Meet our Team

Shelly Bengiat was Born in Colombia, grow up in Israeland lives in Australia for 25 years. Happily married and mother for teenagers, two girls and a boy.  Shelly is the founder and CEO of the Envirotech International Group. Envirotech Education is a Registered Training Organisations (RTO) training under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Innovator and creator of the Australians environmental accredited MARINE Training package (MHCR) in Vocational Education and Training (VET) framework. 

Maya Shalem was born and raised in Kibbutz Habinim. With over 13 years of experience in communication skills, psychotherapy, mindfulness, and holistic well-being, she has worked with diverse populations, including children, adolescents, parents, educational staff, and support groups. Maya is involved in teaching, therapy, and counselling, specializing in educational development, organizational consultancy, and personal and group therapy, with a strong emphasis on community support.

Noam was co-founder & CEO in 5 start-ups, of which 1 IPO’d, 1 merged and 2 were acquired. His companies raised tens of millions of dollars, sold hundreds of millions and generated billions to their clients. Published 5 patents in the fileds of e-commerce, machine learning and digital marketing. Holds a B.A in Psychology, M.A in Marine Resources Management, M.Sc. in communications, and studied towards PhD in clinical psychology.

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Amos Gazit met the sea over 35 years ago, during his life& journey for physical and mental rehabilitation following his third and last injury in theYom Kippur War - a meeting that led to a personal journey of observing, studying, and acting in restoration, conservation, and development of the tropical marine environment and those living in it, from it and alongside it. While spending countless hours diving among coral reefs, walking along the shore, and meeting people whose lives and livelihoods depend on the sea and its environment – Amos was studying and documenting the marine environment and planning and implementing programs to rehabilitate it from the ravages of civilization and climate changes.

Adi Krief, an accomplished architect and passionate marine restoration project manager. Adi holds a degree from Tel Aviv University and is recognized as an independent architect and researcher at the Technion. Their research focuses on exploring the synergy between nature and architecture, seeking to create sustainable and harmonious spaces. With a profound understanding of cross-functional collaboration, market research, and consumer insights, Adi has successfully led start-ups and managed product development with a data-driven approach.

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Growing up in Israel, Lee spent most of her childhood on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, dreaming of exploring the ‘big blue’ when she’ll grow up. Later in life, her deep love for the ocean brought her to travel around the world, exploring the dynamic of humans and nature. These journeys have made her realize how profoundly disconnected we are from the environment and led her to embark on a journey to explore the human impact on the oceans through marine biology studies. In her research, she focused on the destructive effects of climate change on the reproductive phenology of stony corals. 

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Nadav Shesher is a distinguished marine scientist renowned for his sensory ecology and conservation expertise. With a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland (1997), his pioneering work unravels marine animals' sensory perceptions and their significance in the underwater realm. Through diverse projects, including exploring polarized light distribution, understanding color adaptation in coral reef fish, designing artificial reefs, and deciphering dolphin communication, Shesher's research advances our comprehension of marine ecosystems and underscores the importance of their preservation.

Maya Jacobs is a seasoned environmental activist and entrepreneur, led the Zalul Environmental Association for a decade, transforming it into a prominent force for safeguarding Israel's aquatic ecosystems. Now the CEO of Climate Net, she co-founded this NGO to drive carbon dioxide removal through awareness campaigns, policy advocacy, resource mobilization, and partnerships, fostering global climate solutions. Climate Net strives to build a foundation for change, expediting existing initiatives, sparking innovative solutions, aligning diverse sectors, and catalyzing significant advancements in climate action. 

Yankaleh Peretz joined Israel's aquaculture sector before his military service. Starting in 1983, he worked with fish farmers at the Fisheries Research Station of the Ministry of Agriculture. Following his studies, he became a consultant for the Ministry's Training and Professional Services Division, actively promoting water agriculture development in desert regions like the Arava and Negev Highlands. Yankaleh founded an edible fish cultivation course at Michmoret Marine College, managed fish farming rehabilitation in Serbia for three years, and specializes in both freshwater and marine fish farming. He runs his own laboratory, focusing on edible seaweed, ecological fish farming, and circular economy initiatives.

Melinda de Luna is a graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a career spanning 25 years, Melinda has amassed a wealth of hands-on experience in the realm of marine and aquaculture management, holding pivotal roles as Vice-President for Farm Management and Senior Biologist. Her tenure in a private company situated in Palawan, a bastion of Sustainable Development practices for over 25 years, has afforded her invaluable insights into diverse sustainable methodologies, challenges, and their effective implementation. Melinda has assumed the role of a mentor, imparting her wealth of knowledge to numerous groups of technical experts and administrative personnel.

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Philippines. A graduate of BS Forestry from the premier University of the Philippines in Laguna, where her interest in mangrove forest started. Her career is mostly focused on coastal resource assessment, management and enhancement focusing on mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses. She is a pioneer member of the marine mammal rescue society in Palawan and a marine wildlife Red List Assessor. Glenda completed her Master of Science in Environmental Management in 2012 and is currently completing her Ph.D. in Fisheries Management. 

