Arnaud Brival is the Co-Founder and Director of The SEA People, bringing years of expertise as a marine ecologist and field scientist to the organization. Passionate about coral reef restoration and community-based conservation, Arnaud has dedicated over a decade to protecting the biodiversity of Raja Ampat and empowering local communities to sustainably manage marine resources. His work combines applied science with traditional knowledge to ensure a thriving future for the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems.

Cori is the Science Coordinator for Yaf Keru and our wider conservation efforts, blending her academic knowledge with hands-on expertise in reef restoration to support one of Raja Ampat’s largest restoration initiatives. A trailblazer as Yaf Keru’s first female coral gardener, Cory hails from Yenbekwan, the site of the current restoration project.

A certified scuba diver, Cory’s local knowledge and her talent for connecting with diverse audiences—from children to Village (Adat) Councils—makes her a vital part of the team, ensuring that social engagement remains central to the foundation’s impact.

Lynn Lawrance is the Co-Founder and General Manager of The SEA People, spearheading strategic engagement and communication efforts to connect Raja Ampat’s unique marine ecosystems with a global audience. With a background in conservation management and a passion for community empowerment, Lynn works to bridge local knowledge with global action, ensuring the voices of communities are heard while translating complex conservation science into relatable stories for the public. Her leadership ensures that ecological, social, and communicative impacts are integral to the organization’s mission.

Yosina is the Captain of the Galaxea conservation vessel and a dedicated member of the Yaf Keru Reef Restoration team, breaking barriers as one of the very few female captains in Raja Ampat. Hailing from Tambrauw Regency, Yosina joined the foundation in May 2023,  bringing years of experience as a ferry captain and a passion for contributing to marine conservation. Since joining, she has not only excelled in her captaincy duties but also earned her Advanced Open Water Diver certification, becoming an active participant in reef restoration efforts.

With her deep understanding of traditional management systems, Yosina brings invaluable cultural insight to our community-based conservation work. Her leadership aboard the Galaxea ensures the success of the program’s field operations, while her determination and trailblazing role inspire young Papuan women to pursue careers in marine conservation and beyond.

Reeva specialises in administrative management and Indonesian grant coordination. With a strong focus on legal compliance, financial oversight, and operational efficiency, Reeva plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth administration of the foundation. Her expertise in managing local grants and navigating regulatory processes in Indonesia is instrumental in supporting the foundation’s conservation efforts and long-term sustainability.

Steven serves in a supervisory role with general oversight of the foundation’s operations. With years of experience as a diving instructor and within the tourism industry in Indonesia, including three years living and working in Raja Ampat, Steven brings a wealth of practical knowledge and leadership to the team. His hands-on understanding of the region and its marine ecosystems is invaluable in guiding the foundation’s efforts and ensuring its initiatives are both impactful and sustainable.

Ayu brings expertise in bookkeeping, finance and accounting to the foundation. She plays a crucial role in ensuring accurate financial management and reporting while supporting the administration of Indonesian grants. Ayu’s meticulous attention to detail and knowledge of financial processes and legal compliance contribute to the foundation’s operational efficiency and its ability to sustain impactful conservation efforts.

Loreley Picourt is the President of The SEA People, France, bringing her extensive expertise in ocean advocacy and environmental policy to the organization. With a strong academic foundation, including an MSc in Environmental Policy from the London School of Economics, Loreley has dedicated her career to advancing marine conservation and sustainable climate action.

In addition to her role with The SEA People, Loreley serves as Executive Director of the Ocean & Climate Platform, where she works to integrate ocean, climate, and biodiversity considerations into global policies. Her leadership and vision guide The SEA People’s efforts to protect Raja Ampat’s marine ecosystems, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

A Doctor in oceanology, Laurent is a specialist in issues related to fishing, aquaculture and the protection of the marine environment. He has worked in French public institutions (Ifremer and Inra in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region of France, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, France), for the United Nations (FAO, South-East Asia) and for the WWF (World Wild Fund for Nature).
For more than 20 years, his various functions have led him to manage teams and carry out programs for the protection of species and marine areas, sustainable management of fishing resources and the fight against oil pollution. In 2004, he joined Jacques Perrin and the team of the film “Oceans” as a scientific advisor and co-author. Since the end of 2007, after having been a consultant to Nausicaà, he created, with Mathieu Mauvernay, Planète Mer, where he devotes himself fully to the organisations aim of preserving marine life by reconciling the natural balance with economic and social development.

Greg Johannes has been a senior member of Australia’s temperate marine science community for almost twenty years. He is currently the Chair of the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre and the Independent Chair of the Management Committee for the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership. Between them, these two initiatives will invest more than $250 million over ten years in marine environment research and development and understanding climate change. Based in Hobart, Greg was previously a longstanding director of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. He was also the Head of the State Service in Tasmania, one of the most senior public service positions in Australia. Growing up in places like Palau, Hawaii and Western Australia, as a child Greg spent as much time as possible in, on, or close to the sea and local reefs as he followed his marine biologist father around the world. Greg has a passionate interest in issues affecting the marine environment, and dives and snorkels on the world’s coral reefs whenever he can. Having visited Raja Ampat several times, he was deeply affected by its people and the remote and fragile beauty.

Mickael is an engineer and with an MSc in Marine Ecology, who is currently pursuing a PhD that builds on his earlier master’s research dedicated to the Yaf Keru coral restoration program. His work focuses on assessing the dual impacts of reef restoration on marine biodiversity and local communities in Raja Ampat. Collaborating closely with The SEA People’s field team and partners Planète Mer, MARBEC, and BOREA, Mickael spends half the year conducting scientific surveys through SCUBA diving and engaging with local communities to explore ecological recovery, food security, and socio-economic dynamics. His research exemplifies the intersection of science and community-based conservation that drives the mission of The SEA People.