The Akashinga Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Sarah Bolka has been unanimously elected to serve as Board Chair, effective immediately.
Sarah is an accomplished leader within global organizations including top tier consultancies, leading energy companies, and the military. As a consultant, negotiator and operational leader, she brings her enterprise governance, financial acumen and strategic vision to drive clarity, alignment, and results. She also brings nearly 15 years of nonprofit board experience, including committee leadership.
Over the past year on Akashinga’s Board of Directors, Sarah has served as Board Treasurer, where she has played a critical role in strengthening governance, financial planning, and stewardship. She has been a thoughtful, highly-engaged member of the Board and brings sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to Akashinga’s mission.
Sarah's connection to conservation began long before she joined Akashinga's Board. As a young girl, she was captivated by the 1965 documentary Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees, an early fascination that stayed with her throughout her life. That connection deepened through her own path: as a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, Sarah served in demanding environments where women have often been underrepresented, an experience she says shapes how she sees Akashinga Rangers today.
"When I look at the women rangers who stand on the front lines of conservation every day, I see courage and discipline I deeply admire and strongly identify with," Sarah said. "Over the past year, I've witnessed the dedication of our leadership team, the professionalism of our staff, and the extraordinary commitment of our rangers and community partners firsthand. I believe deeply that Akashinga's best days lie ahead, and I'm honored to help build that future."
Sarah leads a Board that includes Neilesh Shelat, a former National Security Council official and adjunct faculty member at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service; Ashley Sogge, a U.S. Army Special Operations veteran who has led large-scale humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine, Syria, and Yemen; and Kristin Brooks Titus, who directed multi-billion-dollar U.S. government programmes in Afghanistan and, earlier in her career, worked directly in Mozambique on land rights and women's economic empowerment, experience that speaks directly to Akashinga's own work in the region.
Under Sarah's leadership, the Board partners closely with CEO Stacy Crevello and the wider leadership team to advance Akashinga's mission and support our staff and the communities we serve. As Akashinga continues to evolve, the Board is also focused on strengthening its governance further and expanding its expertise through the recruitment of additional directors.
We are pleased to have you with us for this next chapter.
