About Envirotech International

Ricardo Macedo

Environmental Consultant

Ricardo Macedo was born in Brazilian and is a passionate environmental and sustainability scientist. Since the end of his academic journey in 2010, he started working in environmental sciences and environmental licensing. After graduating and obtaining the title of Agronomy Engineer, he has been working as an Environmental Consultant.
Ricardo worked as Environmental Consultant and specialised in Recovery Plans for Degraded Areas, Environmental Monitoring Projects, and various Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
Ricardo studied for the Diploma of Sustainable Operations and Diploma of Project Management at Envirotech, spurring him to follow the sustainability path.
On the Gold Coast, he worked as a Sustainability Intern for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary while completing his studies at Envirotech and he greatly enjoyed assisting with the Climate Action Certification. Ricardo works at Envirotech as Environmental Consultant for Envirotech Education, with specialisation in the management of Sustainability Policy and Procedures and the development of the Waste Management Plan for Burleigh Head Campus.
Ricardo loves supporting students in developing the skills and knowledge in the various fields of Environmental Management and Sustainable Operations courses and being able to connect the skills sets with a large range of specialisations, such as the characterization activities of climatology, geology, mineral resources, geomorphology, pedology, hydrography, hydrology, noise levels, atmospheric emissions, measurement and analysis Sound Pressure Levels, activities of water quality analyses, activities of soil quality analyses, soil Classification analyses, forest activities, environmental impact evaluation, erosion Control programs, waste management and Wastewater programs for civil construction sites.
Ricardo passion is to soil as the grounding medium to support life on earth.

Terina Puriri-Lim

Environmental Sustainability Assistant

Environmental Sustainability Assistant

Dr. Steven Andrews

Consultant for Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration Program

Steven Andrews completed his PhD in Environmental Education & Ecopsychology from Curtin University and a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC Berkeley. He is passionate about how we can foster a sense of connection to nature through direct experience combined with the use of art and technology in a positive way for education, connection and positive mental health.

Steven believes that developing relationships with nature is imperative for mental health as well as for positive environmental behaviour change. By combining direct experience with immersive cutting edge technologies to engage with learners, we broaden the reach of environmental education.

In his PhD, Entitled Underwater Photoelicitation: A New Marine Experiential Education Technique, Steven asked the question: How do we use technology combined with experiential learning to help foster connection with the ocean and to empower pro-environmental behaviour change?

Coming from his passion for underwater photography, he developed and implemented a program for high schools and community groups that assessed participants cognitive, affective (emotional) and behavioural change (towards the ocean) through a mixed methods methodology after they snorkelled and took underwater photographs. He focused on exploring and fostering the experiential and emotional connections to nature.

He has been teaching field ecology courses (terrestrial and marine) at the University of Queensland at the Moreton Bay Research Station on Stradbroke Island for the past 6 years to high school and undergraduate science camps. He loves getting the kids outdoors, out of city and connecting them to the unique environment of Minjerribah. The shifts he sees in their attitudes from the time they arrive to the time they leave is something very special.

You will find Steven in the forest recording the natural soundscape or in the ocean riding waves and photographing the magic of the sea.

Scott Wallace

Consultant for Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration Program

Scott is an Environmental Scientist, passionate Educator and Activist with qualifications in Law. He is driven by a vision to create a world which upholds and respects the rights of all members of the Earth Community. With 8 years of experience working for the University of Queensland at Moreton Bay Research Station and Study Centre, Scott has developed a solid understanding and connection with a range of both terrestrial and marine habitats/ecosystems. In 2020, Scott represented the Animal Justice Party as a Political Candidate for both the Local and State Government Elections in Queensland and has been on the front-line of marine conservation campaigning with Sea Shepherd.

David Lennon

Consultant for Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration Program

David`s specialties include the design of artificial reefs, coral relocation, marine project management, training and marine impact assessments. He started constructing artificial reefs in 1991 in the Middle East and since then has designed and constructed reefs in Cyprus, Australia, Bali, North Sulawesi, Fiji, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi, Mauritius, and Antigua for impact mitigation, reef restoration, diving, fisheries enhancement and coastal protection. In 2012 David and his team were the first in the world to use a construction 3D printer to print artificial reef units and they are in the Guinness Book of Records. One of his interests is how to build better reefs using advanced technology such as 3D printers.

