our people
team
founder & ceo - yolanda waters (she, her)
Yolanda is an environmental social scientist and dive instructor who is passionate about encouraging community climate action and protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems. With individuals and communities playing a critical role in protecting our ocean, Yolanda believes that the most powerful way she can make a difference is by using her research and communication skills to inform evidence-based campaign strategies and contribute to building strong community engagement across a range of cultural contexts.
HEAD OF OPERATIONS - LISA STUETZER (she, her)
Lisa Stuetzer has 13 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, with a strong focus on operations. Having lived and worked in parts of the world with some of the most unique and most vulnerable marine ecosystems, she is passionate about bringing people together to conserve and protect our oceans. Lisa’s international experience has helped her develop a deeper understanding of different cultural and political views toward climate change. She believes in the power of collective action and connecting people in their shared love for the ocean. Lisa is also a passionate freediver and breathwork coach.
HEAD OF COMMUNITY - TANYA MURPHY (she, her)
Tanya Murphy has 12 years experience in Cairns as a PADI Open Water Scuba instructor and has worked as the GBR Campaign Coordinator for the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), Australia’s leading ocean charity. Tanya’s dive industry and marine conservation experience make her a passionate advocate for divers as agents of change. Additionally, her extensive experience working as a journalist for ABC Radio and print publications, makes her a valuable advisor on communications strategies for increased environmental awareness and engagement.
board of directors
CHAIRPERSON & NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR -
GINA ZHENG (she, her)
Gina Zheng is a Commercial Manager at AEMO Services, and a Board Director of SolarShare, Australia’s largest community-owned Solar Farm. Gina also has a Masters of Law and has taken AICD courses in NFP board governance. Gina was formerly the Company Secretary for Mental Illness Education ACT, and has sat on the Board for YWCA Canberra, Plan International Australia and the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Australia. A diver and nature lover, Gina is dedicated to contributing to a sustainable and climate just world.
TREASURER & NON-EXEC DIRECTOR -
CHARUKA Abhayawickrama (HE, HIM)
Charuka Abhayawickrama boasts over 25 years of experience in the corporate sector, with a notable emphasis on finance. For two decades, Charuka successfully managed an IT company before deciding to embark on new adventures outside the corporate world. Charuka holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, and a Master’s in IT. Charuka is a dedicated PADI Master Scuba Diver, demonstrating a deep commitment to exploring the underwater world. Beyond personal interests, Charuka channels this passion into meaningful conservation projects focused on protecting near-extinct wildlife species.
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - TISHIKO KING (she, her)
Tishiko King, a proud Kulkalaig woman from the Island of Masig and Badugal of Themu Clan in the Torres Straits, serves as the First Nations Program Manager at the Australian Communities Foundation. Tish also helped to launch the Our Islands Our Home campaign, where she brought a human rights complaint to the UN on climate inaction. Previously working at Groundswell Giving, Tish facilitated the Caring for Country Grant Round, prioritizing First Nations and Pacific diaspora leadership. Based in Naarm/Melbourne, she shares her culture and contributes a diverse perspective to climate justice discussions
engagement steering committee
harriet spark (she, her)
Harriet Spark is an Australian filmmaker and photographer committed to authentic storytelling. Harriet produces compelling short films for science and advocacy organisations and has worked with WWF, Greenpeace, The Nature Conservancy and The Australian Conservation Foundation. Harriet now predominately works on natural history broadcast programmes and has most recently worked as an Associate Producer on a National Geographic series called ‘Secrets of the Octopus’, due for release in 2024. Harriet hopes to share the beauty of the incredible life that can be found above and below the ocean’s surface.
tarquin singleton (he, him)
Tarquin Singleton is a saltwater bama (person) from Cairns to Port Douglas. He is Yirrganydji and grew up on Gunggandji Country, Yarrabah. Tarquin has been a Land and Sea Ranger for the last 7 years and has worked on the Great Barrier Reef since 2015. During this time he has had many enjoyable experiences while developing the right skills to look after Sea Country. This includes Scuba Diving, Vessel Driving, Compliance, Reef Health Monitoring, Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Community Engagement and Education and Promoting the Values of the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef. Tarquin is also an Aboriginal creative with IndigeDesignLabs.
