Meet The Team

Yolanda is a dive instructor turned marine social scientist who is passionate about encouraging community climate action and protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems. 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 contexts. Yolanda has been diving since the age of 13 and the only place she feels at home is beneath the waves.

Gina Zheng is a Business Development Manager at Eku Energy 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 climate just world.

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.

Tishiko King is 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 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.

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.
 

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.

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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 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, CSIRO monitoring the Southern Oceans in Antarctica, and is a research fellow at the Centre for Marine Socioecology working on the Great Southern Reef. 

Jessie Bard is a 22-year-old scuba diver with a strong passion for marine science and coral reef conservation. Jessie grew up in New York and is wrapping up her fourth and final year studying Environmental Science and English in Maine, U.S.A. This winter, Jessie dived into The Forever Reef Project up in Cairns, working with 174+ GBR hard coral species— truly life-changing! Jessie is now excited to be the resident blog writer for Divers for Climate and can't wait to amplify the voices and stories of divers in climate conversations.