Our Team

Micronesia Team

US Team

Colin Hyatt

Colin Hyatt

Impact Coordinator and US Executive Administrator

About Colin

Michael Guilbeaux

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Specialist

About Michael

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors helps set OneReef’s strategic direction, establishes long-term goals and objectives, and helps secure long-term financing for programmatic activities. The Board consists of leaders in marine conservation, private investment, and economics.

Science Advisory Board

The SAB (Science Advisory Board) provides guidance and scientific advice to support and evaluate the measurements of the organization’s advancement to its objectives and impact goals. 

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info@onereef.org

OneReef Micronesia
C/O Madelsar Ngiraingas
P.O. Box 475
Koror, Republic of Palau 96940

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Liz Parissenti is a Program Officer at Resources Legacy Fund, where she leads programs focused on improving the health of California’s watersheds, implementing California’s network of marine protected areas (MPAs), and advancing climate-ready fisheries. Prior to RLF, Liz worked as the U.S. Program Manager at OneReef Worldwide Stewardship where she facilitated expansion of OneReef’s community partnerships and monitoring efforts, and she is thrilled to continue supporting OneReef’s important work as a Board Member. Liz has also worked at the ocean-focused consulting and strategy firm Strategic Earth Consulting; completed a Sea Grant Fellowship at the California Ocean Protection Council; worked as a scientific diver and divemaster in Thailand and Cambodia; and worked on marine research projects in Baja California and Australia.

Donna’s innate respect and reverence for nature was instilled in her by her family, shaped by adventures in the Sierra Nevadas including planting hundreds of trees, summers swimming and fishing in Almaden’s creeks, and sailing on the San Francisco Bay with her grandfather. These early experiences instilled in her a profound respect for the natural world and a lasting commitment to its preservation.

Donna is a firm believer in the transformative power of community-led solutions to address local and global challenges. As a proud member of the OneReef team, she is dedicated to supporting and amplifying the voices of those on the frontlines of climate change in the Pacific.

With over 20 years of professional expertise, Donna brings a unique blend of skills to her work. She has seven years of successful nonprofit operations and development experience, including leadership roles in both international and community-based organizations. Prior to moving over to the nonprofit world, as an attorney Donna represented clients on complex international matters, equipping her with a global perspective and a results-driven approach to problem-solving.

Martin Romain is a seasoned project manager and marine scientist with over a decade of experience, particularly in the Pacific region. His work in the Marshall Islands spans multiple leadership and advisory roles, including serving as Chief Technical Advisor for the Ridge to Reef Program, where he integrated environmental, socio-economic, and cultural data into resource management plans. As Executive Director of the Marshall Islands Conservation Society, Martin led initiatives in fisheries management, climate resilience, and community empowerment. Currently, as Regional Project Manager for MiCOAST, he continues to drive sustainable coastal management under the Kiwa Initiative, promoting community-based fisheries management and ecosystem conservation.

Nygma Moses serves as the Media Specialist for OneReef’s Micronesia Team in Palau. In this role, he manages media equipment, oversees social media engagement, and documents fieldwork through photography and videography. Growing up in the 2000s with a Palauan father and a Filipino mother, Nygma experienced a blend of cultures but gravitated toward western practices and media. His educational journey—earning an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Palau Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Communication & Media from Eastern Oregon University—prompted a deeper reflection on his identity, particularly as he engaged with peers from diverse backgrounds.

Through his work with OneReef, Nygma has embraced the opportunity to explore his cultural heritage while applying his professional media expertise. Outside of work, he enjoys anime, music, video games, and basketball, highlighting his love for modern entertainment and diverse interests.

Jeff is a retired attorney with 40 years of counseling, permitting and trial court experience at the intersection between law and science.  His law practice focused on ensuring businesses and trade associations understood and successfully navigated complex environmental regulatory regimes, particularly involving endangered species, marine mammals, climate change, natural resources and Arctic issues.  Jeff is inspired by and passionately supports community-led conservation as a critically important and successful international conservation model.  He currently serves on the boards of OneReef and Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Dr. Stuart Sandin is a community ecologist who has worked broadly in the fields of wildlife study, management, and conservation across the insular tropics. Dr. Sandin is a professor of marine ecology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), UC San Diego, where he is the Oliver Chair in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation and serves as the director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation. His research laboratory at SIO conducts research to understand the interactions among marine organisms with a focus on coral reef communities. Among the flagship programs from his lab, the Scripps 100 Island Challenge provided a comprehensive view of the variability of coral reef community structure across the tropics and through time, providing a benchmark of understanding to help inform the efforts of coral reef management and conservation professionals globally.

