Safiya Sawney

Special Advisor, Ocean, Biodiversity and Climate Policy

Government of Grenada

At the forefront of ocean and climate policy, Safiya serves as Special Advisor and Climate Envoy for the Government of Grenada and Senior Ocean, Biodiversity, and Climate Policy Specialist for SIDS. Her work focuses on leveraging strategic partnerships and advocating for sustainable environmental initiatives.

Safiya brings extensive expertise in policy engagement and strategic advising, developed through hands-on involvement with major organizations such as the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, The Blue Nature Alliance, Ocean Unite, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, and The Nature Conservancy, working with SIDS for SIDS.

Her commitment to enhancing ocean resilience and advancing climate action is evident in her contributions to Plastics Treaty negotiations and her advisory role in the development of ocean and blue economy policies. Under her leadership, her team has catalyzed critical dialogues and actions for environmental stewardship, recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by small island developing states.

Through these efforts, Safiya remains dedicated to fostering positive and lasting change for global small islands, oceans, and communities.

Mae Bruton-Adams

Micronesia Trust Fund Executive Director
GLISPA Fiscal Host

Mae Bruton-Adams is the Executive Director of the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT), bringing nearly two decades of experience in conservation management and government relations. She has worked with the FSM Mission to the United Nations, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and as the French Honorary Consul to the FSM, advocating for sustainable development and climate resilience.

Mae is the founder and former managing director of APLYS Consulting, an environmental consulting firm focused on sustainability, and the founder of the Kaselehlie Press, the longest-running newspaper in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). With a background in investment banking at Reich and Tang in New York, she blends financial expertise with her passion for environmental advocacy.

Beyond conservation, Mae promotes health and fitness as President of the FSM Swimming Association and founder of the Micronesia Fitness Club. A lifelong sports enthusiast, she played tennis and ran track in her school years and remains active through CrossFit, tennis, and hiking.

Born in Texas and raised in Chuuk, Mae is married and a proud mother of four. She enjoys writing poetry and short stories alongside her dedication to environmental and community initiatives.

Dr. Spencer Thomas

Grenada’s Ambassador and Special Envoy for Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Prime Minister’s Representative
GLISPA Treasurer

Dr. Spencer Thomas, Grenada’s Ambassador and Special Envoy for Multilateral Environmental Agreements is the country’s lead negotiator for climate change and biodiversity. He is a former Financial Secretary and Economic Policy Adviser in the Ministry of Finance, Grenada. Dr Thomas served on the Bureau of the Convention of Biodiversity and as Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice. He also served as Regional Councillor of IUCN and as a Vice President of IPBES. Dr Thomas has over 25 years of experience in the area of biodiversity diplomacy.

H.E. Hersey Kyota

Palau Ambassador to the United States
GLISPA Board Chair 
President's Representative Member

Hersey Kyota was appointed as Palau’s Ambassador to the United States in November 1997. In 2015, as Washington D.C.’s longest serving ambassador he was appointed as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and is responsible for representing the Washington diplomatic corps at major functions such as the State of the Union.

Prior to his appointment as Ambassador [JR1] on November 12th, 1997, Ambassador Kyota conducted legal research from 1981 to 1984 for the Palau House of Delegates. From 1985 to 1988, he served as chief clerk in the Palau National Congress for the Palau House of Delegates. His position as Director of the House of Legal Counsels’ Office from 1989 to 1990 was followed by his service as a senator in the Palau National Congress from 1990 to 1996. H.E. Kyota also sat on the Board of Directors for the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures from 1992 to 1996.

Ambassador Kyota received both a bachelor’s (1977) and Master’s (1979) degree in Art from the International University of San Diego. He and his wife are the proud parents of five children. Ambassador Kyota has a passion for fishing and a demonstrated commitment to building a sustainable and resilient future for islands globally.

Ambassador Kyota was appointed Chair of the Global Island Partnership Board during its annual meeting in Turin, Italy in October 2015. He was re-appointed for a second term in October 2017.

Email: chair@glispa.org

Hon. Josh Tenorio

Lieutenant Governor, Guam
Governor General’s Representative 

The Honorable Joshua “Josh” Franquez Tenorio is the 10th elected Lieutenant Governor of Guam. He is an experienced administrator with a demonstrated history of managing large organizations in both the public and private sectors. Since taking office in January 2019, Lt. Governor Tenorio has spearheaded efforts that embrace sustainable development; reduce homelessness and poverty; expand drug and alcohol treatment programs, and improve the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. He is the Co-Chairperson of the Guam Green Growth (G3) Steering Committee.