A key focus of David has been the study of how marine life use natural structures as well as artificial structures and how surface texture and material influences colonisation by marine fauna and flora. This is a key understanding that is essential for good artificial reef design.

David has designed reefs with specific features for:
– Shellfish
– Grouper
– Octopus
– Murray Cod breeding
– Exclusion of predatory cormorants
– General pelagic fish species
– Corals and coral planting
– Art, cultural significance
– Commercial fish of importance
– Anti-trawling and turtle protection
– Coastal protection

In addition to his artificial reef work David has written and conducted coral restoration training for recreational divers and schools via a program called ‘Reef CPR’.

David started his career as a commercial diver and then became a scuba instructor while completing his Bachelor of Science in Oceanographic Technology (USA). His Master of Science is in Environmental Management (Australia).

David is passionate about restoration and sharing his knowledge as he believes we can no longer just try to reduce environmental impacts – we have to repair the damage already done and the planet desperately needs more qualified workers with restoration capabilities.

Dr. Tiffany Delport

Chief Consultant MENA for Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration, and Sustainability Programs

Tiffany has always been fascinated by the ocean. “The ocean has a unique way of capturing our imagination and intriguing us with the mysteries of the unknown”. Tiffany has been an environmental sector student and professional since commencement of her doctorate in Australia 11 years ago.

Based in the United Arab Emirates for the past 6 years, Tiffany has had the pleasure of consulting across education and environmental verticals, for small NGO’s, Government agencies and MNC’s. “It has been a privilege developing conservation management strategy for wetlands, conducting fieldwork focused on restoration of coral reef ecosystems and protecting endangered species of the United Arab Emirates”.

Collaboration across multiple stakeholders to provide environmental conservation solutions in alignment with the vision of the U.A.E Leadership has been Tiffany`s strong focus. “A career in environmental conservation is truly rewarding, being able to share this experience with learners and members of the community is an aspiration”.

Maricar Daquioag

Consultant for integrated coastal resource management

Maricar Daquioag is a marine biologist and currently an MS candidate for Ocean Sciences at the University of the Philippines Visayas. She has two decades of work experience in integrated coastal resource management, particularly on marine protected areas establishment, and capacity building of the coastal population on resource management and conservation.

She has worked with various non-governmental organizations, academic research institutions, and government agencies in the implementation of integrated coastal resources and habitat management in several Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBAs) in the Philippines and Thailand. Furthermore, she worked as a resident researcher in a hatchery farm for endangered marine fish species such as the Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and Panther Grouper (Cromileptes altivelis), particularly taking care of the fishes in the nursery, grow-out, and broodstock sections. Because of her exposure to hatchery culture, she was invited to work for two oceanariums in the Philippines in charge of marine livestock care-taking, offshore fishing, and life support system management.

Her motivation for taking this path is that she believes that the ocean is a dynamic environment and to manage it, we need to understand the human and scientific dimensions in managing and protecting our seas and our fellowmen. She believes that by joining Envirotech, she can share her knowledge and skills, and exchange expertise with other people to make a difference and contribute to the resource management initiatives.

Noeme Fabiosa

Consultant for aquaculture and fish

Noeme Fabiosa is an aquaculturist specializing on fish diseases from Mindanao, Philippines. She has passion for teaching which started upon doing Sunday school lessons for kids at church. Aside from teaching, she’s also passionate about music, science and travel. Her habits include playing instruments, travelling to places and watching documentaries and other TV shows. Watching documentaries added her interest in science and travelling. The Animal Planet and Discovery Channel are amongst her favorites and her biggest dream is to do a documentary show.

The insufficiency of funds had her took applied-science course for fisheries instead of journalism. She graduated BS Fisheries at Mindanao State University at Naawan (MSUN) in June 2016 and was immediately hired as research assistant at the research division of the said university. She also worked as part-time lecturer in the college department where she came from. A year later, she was recommended to pursue MS degree in Fisheries (aquaculture) at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) under a local scholarship grant and is currently finishing her thesis manuscript.

With research-related experiences, diligence and passion-driven work ethics, Noeme believed that she’d be of significant contribution to any company she will work with. Further, as she longs for additional learnings and experiences, her current job with Envirotech international will have her honed to be more experienced and better individual.

