Hayley Versace
General Manager & Senior Project Manager
Hayley is the driving force for Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative forging partnerships, designing and implementing programs, fund raising, publishing in journals and developing community engagement programs. She is a marine biologist & zoologist, passionate photographer and videographer and diving instructor, Hayley has worked her way around the world throughout her 20 year career in various marine based roles but has been based in Papua New Guinea since 2016.
Melissa Staines
Scientific Advisor - Turtles
Melissa is an Australian marine biologist and PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, currently focusing her research on the effects of climate change on the sex ratios of sea turtle populations across Asia-Pacific. Despite being an early career researcher, Melissa has already worked with four different sea turtle species across within her first 5 years of experience. Her PhD is supported by the World-Wide Fund for Nature Australia and their collaborations with monitoring groups across the Asia-Pacific and in affiliation with SPREP and the Marine Research Foundation Sabah. Part of her PhD research is looking at the importance of rainfall in mitigating against increasing temperatures and subsequent feminisation of the sea turtle population, whereby the Conflict Islands has become a critically important research site. As a Scientific Advisor, Melissa has also contributed to the research and conservations practices used by the rangers of CICI and inform on relevant mitigation strategies to increase hatching success and balanced sex-ratios in clutches.
Steven Amos
Turtle Program Supervisor
Steven has worked for CICI since it started the Turtle Monitoring Program. Showing great initiative, a passion for learning and natural leadership Steven progressed over the years to become the Head Ranger.
His passion for conservation and the protection of the natural environment and enthusiasm to learn in detail has lead him to be a vital member of the team, caring for his "babies", the turtles as he would his own family, making him an invaluable leader and an inspiration to all he meets.
Martha Eimba
Conservation Projects Supervisor
Martha has a bachelor’s degree in science majoring in Biology from the University of Papua New Guinea. She is a certified PADI open water diver with 5 years of experience working on the establishment of Locally managed marine areas in Milne Bay Province. Martha first interned with CICI team in 2019 and has experience working around sea turtle conservation, Manta Ray Research and Coral Reef conservation.
Kerryanne Moilai
Coral Program Supervisor
Kerryanne has an Advance diploma in fisheries and marine science from the University of Natural resource and science. She is a certified open water diver with experience in coral reef monitoring and was part of the knowledge exchange workshop between Samoa, Australia and Papua Guinea designed to enhance coral reef monitoring efforts and Management systems. Kerryanne Joined the CICI team in November 2023 assisting in the implementation phase of CICI’s coral reef monitoring and restoration project.