Our Team

Staff

US Team

Eva Villanueva

Eva Villanueva

US Administrative Coordinator

About Eva

Micronesia Team

Charley Patris

Charley Patris

Regional Conservation Enforcement Mentor, Micronesia

About Charley
Clivia Masami

Clivia Masami

Community Partnership and Projects Coordinator, Micronesia

About Clivia
Angel Jonathan

Angel Jonathan

Community Partnerships Coordinator, Micronesia

About Angel
Felisa K. Andrew

Felisa K. Andrew

Education, and Outreach Coordinator, Helen Reef Keystone Project

About Felisa

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.

John Dawson

Chair

Mr. Dawson is a retired entrepreneur who has helped to create several successful startup companies. He has spent the past 20 years serving as a board member and donor for various leading-edge nonprofits.
More About John Dawson
Lida Teneva

Dr. Lida Teneva

Treasurer

Dr. Lida Teneva is a marine conservationist and ecologist who has investigated climate change impacts on key ocean ecosystems, worked with indigenous communities on sustainable fisheries, and built ocean exploration programs.
More About Dr. Lida Teneva

Mary G. Jameson

Board Member

Mary G. Jameson grew up in La Jolla, California. Daughter of aerospace executive Frank G. Jameson, Mary graduated from USC with an emphasis in Finance and Marketing.
More About Mary Jameson
Igor Korneitchouk

Dr. Igor Korneitchouk

Board Member

As a philanthropist, Dr. Igor Korneitchouk, a retired music professor, has been involved in efforts to rid the oceans of plastic refuse, spearheading and helping to sponsor the Plastics Awareness Global Initiative, a symposium of scientists gathered from around the world to address this problem.
More About Dr. Igor Korneitchouk

Dr. Bernie Tershy

Board Member

Dr. Tershy is an Adjunct Professor and a Research Biologist in the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC). He also directs the Coastal Conservation Action Lab at UCSC.
More About Dr. Bernie Tershy

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© 2023 OneReef

Briana is responsible for creating digital content to highlight, recap, and promote OneReef’s community events, training, workshops, and other projects, helping to spread awareness about our mission. She provides technical support by handling the pre-production, production, and post-production for every photo/video project. Briana graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Multimedia Cinematic Production before returning home to Palau to pursue her career. She is passionate about her job and helping her community protect their Pacific Island way of life. She enjoys spending time with her family and going to the Rock Islands on weekends, and singing, drawing, and editing photos/videos during her free time.
Obechou provides administrative support to all the OneReef staff in Micronesia and serves as a liaison between Micronesia and the US office. She helps OneReef plan and execute tasks for a partnered community's project and other day-to-day functions. Obechou graduated from Palau Community College with an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration and continued her studies at Grand Valley State University in Public and Nonprofit Administration. Born in the state of Melekeok, she cares about protecting the resources the way Palauans have always done. She also believes that the environment should be respected and not exploited for anyone's gain. She loves to paddle on outrigger canoes, live an active lifestyle, and spend time with family and friends.
Felisa graduated from Palau Community College with a degree in tourism and hospitality. She has worked with the Palau International Coral Reef Research Center (PICRC) and the Palau Conservation Society (PCS), leading a rodent eradication project on Sonsorol Island. Felisa’s passion is in helping communities deter threats to their livelihoods. She joined the Helen Reef program as an education and awareness officer. Recently she was appointed to lead the OneReef Keystone Project for Helen Reef. Felisa is very active in community activities including her women's group from Sonsorol and Hatohobei.
Charley is a retired officer of the Saipan Police Force and a retired coordinator for the Alliance of Palau Conservation Officers (APCO). He now helps communities across Palau by instructing conservation officers in law enforcement and coordinating training for U.S. and Guam instructors who also teach Palau conservation officers. Charley designs and implements successful surveillance and enforcement programs to detect and deter illegal activities at the community level. With his expertise and passion, Charley is helping OneReef assist communities throughout Micronesia in improving their capacity to protect locally managed marine areas.
Akilino is a traditional elder who left formal schooling in third grade after growing interested in canoe carving and seafaring. At a very young age, he learned the skills of traditional canoe building, seafaring, and then navigation from his father Albis. From his mother, he learned about native medicine that helped save the lives of his crew and many people on remote islands who look to him for healing when sick or injured. Akilino is a Knowledge Holder who taught at the OneReef Traditional Skills Summer Camp on Sonsorol Island in June 2020 and at more youth education programs since then. Akilino believes that the knowledge he possesses is precious for the younger generation for survival, identity, and increased resilience to the challenges of living on their small islands in a rapidly changing world.
Sharon is a global community builder with over 15 years of experience strengthening local leaders around the world to protect our natural water resources. Her talents as a cross-cultural communicator, creative strategist, and fundraiser have helped grow global and local environmental NGOs in budget and impact. As a published environmental economist, including with the United Nations Environment Program, she has helped improve policies for environmental protection. Sharon is a leader and mentor skilled in developing systems and processes for efficient teamwork and measurable outcomes. She has lived in five countries and has traveled for work and pleasure in countless others around the world. Since childhood, Sharon has had a passion for coral reefs, marine life, and island communities and now strives to spend as much of her free time as possible among these elements. She is a PADI certified diver and proud mother of two young men pursuing their education and career goals in energy and environmental sciences.