Lyle John Cortes

Consultant for aquaculture and wildlife conservation

Lyle, as his colleagues call him, is from Cebu. He took up a course that is so close to his heart, Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at Silliman University in Dumaguete City where learned and practiced the skills a biologist needs before entering the corporate world.

After graduating, he immediately worked as a Monitoring Officer/Biologist in a private company based in Palawan whose expertise are in the field of marine and aquaculture. Afterwards, he moved back to Cebu and worked as a Wildlife Conservation Staff in a wildlife conservation park. There he applied his skills in management, observation, and the knowledge in reproductive biology to some of the company’s projects and daily routines. After a year and a half, he got promoted to Assistant Manager. He then became a high school teacher in a private school in Imus, Cavite where he taught students in junior high school. He taught Science and Values Education subjects.

Lyle’s passion for wildlife and conservation drives him to do his best and contribute in any possible way he could to conserve the environment. His love for the outdoors pushes him to share his knowledge to everyone he encounters most especially the younger generation. He is driven by the thought that the younger generation deserves to see the beauty of wildlife and nature.

Adi Refaeli

Consultant for marine underwater digital media

Adi Refaeli came from Israel and is a passionate Eco theologist. Adi currently works as a trainer and assessor at Envirotech Education, and also as video producer and Innovation Hub mentor.

Adi also wrote, produced and directed an award-winning 40-minute drama that has screened in many film festivals around the world. Adi lived for three years in Japan, working there as a schoolteacher.

Adi’s passion is about social sustainability and communication using various technologies, especially creating videos about sustainability and EcoTheology and to use the power of video to make the world a better place.

Adi completed the Diploma of Sustainable Operations at Envirotech. She reflects this knowledge in her mentoring in the Innovation Hub on social sustainability, and sustainable operations are always a theme in her videos.

Adi teaches various Digital Media courses, where she also train in sustainability units and she is encouraging others to learn the tools that will help them work in a digital environment and control the tools of mass communication to make a real influence on the things that matter.

Adi worked with children from Elementary to High School and taught them how to express their ideas regarding Sustainability through video. Her students reached the finals of the Video for Change competition 2 years in a row and participated in the Video for Change film festival in Sydney.

Adi passion is for advanced social communications and Ecotheology.

Cherry Lyn Jalover-Par

Consultant for marine ecosystem protection and conservation

Cherry Lyn Jalover-Par is from the island of Palawan, Philippines. She is a graduate of BS Environmental Science from Palawan State University. She is a licensed Environmental Planner and diver.

Being involved in the conservation and sustainable development work for more than 10 years, she has been involved with various conservation initiatives both on presentation of environmental management concepts, facilitation of conservation management planning and its field applications, as well as doing information and educational campaigns.

With her passion for environmental protection, she, together with her friends, organized a group of young individuals with their main goal being to promote awareness and encourage more people to take part in protecting and conserving the environment, specifically the marine ecosystem. Among the projects implemented by the Palawan Young Sustainable Environment Advocates (PYSEA) is the SCUBAsurero Project. The project name comes from two words: “SCUBA” which means Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus and “Basurero”, a Filipino word which means collectors of trash. The objective of the initiative is to keep our marine environment trash-free.

She joined Envirotech in 2019 because she believes she has the same aspiration as Envirotech. With her experience in dealing with various stakeholders and civil society organizations, she recognized the importance of sharing ideas and to never stop learning, because only then can one achieve continuous growth not only in careers but also in personal development.

Cherry passion is diving, protection of marine ecosystems and working with costal communities towards Marine Conservation and Restoration.

Melinda de Luna

Consultant for Aquaculture and Pearl Farming

Melinda was born in the Philipines. She graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology from Philippines’ premier teaching institution, Philippine Normal University. A hardworking, very motivated and enthusiastic person with 25 years hands-on experience in a marine and aquaculture company as a Senior Biologist and Senior Officer.

Working for a private company situated in Palawan where Sustainable Development has been in practice for the past 30 years has exposed her to different sustainable practices, challenges as well as implementation.

She attended and actively participated in different symposiums, seminars, discussions, and training on Environment, Fisheries, Indigenous People, Community Development both as a presenter and participant. She had the privilege of working with various communities including Indigenous Communities and that experience opened her eyes to the importance of Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility, which, she believed should be practiced side by side.