Michael Mehta Webster is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Environmental Studies. He earned a Ph.D. in Zoology at Oregon State University, and a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin.

Webster is an expert in ecology, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and philanthropy. His research focuses on how to promote the adaptation of species and ecosystems to ongoing environmental change.  Much of his recent work has centered on reef-building corals, which are struggling to adjust to warming ocean temperatures and a host of other environmental changes. Webster is also the author of The Rescue Effect: The Key to Saving Life on Earth, which describes nature’s innate ability to persist during environmental change and the growing set of tools that people can apply to facilitate adaptation.

Prior to joining NYU, Webster led efforts to improve the management and conservation of coral reefs as the Executive Director of the Coral Reef Alliance, and of wild Pacific salmon as a Program Officer at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. He has also held positions as a Visiting Research Scientist at NYU, a Visiting Professor of Practice at Cornell University, and a Postdoctoral Researcher at Oregon State University.

Greg Asner is Director of the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, an Arizona State University research unit based in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Following service as a U.S. Navy Diver, he studied at the University of Hawaiʻi and worked at The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi. Asner received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Colorado (1997) based on his conservation research on Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi islands. In 2000, he joined the Carnegie Institution for Science, where he led the Pacific Ridge- to-Reef Program and the Carnegie Airborne Observatory in Hilo, providing ecosystem mapping and monitoring services to State and federal agencies. In 2018, he co-founded the Hawaiʻi Marine Education and Research Center, a non-profit convening center for communities and government agencies on Hawaiʻi Island. In 2019, Arizona State University hired Asner in Hawaiʻi, naming him professor and director to advance solutions-oriented research and education in coastal and marine conservation. In 2023, he founded the ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Reef Restoration Program in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources and communities on West Hawaiʻi island. Dr. Asner’s scientific efforts focus on large-scale land and reef ecosystem diagnostics, restoration, and decision-making using extensive field work, community engagement, airborne and satellite mapping, and computer modeling. He has published more than 950 scientific reports and has served numerous state, national, and international programs. Asner’s career recognition includes a NASA Career Award (2000), Presidential Career Award (2000), America Geophysical Union Fellow (2015), Ecological Society of America Fellow (2016), and Heinz Award for Environment (2017). In 2013, he was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Asner is honored to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs and is excited to support the State’s vital marine cultural, environmental, and economic sustainability efforts. 

Over the past 40 years Dr. Alan Friedlander has spent > 12,000 hours underwater—from coral reefs to the poles and to depths of thousands of meters. Alan is Senior Marine Scientist for the National Geographic Society’s Pristine Seas program, and a researcher at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawai‘i. He leads research efforts to help understand and conserve iconic, special places in the ocean and is an expert in marine ecology, fisheries, and conservation. His work on marine protected areas ranges from small locally community-managed areas to some of the largest protected areas on the planet. Over the past decade, Alan has led 40+ expeditions to some of the last wild places in the ocean, which has resulted in the creation of 27 large marine protected areas encompassing > 6.6 million square kilometers.

 Alan started his career in the early 1980s in the Kingdom of Tonga working on sustainable small-scale fisheries. Following this, he obtained an MS in Oceanography from Old Dominion University working on coastal fisheries in Puerto Rico. He then worked for the territorial fisheries agency and the National Park Service in the US Virgin Islands where he conducted research on coral reefs throughout the Caribbean. Alan received his Ph.D. from the University of Hawai‘i and was a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Fellow of the Explorers Club.

With nearly a decade in international development, Ann brings financial expertise and a strong commitment to global impact. Guided by a deep love for the ocean, she is driven to protect its ecosystems. Ann is a Certified Public Accountant and has held senior finance roles in nonprofits and corporations, gaining valuable insights in financial analytics, risk management, and strategic investments. Her ability to navigate complex financial challenges and identify growth opportunities has been instrumental in driving sustainability and impact. She is passionate about supporting island communities and fostering collaboration and innovation within the team at OneReef.

