Our People
Get to know our people
At our marine conservation project, we take immense pride in the diversity of our team, which brings together individuals from both Western and Indonesian backgrounds. What unites us is our shared passion for the ocean and our unwavering commitment to creating positive change. Our team members boast extensive dive experience, conservation expertise, and research skills. Together, we are driven by a common goal: to make a meaningful impact in safeguarding our precious oceans for future generations.
Aris
Aris completed his marine biology degree in 2022 at the Sam Ratulangi University. Aris is an extremely passionate and driven marine biologist and just loves absolutely everything about the ocean and wants to do everything possible to help save it.
| Job Title | Marine biologists and dive instructor |
|---|---|
| Born | Manado North Sulawesi, Indonesia on the 26th of October 1995 |
| Superpower | Self-taught artist (singer and guitar player) |
| Fun Fact | Aris does recurve archery |
| Favorite research method | Coral Health Index |
| Best loved sea creature | Orca whales and nemo |
| Bucket list dive | Cage diving with great white sharks |
| Achievement(s) | Aris obtained a marine biology degree, is certified coral reef assessor, and has snorkeled 10 km in 2 hours |
| Proudest Team Moment | When we play team bonding games together |
| Hidden Talent or unusual hobby | Aris likes to walk in the dark alone |
| Favorite work playlist | Music travel love |
| Personal goal | To get his masters degree in marine biology and to build his own ex situ coral nursery |
Katon
Katon is our longest serving staff member and extremely knowledgeable about all of our research methods. Katon loves the underwater world and just wants to help efforts to see more life underwater which is why he is so passionate about conservation. We get a lot from the ocean and he wants to help give back to the ocean.
| Job Title | Instructor and Scientific Dive Guide |
|---|---|
| Born | Lombok, Indonesia on the 13 August 1995 |
| Superpower | Teaching |
| Fun Fact | Katon has a baby son named after himself, Katon Jr. |
| Favorite research method | Roving diver survey |
| Best loved sea creature | Clown Fish |
| Bucket list dive | Diving with hammerhead sharks |
| Achievement(s) | Katon started working in the dive industry as an assistant helper on the boat and worked himself up to PADI Instructor |
| Proudest Team Moment | Doing an exploration dive |
| Hidden Talent or unusual hobby | Katon makes the best peanut butter toast with fried egg |
| Favorite work playlist | Katon his favorite song is Australian Street by Sticky Fingers |
| Personal goal | Katon has noticed a decline in the coral population and his goal is to aid efforts to see the percent of coral surrounding Gili Air increase. |
Gilang
Gilang completed his marine biology degree in 2016 and previously worked in Nusa Penida as a divemaster. He has a lot of diving experience and is very passionate about conservation. He also previously worked on an artificial coral reef project in Thousand Island, Jakarta where he monitored the artificial reef with biorock method.
| Job Title | Marine biologists and divemaster |
|---|---|
| Born | Bandung, Indonesia on the 3rd of July 1993 |
| Superpower | Gilang has the great ability to bridge the gap between the human and marine world |
| Fun Fact | |
| Favorite research method | Roving Diver Survey |
| Best loved sea creature | Manta Ray and Mola Mola |
| Bucket list dive | Cave diving and rebreather diving |
| Achievement(s) | Degree in marine biology |
| Proudest Team Moment | Meeting new people and making sure they feel part of the Gili Shark family |
| Hidden Talent or unusual hobby | Singing and playing the drums |
| Favorite work playlist | Coldplay |
| Personal goal | Impact lives and make a difference through ocean conservation |
Cakra
Cakra received his bachelors marine science degree in 2018 and masters degree in 2022. During his studies Cakra collected socio-economic and biophysical data with a specific research focus on nudibranchs. Cakra is very passionate about marine science and is committed to fighting against human exploitation of our natural resources.
