MOANANUI COUNCIL
Chair
RĀHUI PAPA
Rāhui Papa is a respected national Māori leader, orator and spokesperson for Queen Ngā Wai Hono e te Po. He is a founding member of the Waikato-Tainui Governance Group, he has previously chaired their Executive (Te Arataura) and has served on numerous boards and committees. Rāhui is also a key advisor to government ministers on national issues through the Iwi Leaders’ Forum, which he chaired for many years.
Co-Founder
DR RALPH CHAMI
We acknowledge our Co-Founder, Dr Ralph Chami. Dr Chami is Nature finance economist. He is Co-founder of Blue Green Future and is a pioneer of natural capital finance. His 25 years at the IMF reshaped financial markets' view of ecosystems. A Science-Based Finance℠ innovator, he values nature as an asset, collaborating with SIDS, Indigenous groups, and governments on large-scale conservation finance. Chami holds a Ph.D. in Economics.
Co-Founder
DR MERE TAKOKO
Dr Mere Takoko serves as Executive Trustee of the Moananui Sanctuary Trust and Chief Executive of the Pacific Whale Fund. She is former VP of Conservation International NZ and serves as an Ambassador for King Charles III’s Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, accelerating nature-first economies by connecting investors and Indigenous groups for biodiversity restoration. Mere is also a key advisor on the rights of nature, ethical nature markets and indigenous-led conservation..
Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer
LINDA BERCUSSON
COO and Co-founder of the Pacific Whale Fund, and the Moananui Sanctuary Trust, Linda Bercusson has driven Pacific Ocean and ecosystem protection for many years. She has been Instrumental in collaboration between conservation leaders, IPLCs, and policymakers for whale protection and previously worked with Conservation International on Pacific Oceanscape and NbS initiatives. Her journalism background bridges nature, science, and policy issues for communities.
Board Trustee
NADJA SWAROVSKI
Austrian-American businesswoman Nadja Lyn Swarovski (born 1970) shaped the global brand strategy for the multi-billion euro Swarovski company after joining in 1995 as its first female board member. Former Chair of the Swarovski Foundation and head of the Swarovski Waterschool, she also founded the sustainable fashion label Really Wild Clothing. She continues to advocate for conscious design and environmental responsibility.
Board Trustee
MELINO MAKA
Melino Maka sits is Chair of Huelo Matamoana Trust, Tonga, demonstrating strong community commitment. He is an influential leader working to strengthen the Tongan community both at home and abroad. As Chair of the Tongan Advisory Council, he focuses on economic development, disaster preparedness, and cultural preservation while advocating for sustainable solutions benefiting people and nature
Board Trustee
DR DINAH NIEBURG
Co-founder and COO of Blue Green Future, Dinah Nieburg is a leader in valuing natural capital. Her early work in 2019 highlighted great whales' economic value, reshaping conservation finance. For over five years, she's expanded Blue Green Future's impact, co-authoring "Towards a Nature-Based Economy" (2022) and researching legal personhood for whales. With 20+ years as an executive coach/psychologist for UN and IMF leaders, Dinah holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
In-Country Council Delegate (Tonga)
MELESILA WEILERT
A committed community advocate for marine conservation and sustainable resource management, Melesila Weilert plays a key role in protecting Tonga’s fisheries and coastal ecosystems, safeguarding their long-term health. She works closely with Tongan women's groups and villages to promote responsible fishing practices and ensure that traditional knowledge remains central to conservation efforts, empowering communities to be stewards for future generations.
In-Country Council Delegate (Tahiti)
DR TAMATOA BAMBRIDGE
Tamatoa Bambridge is a sociologist. Since 1995, he has been analysing the expression of legal and cultural pluralism in the management of land and sea in the Pacific. In 2001, he defended a thesis on land claims in the Austral Islands, then continued his career in the field of environmental anthropology. A specialist in Rāhui, he is interested in contemporary marine governance, coral reef ecosystem services, watershed management and local knowledge related to biodiversity.
In-Country Council Delegate (Aotearoa)
PATRICK TANGAERE
A respected tribal leader and cultural authority, Patrick Tangaere is the Chairman of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou and is widely recognised for his leadership and commitment to community-driven initiatives, including regional marine and forest protection efforts. With a strong background in tribal governance, he helps drive awareness and engagement on key conservation and economic issues, particularly those impacting Aotearoa's marine environment and community wellbeing.