Natasha serves as the OneReef Yap Partnership Coordinator. Her passion for the environment began at an early age, when she observed both of her parents working in conservation with communities in Yap and throughout Micronesia. Her father, in particular, taught her the value of environmental stewardship and how it is inextricably linked to the culture of her people. She earned a Global Environmental Studies degree from Sophia University in Japan. She hopes to use her academic knowledge to help support community needs at home while also building her community engagement skills. After many years away from home, Natasha enjoys spending time with her family, particularly her father, conversing in the local language, working on home projects, and learning/relearning aspects about her island’s customs and culture.

Dr. Nicole Yamase is from the islands of Pohnpei and Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Although she is from the FSM, she spent parts of her childhood in the Republic of Palau and Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as well. Nicole has a B.A. in Biology and a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Chaminade University of Honolulu. She obtained her Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa focusing on the ecophysiology of native Hawaiian macroalgae. As the Director of Impact, Nicole will be working closely with all stakeholders to define, measure, and communicate impact in a meaningful way that interweaves science and traditional knowledge. 

Patty Azzarello is an executive, best-selling author, speaker and CEO/Business Advisor. She has more than 25+ years of experience working in high tech and business. She has held leadership roles in General Management, Marketing, Software Product Development and Sales. She has been successful in running and transforming large and small businesses, and has significant international management experience. Patty is a business leadership speaker who has actually been a successful business leader. Because of the extraordinary nature of her own, fast growing career as a technology business executive, Patty brings a perspective unlike other business speakers. As a result, people are drawn to her heartfelt, no-nonsense, often humorous stories about surviving and mastering the unavoidable realities of running a business.

Colin Hyatt is currently fulfilling both the Impact coordinator and Executive Administrator roles for the OneReef US office. Having graduated as a student athlete with a BS in Earth Systems, focusing on oceans and climate, from Stanford University, Colin understands the importance of protecting our marine environments. Colin has spent time performing coral research in Australia and Palau, receiving his PADI divemaster certification in Honduras and leading sea kayaking trips in New Zealand. He is excited to be a part of the OneReef team where he will be able to use his education and experiences to assist OneReef in their mission to protect coral reefs and the communities they support. Colin’s primary job duty will be to assist the US Director and OneReef’s Founder and CEO in making sure the organization runs smoothly and efficiently. Colin will assist with donor relations, compliance, scheduling, trip logistics and more. One of his favorite things is traveling to new places and experiencing new cultures. In his free time, you can find Colin enjoying the outdoors whether it be diving, snowboarding, rock climbing or his new favorite activity, surf foiling!

Dr. Bernie Tershy is the co-founder and former Executive Director of Island Conservation, a science-based NGO that has protected 242 seabird colonies and 224 insular endemics from extinction, and has created over 900,000 hectares of new marine and island protected areas in Mexico. He specializes in development of conservation NGOs, conservation biology, and island ecosystems. He is also a member of the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, and the Galapagos Island Invasive Species Technical Advisory Group.

Dr. Korneitchouk first encountered Chris LaFranchi and other members of OneReef during an expedition to Palau with marine biologists from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography which partners with OneReef on its 100 Island Challenge. Since that moment Dr. Korneitchouk became very curious in the work of OneReef and how he can learn from them, understanding that ultimately all these issues connect. He is now on the OneReef Board of Directors.

Dr. Lida Teneva is a marine conservation scientist and program leader with 15+ years of work in marine protection, climate change, local community leadership, ocean public policy, and developing philanthropic programs. She has worked on the science and effective protection of MPAs for 15 years, primarily in the Indo-Pacific region. She has held high level positions at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Conservation International (CI), California Ocean Science Trust, and the Dalio Foundation, influencing policy-makers, resource managers, and local communities on ocean conservation. She is highly regarded in academic circles and continues to publish on conservation, fisheries, and climate topics. 