As the first LGBTQ person to be elected Lt. Governor in the United States, he advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion and is a founding member of the non-profit, Equality Guam. After graduating from the Guam Community College Vocational High School, Lt. Governor Tenorio served as Speaker of the 17th Guam Youth Congress. He earned a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Guam. He is a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management at the National Center for State Courts and is a certified court manager and executive.

His many awards and honors include the 2021 NLGA Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award, presented in partnership with the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) and Baker Hughes. Lt. Governor Tenorio resides in the southern village of Talofofo but was raised in the central village of Sinajana by his parents, the late Jesus Atoigue Tenorio, a retired telephone man; and Therese Taitano Franquez Tenorio, a retired school teacher. His late grandfather, Jose Cruz Franquez, was his role model.

Dr. Ronald Smith-Berkeley

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, British Virgin Islands
Premier's Representative 

Dr. Ronald Berkeley has served as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change in the Government of the Virgin Islands since 2011. With a steadfast commitment to sustainable development, he has been instrumental in shaping and implementing policies that protect the territory’s natural resources while advancing climate resilience and economic sustainability.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Berkeley has led critical initiatives, including the Blue Economy, promoting the sustainable use of marine resources for economic growth; the Climate Change Trust Fund, ensuring financial support for climate resilience projects; and the Marine Estate Policy, which governs the responsible management of the Virgin Islands’ marine environment. He has also been a driving force behind key legislative frameworks such as Environmental Legislation, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Legislation, and Crown Land Legislation, all of which contribute to the long-term sustainability and environmental governance of the territory.

Hon. Alfredo Matugas Coro II

Municipal Mayor of Del Carmen,
Siargao Islands, Philippines

Hon. Alfredo Matugas Coro II is leading Del Carmen’s transformation by reducing poverty, improving family incomes, and addressing malnutrition through effective governance and an ecotourism-driven economy.

Under his leadership, Del Carmen expanded its influence across Siargao Islands, strengthening environmental conservation efforts and positioning Siargao as Southeast Asia’s top island destination. He spearheaded the town’s mangrove management program, turning Del Carmen from a hub of illegal mangrove cutting into a UN Ramsar Site (#2335) of Wetlands of International Importance.

A strong advocate for local government leadership on the global stage, Mayor Coro is a Global Executive Committee member of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a convenor of Coastal500 (finalists for the Earthshot Prize 2023), and was named the 2022 Most Impactful Island Innovation Ambassador. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in Southeast Asia, among other roles.

Dr. Joth Singh

Director of Policy and Strategy Programs - Caribbean Division,
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
GLISPA Advisor

Dr Joth Singh joined The Nature Conservancy in March 2022 as Institutional Partnerships Director within the Caribbean Division and was promoted to Director of Policy and Strategic Programs of the Division in May 2023. He is also currently the TNC representative on the regional Conservation Trust Fund Board of Directors – the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund.

Before joining TNC, Joth held senior positions in various non-profit and multilateral organizations and has worked internationally, regionally within the Caribbean, and nationally in Trinidad and Tobago. His responsibilities have spanned a range of environmental and development areas of focus, and included leading the Wildlife and Habitat program at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, managing the environmental portfolio at USAID’s Eastern and Southern Caribbean Mission, management of the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Facility within the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, and heading the Environmental Management Authority of  Trinidad & Tobago.

He holds an MSc in Environmental Management from the University of London, a Ph.D in Environmental Chemistry from the University of the West Indies, and was a Post-Doctoral Fellow working on ecotoxicology at Canada’s Dalhousie University/Bedford Institute of Oceanography. He grew up on the island of Trinidad exploring nature with his family and spends as much time as he can enjoying the natural world.

João Sousa

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Senior Programme Officer of Marine Plastics, Global Marine and Polar Programme
GLISPA Advisor

João Sousa is the Senior Programme Officer of Marine Plastics, Global Marine and Polar Programme at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He joined IUCN in 2012 as Project Officer in the Global Marine and Polar Programme, focusing on microplastics, biodiversity action plans, carbon offsetting, and energy. João also worked for 20 years as a biotechnology and environmental engineer and, later, as project manager and researcher at the Portuguese National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, working, among other things, on energy, environmental and pharmaceutical projects, and pilot plant design and operation. João holds a master’s degree in Engineering in Biotechnology from the Universidade Lusófona de Humanidade e Tecnologias and a post-graduate in Engineering Policy and Management of Technology from the Universidade Técnica de Lisboa.