Mary G. Jameson grew up in La Jolla, California. Daughter of aerospace executive Frank G. Jameson, Mary graduated from USC with an emphasis in Finance and Marketing and enjoyed a career in Executive Search with Staley and Associates and Commercial Real Estate with Alexander Haagen Development. For the last twelve years, Mary has served on the Board of Glenair Inc. which is a prime subcontractor in the Interconnect Industry for both military and commercial aerospace.

In 2013, Mary joined the Education Endowment Committee for the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This has led her to a greater focus on global awareness and, specifically, the protection and conservation of the marine environment. Mary established the Mary G. Jameson Charitable Trust Foundation to help support organizations and groups dedicated to saving our oceans. Mary is a Board Trustee of The Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans which was established to continue Dr. Munk’s legacy through scientific research, education, exploration and ocean conservation. She has been a member of Explorers Club, San Diego Chapter since 2016. Mary and her husband Larry W. Wangberg currently reside in La Jolla, CA and Sun Valley, ID.

Eva brings to OneReef strong organization and administrative skills. She worked as a care manager and care coordinator for ten years in France until she moved with her family to Silicon Valley in 2014. Since 2018, she has worked as Secretary and now Vice-President for San Francisco Bay Accueil, a nonprofit organization that welcomes and organizes events for French people in the Bay Area. In 2019, she obtained funding from the French Government for a project named Back to Business, which assists in boosting the professional growth of French expatriates. Since then, she manages and coordinates monthly events around the hiring process, networking, and cultural differences between France and the USA. Earlier this year, she joined as an investor/ambassador at "Business O Feminin," a Women's entrepreneurship platform. Eva is also an investor in Time for the Planet organization that develops and finances companies fighting globally against climate change. Working with OneReef will allow her to continue supporting this cause and make a positive impact in helping OneReef advance its mission.
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 conservationist and ecologist who has investigated climate change impacts on key ocean ecosystems, worked with indigenous communities on sustainable fisheries, and built ocean exploration programs. Prior to joining the California Ocean Science Trust, she served as Science Officer for Dalio Philanthropies’ OceanX initiative. Prior to OceanX, she worked in Hawai‘i as Science Advisor for Conservation International and worked on marine protected areas in Fiji with the Wildlife Conservation Society. She has also been an expedition guide for National Geographic Expeditions around the world. Lida assists sustainable ocean solution start-ups through the European accelerator, Katapult Ocean. She is an Advisory Council member with the Inian Islands Institute, an education and research station in Southeast Alaska, and a Board member of OneReef, a coral reef conservation organization focused on the Western Pacific. Lida received her Bachelors of Science degree in geology from Franklin and Marshall College, her Masters in climate science from Columbia University and her PhD in marine ecology from Stanford University. Lida is originally from Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an avid diver, fly fisherwoman, aviator, and hiker, and loves the California coast.
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 helped 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 on going 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.
Angel Jonathan is a young emerging conservation leader from Kitti in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Mr. Jonathan has helped communities in Pohnpei and Micronesia in conservation planning and he led a very successful Rare Pride Campaign in Pohnpei that led to an increase in fish population at the Nanwap Marine Protected Area. Mr. Jonathan supports the implementation of Onereef Community Partnership agreements in Pohnpei FSM.
Madelsar is currently OneReef’s Managing Director, Micronesia. She helps to manage and strengthen 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.
Wayne is the former Hatohobei State Delegate from Palau’s National Congress, the 8th Olbiil Era Kelulau (8th OEK), and is currently the Chairman of the Helen Reef Board. He is an expert in resource management planning and has worked throughout Micronesia assisting partners and communities with management plans. Wayne serves as a Regional Mentor for Pacific Islands Managed and Protected Areas Community and is a Board Member of numerous organizations including the Hatohobei Organization for People and Environment (HOPE) and Palau International Coral Reef Center in Palau (PICRC). He serves as One Reef’s Senior Advisor and helps bridge the organization with leaders and key partners in Micronesia, as well as inspires and organizes communities to take action in protecting their coral reef resources.
Kiran Jadhwani is the Operations Manager for OneReef US office. She is an experienced program and operations manager with an MBA degree from George Mason University. At OneReef she is responsible for managing overall operations and for the effective and successful management of systems and processes. She collaborates with the US Team Director and Micronesia team to launch operational efficiency initiatives and to train new and existing employees. Kiran has over 6 years of experience in the corporate sustainability field and has collaborated with NASA Ames Research Center to showcase industry-leading sustainable solutions in San Francisco Bay Area. After becoming a mother, she started her entrepreneurial venture to provide pregnant and young mothers with better nutrition options, based on her personal experience. She is passionate about contributing to make a change and to live in harmony with oneself and with nature. Outside of work, she is pursuing her passion as a Pilates instructor.
Chris founded OneReef in 2012 to create a direct impact through locally controlled coral reef conservation. As CEO, he has been principally responsible for fundraising, organizational vision and design, and negotiating agreements with Micronesian communities who own coral reefs and are committed to conservation goals and adaptive management strategies. He has lived in Africa and Indonesia, and performed field work in at least 12 countries, building extensive experience in community engagement, environmental policy, and diplomatic work. His former work with the World Bank, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the marine science community provides a wealth of knowledge in global conservation. Chris has 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. In 2015, he was nominated for the Pew Fellowship in Marine Science. In 2016, he was invited to speak alongside other thought leaders at the Bioneers Conference. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences, including the 2016 International Coral Reef Symposium and others.