As former Vice President of Oceans for WWF, she developed a new global Area-Based Conservation (MPA) program, to strategically strengthen protection in Southeast Asia, South Pacific, Latin America, and East Africa. Prior to this, she created a new Legislative Services program as Director of California Ocean Science Trust, to influence ocean public policy effectively in California. At the Dalio Foundation, she created ship-based ocean expeditions that led to strengthened MPA protection and new discoveries for sharks and deep-sea species. In prior positions with Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society, Lida worked with local, often Indigenous, communities in Hawai‘i and Fiji on empowering them with tools and data to be better stewards of their local fisheries and MPAs, finding strategic opportunities in local policy contexts. She has accumulated expedition experience in the Arctic (Greenland, Svalbard, Northwest Passage, Alaska), Antarctic, Palau, French Polynesia, Australia, Baja California Sur, Galapagos, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and more. 

Lida has helped found environmental education organizations and holds Board positions in OneReef and the Mary G. Jameson Foundation. She earned her PhD at Stanford University and Masters at Columbia University and still lives in California. Originally from Bulgaria, Dr. Lida Teneva is an avid diver, flyfisherwoman, aviator, and cook.

When John isn’t diving, he divides his time between Palo Alto and his family land in Vermont. John is a retired entrepreneur who has held to create several successful startup companies. He has spent the past 20 years serving as a board member and donor for several leading-edge nonprofits and has been a lecturer for the Rainer Arnhold Fellows Program. He currently serves on the boards of OneReef and Freshwater Life, and is on the advisory boards of Nexleaf, Island Conservation, and Sustainable Conservation. He has contributed to conservation through his engagement with organizations he recognizes as innovative and impactful.

Ngirur is responsible for financial oversight of OneReef’s Micronesia office, overseeing the preparation and planning of budgets. She maintains records and receipts for all transactions, monitors all bank deposits and payments, and assists with financial audits. Ngirur graduated from Palau Community College in 2019 with an AS degree in Environmental/Marine Science and she enjoys sharing and applying her knowledge with OneReef. Palau’s unique and beautiful island motivates Ngirur to practice sustainable living to preserve what they have now for her child and future generations. Ngirur enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially going on land and sea adventures.

Clivia is responsible for connecting with our Partner Communities in Palau, helping to coordinate and execute their activities and projects, and participating in workshops, online webinars, and training. With an educational background in Tourism and Hospitality, her non-profit work experience, including office administration and operations, began in 2015. As a young Palauan steward, Clivia shares a passion and commitment for community resilience, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation through her traditional and modern knowledge from working with different Palauan organizations and her local elders. Her core values are mainly about giving back to the community through RESPECT and HUMILITY. Clivia has a deep passion for conserving our Land, our Ocean, and our Natural Resources. She believes that the existence of her small Micronesian community will fade away if we don’t preserve and protect these things that make Palauan people who they are. Clivia comes from the smallest state in Babeldaob (Ngiwal State), where they are well known to have “big” appetites. She also has a deep love for animals, plants, and nature.

Madelsar manages and strengthens community partnerships with diverse stakeholders who similarly value the importance of coral reefs and their role for island communities. She was born and raised in the Republic of Palau and has extensive experience in community-based non-profit organizations that primarily focus on gender issues, women’s empowerment, youth development, environmental conservation, and tourism. Madelsar has two B.A. degrees in History & Women’s Studies from Washington State University, and an M.A. in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, San Diego. Professionally, she has been an educator for nearly 15 years and has served in various capacities on matters related to climate change, sustainable land management, historical/cultural preservation, tourism coordination, food security, integrated farming, and policy development.

Chris LaFranchi founded OneReef on the principle that mobilizing indigenous communities with a direct relationship with the Pacific Ocean and drawing upon their ancestral stewardship is the most equitable, cost-effective, and scalable method to adapt to climate change.

Prior to founding OneReef, Chris lived in Africa and Indonesia and performed field work in at least 12 countries, including engagements with the World Bank, NOAA, USAID and WWF. He also taught at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey.

A 2003 Mulago Rainer Arnhold Fellow, Chris was also nominated for the Pew Fellowship in Marine Science in 2015. He often presents at international conferences including the Bioneers Conference and the International Coral Reef Symposium.

Chris holds an M.S. in Natural Resource Economics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a B.S. in Biology and Technical Journalism from Oregon State University.