Melinda has mentored and trained several groups of technical persons and administrative people. She also had the chance to work closely with government agencies and non-governmental organizations all with a common goal of environmental protection, preservation, rehabilitation, and sustainable development.

Joining Envirotech for Melinda means sharing her experiences in the field of Marine and Aquaculture best practices, sustainable development practices, community development, and empowerment through education and information all with the end view of genuine respect and care for the environment for the future generations to enjoy.

Melinda passion is in aquaculture.

Glenda I. Manalo

Consultant for Coastal Resource Management

Glenda is from the beautiful island of Palawan in the Philippines. She is a graduate of BS Forestry from the premier forestry school in the country, University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna where her interest in mangrove forest started. Her career is mostly focused on coastal resource assessment, management and enhancement focusing on mangrove, coral reefs and seagrasses. She is a pioneer member of the marine mammal rescue society in Palawan and a marine wildlife Red List Assessor.

Glenda is an Australian trainer and Assessor, currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Fisheries Management. She completed a Master of Science in Environmental Management at the University of Kent in Canterbury and the Diploma in Endangered Species Management administered by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom. Glenda is also a Nuffic fellow after having completed the Ecosystem Approach on Fisheries Management course from Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

Marine resource conservation and spatial planning have been her strengths. She has extensive experience in project management of initiatives funded by international agencies such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Asia Development Bank (ADB).
With more than 20 years of environmental conservation and sustainable development job experience, Glenda worked with various stakeholders, legislators, and communities, which allowed her to see field realities and a better grasp of the essence of true conservation work.

She joined Envirotech to bring these realities and good practices from the community to a wider audience through education.

Glenda passion is to become a catalyst for influencing knowledge building and
genuine environmental community stewardship in maintaining species.

Oren La Paz

Marine Habitats, Exhibits and Aquariums Expert

Oren La Paz, Curator of the Aquarium of Western Australia for the last 20 years. Previously Oren spent over 10 years with Dolphins in the Red sea of Israel.

He is an expert in marine environments and a designer of marine habitats, exhibits and aquariums.
His specialty and passion are coral reefs and dolphin’s behaviours.

Oren has established contacts with Aboriginal elders in Australia, in order to learn, understand and preserve their ancient knowledge of Marine and indigenous culture, which presents an alternative perspective to the modern knowledge of our world today and is a global spiritual approach to practical Ecotheology.

Oren passion and mission in Envirotech Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration program, is to lead Envirotech in our crosspollination learning and training journey, documenting original indigenous country practices and protocols with our practical VET standards, into Envirotech Marine and Land Conservation and Restoration programs.

Oren conceptualised “The Lost Islands”, Envirotech proposed indigenous islanders training and community empowerment framework. The Lost Islands dream, is to learn from indigenous culture spirituality and values and connect these with Envirotech marine ecology certification.

Dr. Jenny Tynyakov

Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration Program Lead

Dr. Jenny Tynyakov is an expert in marine biotechnology. She obtained her B.Sc. in Biology and Psychology from Tel-Aviv University, Israel; her M.Sc. is in Medical Sciences from Tel-Aviv University; and her Ph.D. is in Marine Biotechnology from Ben-Gurion University, Israel. She had taught courses in invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, ecology and coral reefs restoration.
She is also a certified senior medical laboratory worker who has worked at one of the largest medical centers in Israel. She is a certified divemaster and full TriMix technical diver with over 1000 dives worldwide. Dr. Tynyakov serves as the scientific advisor for the Bay Islands Conservation Organization, Utila chapter, Honduras.
Together with Prof. Nadav Shashar, Dr. Jenny Tynyakov lead the development of the Maine Habitat Conservation and Restoration programs, the work in the Utila Field Station while supporting various projects of Marine Conservation and Restoration in Israel and South America.

Dr. Jenny Tynyakov passion is in marine life restoration.

Prof. Nadav Shashar

Chief Consultant for the Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration Program

Prof. Nadav Shashar is a marine biologist who has been studying and developing artificial reefs for over 20 years. He has developed and deployed several types of artificial coral reefs and coral nurseries in Israel and abroad as well as being a frequent consultant in a range of environmental marine and artificial reefs projects. Prof. Shashar has mentored many Ph.D. and M.Sc. students and has authored dozens of scientific publications. His research and artificial reefs projects have been featured in a range of public media outlets, ranging from National Geographic and the BBC all the way to Al-Jazeera.

