Beatrice Khayota is a Principal Research Scientist at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). She holds a PhD. and MSc. in Botany and a MSc. in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). She has held senior administrative positions within the institution, including, Head of the East African Herbarium and Head of Centre for Biodiversity. Her interests are in Botany, taxonomy (Orchidaceae), biodiversity conservation and management, and Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs) of species threatened by international trade. She initiates and coordinates multidisciplinary biodiversity research projects and programmes. She is a member of several National and Regional Technical Committees and serves as the institutional Focal Person for various Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) that Kenya is a signatory to