Cherry Lyn Jalover-Par is a licensed Environmental Planner and diver, from the province of Palawan. She is a graduate of BS Environmental Science from Palawan State University. Being in the conservation and sustainable development work for more than 10 years, led ger to get involved with various conservation initiatives both on presentation of environmental management concepts, facilitation of conservation management planning and its field applications, as well as doing information and education campaigns. 

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Hailing from Cebu in the Philippines, Lyle John Cortes embarked on his academic journey at the prestigious Silliman University in Dumaguete City. His professional voyage has been marked by a diverse range of experiences that underscore his commitment to the fields of marine biology and aquaculture. Having worked as a Biologist and monitoring officer, Lyle’s proficiency was evident as he actively contributed his expertise to the tasks including management functions to observation and leveraging his extensive knowledge in reproductive biology.

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Roberto is an experienced and dedicated Marine Biologist with a strong background in hatchery operations, aquaculture and project leadership for over 12 years. He has a vast expertise and hands-on experience in marine species hatchery, management, aquaculture production, microbiology and histological work. His professional career ranges from working as Monitoring Officer, Hatchery Technician and Aquaculture Farm Manager. 

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Fritzie, possesses a strong academic foundation with an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Her unwavering passion for environmental stewardship compelled her to pursue a master's degree in environmental science, reflecting her dedication to sustainability and responsible environmental management. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Fritzie has become a seasoned professional in environmental impact assessment, environmental management and monitoring and Sustainability. Her expertise spans both the public and private sectors.

Steven Andrews, Ph.D. is passionate about teaching and delivering impactful environmental education experiences. He has a background in marine ecology, environmental education and ecopsychology. He completed his PhD in Environmental Education & Ecopsychology from Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, and his BS in Marine Conservation and Resource Studies (Marine Biology and Environmental Policy) from the University of California, Berkeley. Through direct experience, combined with technology for digital storytelling and artistic expression,.

Iain Watt boasts an impressive 40-year career as a Marine Environmental Management Consultant and Trainer. His vast experience spans international collaborations, cementing his reputation as a global leader in marine conservation.
Iain's extensive skill set encompasses diverse areas such as project planning and management, community capacity building, biophysical survey development, coastal zone management, and climate change adaptation. He specialises in designing artificial reefs for erosion control, wetlands and mangrove regeneration, and biodiversity conservation through sustainable marine eco-tourism.

Wendy Allard's profound affinity for water extends beyond the realms of aquatics; it's a lifelong passion. With a career spanning over two decades, Wendy has not only been a dedicated swim instructor since 1996 but has also made significant contributions to aquatic education across various institutions. Committed to the pursuit of excellence, Wendy has also obtained a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from Inspire Education, underlining her dedication to passing on her wealth of knowledge. Additionally, she holds a CPR and First Aid license, ensuring her preparedness to handle any situation, be it in the water or on land.

Daria, a native of Poland, has cultivated her lifelong passion for environmental sustainability, drawing inspiration from her father, an environmental engineer specialising in the public sector's water department in Poland. In pursuit of her environmental aspirations, Daria obtained a degree in Environmental Engineering from Warsaw, Poland, and further expanded her expertise in Australia where she studied Diploma in Sustainable Operations and a Diploma in Project Management, reinforcing her commitment to sustainable practices in both daily life and business operations.

Rhiannon is a graduate of Griffith University, holding a bachelor's degree in public health. Her dedication to healthcare administration was exemplified during her tenure as the Administration Officer at QLD Health - Princess Alexandra Hospital and GCUH Hospital. In this pivotal role, Rhiannon was entrusted with the critical responsibility of delivering patient-centered care while providing swift and efficient administrative support to a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Rhiannon's quest for knowledge and her unwavering passion for the environment led her to pursue a Certificate III in Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration. 

Richard Skinner is a seasoned environmental professional with over two decades of dedicated service in the sector. As a qualified lecturer, he has made substantial contributions to curriculum development and course convenorship, fostering the growth of future environmental scientists. His expertise extends to climate adaptation strategies, environmental assessments, and contamination site investigations, reflecting his commitment to addressing complex challenges such as climate change.

Khory Hancock, an environmental and sustainability expert with over 11 years of industry experience, possesses a profound understanding of safety, quality, and environmental management systems. His diverse expertise spans sectors such as mining, infrastructure, construction, carbon farming, and climate change strategies. Khory's tenure as an Environmental Superintendent and Team Leader at Rio Tinto saw him oversee environmental compliance in Weipa mine operations, ensuring ongoing adherence to regulations and safety protocols. He successfully implemented erosion and sediment control planning and managed Weipa's inaugural fishway monitoring project.

​Nicki Kons is an experienced Chief Risk Officer and Program Manager for global companies. She is an Industrial engineer and has an MBA in finance. Nicki is GARP-Energy Risk Professional certified as well as PMI-PMP and RMP certified. She is a researcher and author as well as a country risk analyst. Nicki supports the integration of sustainability into everyday practices for global companies. She works with ground braking data analytics startups that hope to help navigating the way through AI and analytics.