Meet our board of directors - Institute of Ecotechnics

Manno Franca

Chairperson IE UK and interim President IE USA. Expert in geospatial intelligence and strategy. Coordinates environmental projects in Brazil and co-founder of EarthX.

Judy Ann Hawes “Chili” FRGS

Treasurer IE UK. Co-founder of October Gallery Trust and the Institute of Ecotechnics, Director October Gallery, ondon.

Gessie Houghton

Secretary IE UK Gessie Houghton. Writer, art critic, and videographer. Director of Special Projects at October Gallery.

Mark Nelson PhD

Treasurer IE USA, Chairman Emeritus of the Institute, Director of Wastewater Gardens International, Biosphere 2 crew member, Founding director of the Institute of Ecotechnics

Thrity “3t” Vakil, FLS

Secretary IE US, President Tropic Ventures Research & Education Foundation, Co-founder of Puerto Rico Hardwoods, Fellow of the Linnean Society, & Fellow World Academy of Art & Science.

Deborah Parrish Snyder

Cofounding Director, Publisher and Co-owner of Synergetic Press. Publisher, campaigner for planetary stewardship. President, Global Ecotechnics Corporation.

Starrlight Augustine, PhD

Scientist and project manager. Ecological modelling, agroecology, farm management, and Dynamic Energy Budget theory. General Manager, Synergia Ranch.

Ingrid Datica

Director & Media Projects Manager of the Institute of Ecotechnics, RV Heraclitus former crew member, Artist and Event coordinator.

William F. Dempster

Director of Systems Engineering Biosphere 2, Inventer and designer of the “lungs”, Biosphere 2, Designer and builder of Geodesic Dome at Synergia Ranch.

Omar Fayed

Entrepreneur and environmentalist, CEO of ESTEE, and co-founder of EarthX.

Kathelin Gray

Producer, Curator, Writer, Co-Founder of Theatre of All Possibilities; Institute of Ecotechnics; October Gallery, Biosphere 2, Caravan of Dreams Arts Center, R/V Heraclitus; and The Synergias.

Christine Handte

Director of the Institute of Ecotechnics and Director of Ecotechnics Maritime (UK).

Marie Harding

Co-founder & Director Institute of Ecotechnics. Treasurer Emerita, Institute of Ecotechnics (US). President and CFO Emerita, and Director, Global Ecotechnics Corporation (NM).

Claus Tober

Captain of the Research Vessel Heraclitus, Director of the Institute of Ecotechnics, and of Ecotechnics Maritime, Ltd.

Andrés Rúa González

Director IE. Technical director at Las Casas de la Selva, Co-founder of Puerto Rico Hardwoods. Musician.

Fellow and Director Emeritus of The Explorers Club and Founding Director and Past-President of the Institute of Ecotechnics. Captain Emeritus of the R/V Heraclitus, Director of Marketing and Communications Systems for the Biosphere 2 Project.