EMMA CHURCH (SHE, HER)
Emma Church is an environmental social scientist who’s research explores how to engage and enable people to act for nature. She enjoys working collaboratively with industry, government and communities using applied research to tackle sustainability and conservation challenges. Emma also has a breadth of experience working across renewable energy, integrated water management and biodiversity conservation. She has worked with Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist reporting on the State of Science in Queensland, with CSIRO monitoring the Southern Oceans in Antarctica. Emma is an active participant in the Homeward Bound Women’s Global Leadership Initiative. Emma has also been involved in several science communication and education programs; she has taught people about their brains at music festivals, marine science while sailing and supports ocean adventures for kids of all ages.
volunteers past & present
sadiyah rawat
(she, her)
Sadiyah is an oceanographer, divemaster and freediver originally from Mauritius. Her research interests are the effects of climate change on the Antarctic Large Marine Ecosystem. She is a passionate ocean advocate, an avid hiker and loves beach walks. She believes climate action is crucial in restoring the health of our oceans and wants to engage more people in climate conversations through her work with Divers for Climate.
jess murfree
(she, her)
Jess, Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Sport Management at Texas A&M University where she researches the intersection of sport and climate change. She has been diving since 2010, and is an alumni of the Marine Science and Nautical Training Academy. Jess enjoys hiking, exploring new places with her dog (Clyde), and arts and crafts! She looks forward to generating thoughtful dialogue through research and conversations in the Divers for Climate space!
wesley charles chew
(he, him)
Wesley Charles Chew is a Southern California based diver. He is passionate about how climate change affects our oceans as well as coral and shark conservation. He is a professional entertainment lighting and multimedia (video) designer who, aside from diving, enjoys hiking, travel and being on the water in general.
james soos
(he, him)
James (or Jimmy) is a British Sub Aqua Club Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor, Technical Diver and underwater photographer. He has been diving since 2015, mainly out in Cyprus, where he created and led ghost net removal projects and dive site clean ups on local reefs and wrecks with the help of his club and local dive centres.
Emily Dixon
(she, her)
Emily is a rescue diver and aspiring marine biologist who is currently based in Devon, UK for her gap year. She is going to study biology at the University of York in September 2021 and in the meantime hopes to fit in lots of ocean-based adventures, as well as trying to inspire more climate action within the dive community through Divers For Climate.
Heather Williams
(she, her)
Heather is a marketing specialist and scuba diver currently based in the UK. She dives as much as she can (while not being a fan of the colder waters) and looks to use her marketing skills to help advocate for the ocean and its inhabitants. Heather believes that as divers we have the privilege to experience life underwater and it’s important to share that with others to help protect the oceans against the climate crisis and the other challenges it’s facing.
jessie mount
(she, her)
Jessie is a Divemaster and outdoor adventurer currently based in the Mackerel Islands, Western Australia. She loves sharing her love for nature and hopes to inspire and educate others about our impacts on the environment. She’s very proud to be part of our community and is hopeful that change is on the horizon.
jessica myers
(She, her)
Jess is an Environmental Sciences student from Kent, England! She has a passion for learning more about the natural world and how to protect it. She hopes to learn to dive in the future and explore the beautiful waters of the world
camille roques
she/her
Camille is a diver and a corporate travel designer, originally from Paris but currently living in Cape Town in South Africa. She loves diving and creating immersive experiences for hertravel agency , THE MADLAB. Camille just completed her rescue diving course and is now tackling a marine biology field course in the Cape Peninsula to grow her skills in dive surveys and sampling methods.
the community
Of course Divers for Climate would be nothing without its amazing network of passionate divers and ocean lovers! You can check out our wonderful community on Instagram.
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” We live because of the ocean. If we don’t strive for change now and let carbon emissions heat our planet, take our air and kill our marine life that means most to us, how can we live with that?”
– Community member, Ava Shearer