Namers for the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony
Alastair Fothergill
Award-winning British filmmaker and producer renowned for nature documentaries including Planet Earth, Blue Planet and A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough.
Dominic Barton
Chairman of Rio Tinto and LeapFrog Investments, and former Global Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company and Canadian Ambassador to China.
Paul Danforth
President of CAA Sports and a global sports executive who previously served as Senior Vice President of Sales for the New York Mets.
Miguel Ángel Gil Marín
CEO and majority shareholder of Atlético de Madrid and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee.
Shaikha Al Nuwais
Incoming Secretary-General of UN Tourism and the first woman to lead the organisation in its 50-year history.
Eng. Ahmed Sadek Elsewedy
Chairman of Elsewedy Electric, who leads a global energy and infrastructure company and is a partner in Rwanda’s electrification efforts. He will name alongside Anita Dravec.
Olivier Granet
Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Kasada Capital Management, one of Africa’s leading hospitality investment platforms and an investor in Mövenpick Hotel Kigali. He will name alongside Quitterie Granet.
Garreth Wood
Global philanthropists and Co-Founders of Kids Operating Room (KidsOR), a global health charity dedicated to expanding access to safe paediatric surgery in low-resource settings. Garreth Wood MBE is also Chairman of The Wood Foundation.
James Chester
Aston Villa legend and former Wales international. The former Villa captain helped the club return to the Premier League and represented Wales at UEFA Euro 2016.
Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo
Acclaimed Rwandan filmmaker whose film Ben’Imana was selected for the prestigious Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
Francesco Calvo
President of Business Operations at Aston Villa, with senior leadership experience at Juventus, FC Barcelona and AS Roma.
David Lappartient
President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and an International Olympic Committee member, who played a key role in bringing the historic 2025 UCI Road World Championships to Rwanda, the first held in Africa.
Dominique Plewes
CEO and philanthropy leader and Founder of SOF Support Foundation, supporting research and humanitarian initiatives in conflict-affected communities.
Susan Hollern
Founder and President of Hope Haven Rwanda, who has championed education and family transformation in Rwanda through Hope Haven since 2011.
Mutaz Essa Barshim
Qatari Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion, and one of the most accomplished high jumpers of his generation.
Israel Mbonyi
Rwandan gospel singer and songwriter whose music has built a major following in Rwanda and across Africa.
Kelly O’Meara
Executive Director of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), advancing the protection and welfare of primates through Africa’s largest network of primate sanctuaries.
Neil McDougall
Founder and Chairman of DelAgua, who leads the organisation’s work to expand access to clean cooking and improve livelihoods across Africa.
Jeanette Uwimbabazi
Nyungwe National Park Ranger recognised for her courage in combating wildlife crime and her commitment to protecting Rwanda’s biodiversity.
Mamadou Sakho
Former French international footballer and former Paris Saint-Germain captain who also represented Liverpool and Crystal Palace and earned 29 caps for France.
Patrice Evra
Former France and Manchester United captain, five-time Premier League champion and UEFA Champions League winner who earned 81 caps for France.
Kenza Ameloot
Miss Belgium 2024 of Rwandan heritage, who uses her platform to advocate for children affected by cataracts while championing her Rwandan heritage.
