Image © Edges of Earth

Meet the Team

  • Mike Sakas is a professional photographer and documentary maker who has devoted his career to documenting projects of social and environmental significance. His passion for adventure and conservation enriches the narrative of City of Shells: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs, bringing attention to the pressing issues facing our oyster reefs.

  • Marine Thomas is Associate Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Hong Kong. She is responsible for overseeing TNC’s marine conservation projects on the ground, with a current focus on restoring natural habitats, community-based conservation, and developing sustainable oyster aquaculture in Deep Bay as nature based solutions. Marine is also restoration ecologist specializing in shellfish reefs. Over the past 8 years, she has been developing restoration methods, evaluating ecosystem services that shellfish reefs provide, and advocating for policy changes that support widespread restoration efforts in Hong Kong's waters. She also works on large scale innovative projects, including the retrofitting of the 3rd Runway Seawall of the airport, in partnership with the Airport Authority Hong Kong.

  • Prof. Bayden D. Russell, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Swire Institute of Marine Science and Area of Ecology and Biodiversity at The University of Hong Kong. Prof. Russell is an ecophysiologist whose research focuses on the impact of climate change and pollution on ecosystem function, the biology of key species, and how best to manage and conserve ecosystems in this context. He also investigates the human relationship with, and dependence on, marine ecosystems and how these can be made sustainable through nature-based solutions, especially oyster reef restoration. More recently, he is working to develop strategies to maximise blue carbon opportunities by combining economic development and ecosystem restoration.

  • Adam is a seasoned ocean explorer with nearly two decades of global experience under his belt. His passion for marine exploration is rooted in the belief that extraordinary discoveries often lie just beyond one's own doorstep. Janikowski currently spearheads expeditions in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Swire Institute of Marine Science, as an active member of The Explorers Club Hong Kong Chapter. His approach to diving is purpose-driven, focusing on achieving tangible objectives such as fish identification and reef surveys. Adam’s wealth of knowledge and experience, combined with his infectious enthusiasm for even the most challenging diving conditions, makes him a respected and inspiring figure in the world of marine conservation.

  • Tom Chan is Community Conservation Manager for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Hong Kong. Tom is a seasoned educator and passionate conservationist. He graduated with a biology degree from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2013 and has since dedicated his career to the local marine education field. Joining The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Hong Kong in 2020 as the Conservation Education Manager, Tom has been instrumental in overseeing TNC's environmental education programs and youth engagement work in Hong Kong.

  • Rhian is a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Hong Kong with a focus on the multi-dimensional effects of environmental change on marine ecosystems, from large-scale distribution of marine species including plankton, fish and marine predators, to nearshore ecosystem shifts related to key grazers such as urchins and the resilience of seaweeds. In Hong Kong part of her work also focuses on the restoration of important nearshore ecosystems such as subtidal oyster reefs and sargassum forests.

  • Ashley is a marine scientist and nature enthusiast. His work involves determining how climate and human activities cumulatively affect coastal environments. He is interested in identifying the best ways to restore coastal ecosystems and understanding how humans and marine biodiversity can coexist. Ashley is also a keen nature explorer, no matter if it is on mountains, in caves, or at sea. 

  • Anniqa has been working in conservation groups for more than 14 years and has wide experiences in different roles of non-profit sector.   She started her career with a community education position in Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong (OPCFHK), organising school programs and public education initiatives to raise awareness on conserving wildlife.  She also had worked on the operation and administration of NGOs, maintaining the human resources functions, finances and administration for OPCFHK.  Since 2018, she became a frontline conservation practitioner to create direct impact to the environment.  She served WWF Hong Kong and The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong for 6 years, leading the marine projects on marine debris, recycling and food waste, and coastal ecosystems restoration.  She is specialised in the multi-stakeholder’s management and partnerships e.g. the business sectors, fishers, diving communities, local villagers, etc and engage them into conservation actions. 

  • Jay is a Marine Ecologist & Research Fellow at the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution at the City University of Hong Kong. With a PhD from the University of Hong Kong, Jay's research focuses on the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems, particularly with sea urchins and oyster reefs. Jay also leads various shoreline restoration projects, aiming to increase the biodiversity of Hong Kong's coastal environments. Passionate about science communication, Jay actively engages in public outreach and media projects to make scientific knowledge accessible with the hope of motivating others to use their skills and passion to help their local community.

  • Sheila is the Assistant Conservation Manager for The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong since 2022. Graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong with an environmental science degree. Sheila has more than 5 years of working experience in environmental education and food recycling projects in various NGOs.

    In her current role, Sheila is responsible for coordinating various conservation projects within TNC Hong Kong, manage scientific data and building awareness for the local communities, youth groups and volunteers through field trips.

  • Boze is a Senior Marine Habitat Restoration Scientist at The Nature Conservancy. Boze has worked to develop the field of shellfish restoration in the U.S. since 2004, initially running what was then the country's largest shellfish restoration project for NOAA and subsequently with TNC, managing a community-based restoration partnership with NOAA. During this work, he developed a close working relationship with shellfish restoration networks in every U.S. coastal state and the shellfish growers' network that supported restoration. Since 2014, he has leveraged his expertise and networks to help develop shellfish restoration in the Asia Pacific region, Europe and the United Kingdom while continuing to advance the science supporting restoration.

  • Khan is a PhD student at the Swire Institute of Marine Science and Area of Ecology and Biodiversity at The University of Hong Kong. He has broad interest on different aspects of Ecology, and specialises in utilizing molecular biology techniques to facilitate conservation biology studies. Khan’s research focuses on the foundation species in Hong Kong’s intertidal mudflats, with oysters being one of the focal points of his studies. Apart from oysters, Khan is also keen on conserving the seagrass of Hong Kong, which could be found around Hong Kong’s oyster reefs.

  • Samantha Klein is a Phd student in the Marine Futures Lab at the University of Hong Kong. She is currently assessing the IUCN Red list for Ecosystems status of oyster reef in the Hong Kong and the wider Pearl River Estuary, along with their ecosystem services. This involves mapping their historical and contemporary distribution and quantifying their local potential for nitrogen pollution removal through denitrification. She is also assessing different techniques to restore these ecosystems in the South China region.