Dennis Sonwa joined CIFOR’s Central Africa Regional Office in July 2008 as a Scientist with the Environmental Services and Sustainable Use of Forests Programme. Dennis has a PhD in Agroforestry from the University of Bonn, Germany. Prior to joining CIFOR he worked as for IITA in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Efransjah joined CIFOR in September 2008 as Senior External Relations Advisor. Efransjah completed his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Ecole Superieur des Sciences et des Techniques du Bois at the Universite de Nancy I, France (1988).

Kate Langford joined CIFOR in May 2008 through AusAID’s Volunteering for International Development from Australia (VIDA) programme. She is attached to the Environmental Services and Sustainable Use of Forests Programme.

Lamine Sere joins CIFOR’s West Africa Regional Office as the IT Administrator. He is based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Elizabeth Forwand, joined in August 2008 as a research Assistant to the Director General. She has a dual Masters degree in environmental management and forestry from Duke University, USA. Upon graduating from Duke University, she worked with Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia (LEI) as a Certification Assistant until July 2008.

Louis Verchot joined CIFOR in August 2008 as a Senior Scientist with the Environmental Services and Sustainable Use of Forests Programme. He will work on CIFOR’s Climate Change and Forests Initiative. Louis has a PhD in Forestry from the North Carolina State University, USA.

Monica Fisher joined CIFOR in October 2008 as a Scientist with the Forests and Livelihoods Programme. Monica obtained her PhD in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, Indiana, USA.

Ratih Septivita (Vita) joined CIFOR in June 2008 as a Programme Support Officer with the Forests and Livelihoods Programme. Vita has a Bachelor Degree in Communications Studies from the University of Indonesia. Prior to joining CIFOR she worked for IBM Indonesia.

Rika Harini Irawati joined CIFOR in September 2008 as a Project Officer with the Furniture Value Chain (FVC) Project in the Forests and Livelihoods Programme. Rini has a Bachelor degree in Forest Management from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia.

Ronnie Babigumira joined CIFOR in May 2008 as a Research Fellow with the Forests and Livelihoods Programme. Ronnie has a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics from Makerere University, Kampala, and is currently finishing his PhD thesis at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Sandra McGuire joined CIFOR in September 2008 as Director of Information Services.

Satria Oktarita was appointed in October 2008 as a Communications Assistant with the Information Services Group. Rita has a Bachelor Degree in Forest Management from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia.

Sofi Mardiah was appointed in April 2008 as a Research Assistant with the Forests and Governance Programme. Sofi has a Masters Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia.

Sofyan Kurnianto was appointed in April 2008 as a Research Assistant with the Environmental Services and Sustainable Use of Forests Programme. Sofyan has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia.

Stibniati Atmadja (Nia) joined CIFOR in September 2008 as a PostDoc /Research Fellow with the Forests and Livelihoods Programme. Nia obtained her PhD in Natural Resource Economics from the North Carolina State University, USA.

Sufiet Erlita joined CIFOR in July 2008 as an Information Officer with Information Services Group (ISG). Sufiet has a Masters Degree in Management from Trisakti University, Jakarta and a Bachelor Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Indonesia.

Wim Ikbal Nursal was appointed in April 2008 as a Research Assistant with the Environmental Services and Sustainable Use of Forests Programme. Wim has a Masters Degree in Information Technology for Natural Resources Management from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia.

Verina Ingram joined CIFOR’s Central Africa Regional Office in August 2008 as a Scientist with the Forests and Livelihoods Programme. She has a MSc Degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College, UK. Prior to joining CIFOR, Verina worked for the Forest Governance Facility (FGF) in Yaoundé.

Youssoufa Mekou Bele joins CIFOR’s Central Africa Regional Office as a Research Assistant with the Environmental Services and Sustainable Use of Forests Programme. Youssoufa has a MSc. Degree in Botany from the University of Buea, Cameroon.