Celeste Connors

CEO, Hawai’i Local2030 Hub
GLISPA Advisor on High-impact initiatives

Celeste Connors has twenty years of experience working at the intersection of economic, environment, energy, and international development policy. Before joining the Hawai'i Local2030 Hub (formerly Hawai‘i Green Growth) she was CEO and co-founder of cdots development LLC, which works to build resilient infrastructure systems and services in vulnerable communities. Celeste previously served as the Director for Environment and Climate Change at the National Security Council and National Economic Council in the White House where she helped shape the Administration’s climate and energy policies, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prior to joining the White House, Celeste served as a diplomat in Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Germany. She also held positions at the U.S. Mission to the UN, served as the Climate and Energy Advisor to the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and worked for City of New York.

Celeste is a Senior Adjunct Fellow at the East-West Center and was a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in the Energy, Resources and Environment Program. She holds an MSc in Development Studies from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and a BA in International Relations from Tufts University. Celeste has served on numerous boards including her current service on Hawaiian Electric Industries, the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA), the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience at the University of Hawaii and Icebreaker One. She previously served on the Board of America’s Service Commissions, the IUCN World Conservation Congress National Host Committee, and was a Term Member on the Council on Foreign Relations. Celeste grew up in Kailua, O‘ahu.

Karolin Troubetzkoy

Executive Director, Marketing and Operations of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts, St. Lucia.
GLISPA Advisor

Karolin Troubetzkoy’s extensive experience in tourism management has seen her rise to the very top of her profession, serving as President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) from January 2016 - June 2018. She was only the second woman to serve as President in CHTA’s 50+ year history.

In Jan 2019, she was appointed Envoy to the Caribbean Challenge Initiative to bring awareness and build up resilience of the marine and coastal resources in the Caribbean. In July 2020, she accepted the Chairmanship of the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund and in this capacity, has joined the board of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund.

Now joining the GLISPA family, Karolin will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from the private sector and non-profit arena, boosting our work and outreach, and forging closer ties with our Caribbean membership.

Ariane Steins-Meier

Innovation and Scaling Director, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance
GLISPA Advisor

Ariane leads ORRAA's innovation policy work globally, with a goal to advancing existing and building new partnerships with public and institutional funders. Ariane joined ORRAA from Rare where she was Vice President for Global Development and Executive Director for Rare Europe. She has also previously worked at The Nature Conservancy on their efforts around the Convention on for Biological Diversity as well as with the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation in Bonn.

Kelvin Alie

Senior Vice President, Conservation International
GLISPA Advisor

As senior vice president for Conservation International’s field programs, Kelvin leads a

team that supports strategy development, project design and delivery and partnerships for

a global portfolio of programs and projects — with a focus on achieving the organization’s

priorities for protecting nature to stabilize the climate, doubling ocean protection and

expanding nature-positive economies.

Kelvin also serves as the co-lead for Island Futures - a global islands resilience initiative

which aims to support small island nations and island communities in achieving their

ambitions on climate, biodiversity, and ocean conservation and provides strategic

leadership and oversight of Conservation International’s programs in Caribbean islands

states.

Kelvin has over 20 years of experience working on international conservation and natural resource management. Prior to joining Conservation International, he was an executive with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), where he held several roles in global programs — most recently as executive vice president for strategy, programs and field operations. His experience is wide ranging, and includes international wildlife conservation, strategic planning for conservation, working across diverse cultures, creating and fostering partnerships, and building capacity for emerging leaders in conservation. He also has a talent for developing and leading global teams, as well as experience in measuring and monitoring impact, and engaging governments and communities.

A native of the island of Dominica, Kelvin holds a diploma in forestry and graduate

degrees in biodiversity conservation from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom and in economics from the City College of New York.

Marie-May Jeremie

Chief Executive Officer, Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust
GLISPA Advisor

Marie-May Jeremie is the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT).Marie-May holds a Masters of Environment Degree from the University of Melbourne and an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences (Conservation Biology) from Edith Cowan University.

Ms Jeremie is a highly skilled Senior Executive with strong interest and experience in Biodiversity Conservation, Ocean Governance, science-to-policy advocacy and establishment and management of protected areas in the Seychelles. She has been actively involved in national biodiversity conservation and environmental management, as well as development of environmental policies and legislation in the Seychelles. Over the past 15 years, she has been active in conservation works both at governmental and non-governmental organisation platforms. She has and continues to serve on many Boards in the environment, conservation and resource management sectors both in Seychelles and internationally. She has played an instrumental role as policy lead for ocean governance including the work on the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan and now in climate and ocean finance.

Ms Jeremie is also the current President of the Western Science Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).