| Job Title | Marine Biologist and Community Officer |
|---|---|
| Born | Serang West Java, Indonesia on the 16th of May 1994 |
| Superpower | Super fast learner |
| Fun Fact | Cakra used to have mohawk |
| Favorite research method | Photogrammetry |
| Best loved sea creature | Nudibranch |
| Bucket list dive | Diving with crocodiles |
| Achievement(s) | Cakra received his bachelors and masters in marine science, received second place from Hack the Planet |
| Proudest Team Moment | Getting MoU signed with the university and government so they can continue their research and education within in the Gili Matra Reserve |
| Hidden Talent or unusual hobby | Waking up in the morning at 2 am and goes to bed at 9 pm |
| Favorite work playlist | M83 |
| Personal goal | Cakra wants to see all stakeholders and all people coming together to work on conservation, no competition just everyone working together. |
Maisy
Since graduating in 2016, Maisy has worked all over the world on various tropical conservation projects as both a researcher and educator. During this time, she became a PADI Divemaster, conducted hours of reef surveys, outplanted hundreds of corals, educated thousands of people and became a qualified teacher. Maisy is hugely passionate about conserving the environment and reducing the anthropogenic threats it faces. She believes the only way we can do this is by educating one another and working together towards a brighter future!
| Job Title | Operational Manager and Lead Scientist |
|---|---|
| Born | In the UK on the 17th of January 1994 |
| Superpower | Being able to organize and problem solve very quickly |
| Fun Fact | Maisy has assisted/worked on research conservation and education projects in eight countries |
| Favorite research method | Photo ID |
| Best loved sea creature | Turtles |
| Bucket list dive | Diving with a leatherback turtle |
| Achievement(s) | Maisy received her Masters Degree in Marine Biology in 2016 and Teaching Degree in 2021. Being recognized by PADI and Women in Ocean Science as making an impact in Marine Conservation. Developing and presenting live underwater broadcasts that have been watched by thousands of students worldwide. |
| Proudest Team Moment | Redeveloping, improving, and expanding the project with a (nearly!) brand new staff team after being shut down due to covid. Our project is now bigger and better than ever! |
| Hidden Talent or unusual hobby | Having probably the loudest voice on the island |
| Favorite work playlist | Anything you can dance and sing along to! |
| Personal goal | Continue to expand our research, conservation and education efforts on Gili Air! |
Rose
Rose Huizenga has been living in paradise for almost 10 years and knows the island inside out. Before she moved to Indonesia she lived in the Netherlands where she ran her own marketing company and worked for multiple volunteer organizations.
Rose is one of the founders of Gili Shark Conservation and the creator of Coral Catch. She is a passionate conservationist, writer, scuba dive instructor, boutique hotel owner, and proud mother of two young girls
| Job Title | Co Founder & Director |
|---|---|
| Born | In the Netherlands on the 14th of May 1984 |
| Superpower | Dreaming big and believing that everything is possible |
| Fun Fact | Rose arrived with her backpack on Gili Air in 2012 and was planning to stay for only two days. She fell completely in love with the island and never left |
| Favorite research method | Photo ID |
| Best loved sea creature | Mola Mola |
| Bucket list dive | Diving with a school of hammerheads |
| Achievement(s) | Rose got named SeaHero for by Scuba diving magazine for making marine conservation careers accessible to all women in Indonesia. Furthermore, she won several awards with Gili Shark Conservation and her Coral Catch program. But if you would ask her what you are most proud of she wouldn’t mention any awards, instead she would tell you about her time with the Coral Catch Superwomen and how they inspire her on a daily basis to fulfill her mission: empowering a hundred girls in the next five years to have a career in marine conservation. |
| Proudest Team Moment | To many! We achieved so much since the start that I wouldn’t even know where to start. |
| Hidden Talent or unusual hobby | Being able to make someone smile, even in their darkest moments |
| Favorite work playlist | Take of your heels and dance with me tonight |
| Personal goal | Taking her two daughters scuba diving in Raja Ampat and showing them the magic of the underwater world. |
