Meet our board of directors

Thrity “3t” Vakil

Secretary IE USA FLS. Director Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry & Rainforest Enrichment Project in Puerto Rico. President Tropic Ventures Research

Andrés Rúa González

Technical director at Las Casas de la Selva, a musician Co-founder of Puerto Rico Hardwoods. Expert in tree-felling, sawmilling, and

Deborah Parrish Snyder

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

Ingrid Datica

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

Kathelin Gray

Producer, Curator, Writer, Co-Founder of Theatre of All Possibilities; Institute of Ecotechnics; October Gallery, Biosphere 2, Caravan of Dreams Arts

Marie Harding

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

Mark Nelson PhD

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

Starrlight Augustine, PhD

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

Claus Tober

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

Judy Ann Hawes “Chili”

Treasurer IE UK  FRGS. Co-founder of October Gallery Trust and the Institute of Ecotechnics Director October Gallery, London.  Experienced in

Robert “Rio” Hahn

Fellow and Director Emeritus of The Explorers Club and Founding Director and Past-President of the Institute of Ecotechnics. Captain Emeritus

William F. Dempster

Director of Systems Engineering  Biosphere 2 Inventer and designer of the  “lungs”, Biosphere 2 Designer and builder of a Geodesic

Manno Franca

Chairperson IE UK and interim President IE USA. Expert in geospatial intelligence and strategy. Coordinates environmental projects in Brazil and

Christine Handte

Director Ecotechnics Maritime, Expedition Chief RV Heraclitus and co-director of the ship’s extensive rebuild.             

Omar Fayed

Entrepreneur and environmentalist, CEO of ESTEE, and co-founder of EarthX. Advocate for sustainable development and human space exploration.    

Gessie Houghton

Gessie Houghton

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

John Polk Allen

FLS. Founding Director, Emeritus Visionary cofounder of the Institute of Ecotechnics and Biosphere 2 Scientist, Poet, Writer, Entrepreneur with numerous


Fellows of the Institute of Ecotechnics

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Address: 1 Bluebird Court
Santa Fe, NM 87505 USA
Phone: 505.424.0237

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