid survey of endangered lemurs and experience the unique biodiversity of the country. He enjoys spending time outdoors to improve his skills as a naturalist and to foster a passion for nature in his children.

  • Director at Large

    Joe Grabowski is a science communicator and educator working to inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers. He founded the education non-profit Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants as a way to bring those on the frontlines of science, exploration, adventure, and conservation live into classrooms across North America and around the world. In 2017, he was selected as a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and shortly after became National Geographic’s first Education Fellow, founding their Explorer Classroom program. Joe's a top 50 finalist for the Global Teacher Prize and is a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Royal Geographical Society and Ocean Conservation Trust. He was recently elected to the board of the iconic Explorers Club, having been named a fellow in 2018. An avid scuba diver for the past 15 years, he's always looking for an excuse to sink beneath the waves.

  • Secretary of the Board

    Keriann McGoogan is a primatologist and author of Chasing Lemurs: My Journey Into the Heart of Madagascar. She has a PhD in Biological Anthropology from the University of Toronto. For nineteen months, she lived and worked in Madagascar, spending 12-hour days following groups of lemurs through the northwestern dry forests. Before that, McGoogan completed her master’s degree in primatology at the University of Calgary, spending six months in Belize while studying black howler monkeys. In pursuit of primates, she kayaked rivers searching for howlers, waded through seasonally flooded forests to measure trees, and contended with a disturbingly large mosquito population. McGoogan's writing has appeared in the Nashwaak Review, The Toronto Star, Outpost Magazine, Verge Magazine, and Wanderlust Magazine. In 2021, Keriann was selected as a Writers' Trust Rising Star. Today, McGoogan works as a research manager at the Ontario Veterinary College and serves on the Board of Directors for Planet Madagascar.

  • Director at Large

    Matthew Berridge is passionate about connecting people to conservation. Working as a Zoo Keeper at the Toronto Zoo since 1998, he has had the privilege to care for a variety of species.

  • Founder and Executive Director

    Travis Steffens is an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph. He received a BSc in Primatology and a MA in Anthropology from the University of Calgary, and a PhD in Evolutionary Anthropology from the University of Toronto. Travis specializes in primate conservation biogeography and applied conservation leveraging a One Health approach. Travis has been involved in primate research since 2002 and has conducted many research projects on endangered primates in both Belize, Central America, and Madagascar. In 2015, Travis founded Planet Madagascar to work towards building sustainable forest communities in Madagascar. He combines his research with practical conservation measures to protect lemurs and their habitat and improve the livelihoods of people who live in connection to lemurs. Steffens also serves on the Board of Directors. 

  • Chair of the Board

Our Implementing Partner in Madagascar is Planet Madagascar Association.