Prof. Nadav Shashar is the Academic Director of Ben-Gurion University’s Eilat Campus and leads the Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program in Eilat. He leads many international research expeditions, including teaching a hands-on course on coral reefs restoration and artificial reefs construction in Honduras, in 2016. He is also a small boats skipper and an eminent diver, taking part in two 10-day missions in the Aquarius submerged laboratory.

Prof. Shashar lead the development of the Maine Habitat Conservation and Restoration programs, the work in the Utila Field Station while working at the Israeli Ben-Gurion University in the Red Sea.

Prof. Nadav Shashar passion is to the ocean and all its habitats.

Fritzie Azur

Consultant for Environmental Management, Monitoring and Assessment

Fritzie has an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from University of the Philippines Diliman but her passion for the environment pushed her to take up a master’s degree in environmental science. She has over 7 years’ experience in environmental impact assessment, and environmental management and monitoring from working in both the government and the private sector, specifically, the renewable energy sector, as an environmental specialist.

While working for the government, she was given the opportunity to head the Adopt-a-River Project, which was a government-wide effort to clean the rivers of the country, and to be the resource person for the chemical safety and spill response training in the industries within the economic zone.

Fritzie started her stint in the energy sector in the Philippines as an environmental officer in the construction of a hydropower plant and was eventually involved in the business development of a large hydro and a grid-scale battery project. She is an active member and volunteer for a local non-government organization which advocates for biodiversity conservation.

Fritzie is very passionate in making a positive impact in the environment that we live in, so she was ecstatic to be part of Envirotech where she aims to share her learnings on and passion for renewable energy, sustainability, and environmental management, and hopefully inspire others to live with the same purpose.

Daria Sobczak

Consultant for social sustainability

Daria was born and raised in Poland. Her passion for the environment and interest in sustainability from daily tasks to business operations is something she inherited from her father, an environmental engineer who specializes in the water department in of the public sector in Poland.

Following her father’s footsteps, Daria has completed her degree in Environmental Engineering in Warsaw, Poland and continued developing her Environmental pathway in Australia to finally complete Diploma of Sustainable Operations and Diploma of Project Management.

Multiple travels in countries such as Malta, Spain and Israel in addition to important analysis of Polish and Australian communities let her understand that to be able to change, we need to educate. Education of Environmental Science should start in the early ages. Connection with nature and appreciation for what humanity took for granted, Earth, in her opinion should come as basic educational standard; therefore, she will help in educating (consulting) students and children for better understanding and connection with nature and be the parent-guardian of Earth.

Throughout the experience she collected working in various environments and communities, she learned how to connect with and understand other people, develop emotional intelligence and listen to others. These psychological skills are helping her to communicate with various types of people all around the world. Therefore, her future projects and missions will raise awareness, share positive vibrations, create a change by focusing on social sustainability sector. She especially promotes women empowerment and the new movement of female-sustainability. 

Daria works at Envirotech as Environmental Consultant and her passion is invested into social sustainability which is her superpower making sure she contributes by helping people in achieving their goals in harmony with nature.

Shelly Bengiat

Director and CEO, Envirotech Group

Shelly Bengiat was born in Colombia, raised in Israel and for the last 16 years lived in Australia’s Gold Coast. Mrs Shelly Bengiat, is Envirotech Education director and CEO. She is an Australian, Colombian and Israeli citizen, migration agent and environmentalist.

Traveling the world and investing in education is Shelly’s passion. Shelly worked as a VET trainer from the age of 19, teaching software development and later continued in her passion for education in China and Australia.

Shelly is the founder of Study-ID (Est 2005), Envirotech Education (Est 2008), Envirotech Professional Services (Est 2008), which she owns with her Husband Noah Bengiat, today they operate three campuses in Australia and continue to invest in educational innovation.

Shelly’s passion for international educational collaboration motivates her continued traveling and the formation of unique international linkages with world-wide leaders in vocational environmental education.

The Envirotech Education team under Shelly’s direction, developed and introduced unique sustainability and environmental management qualifications to assist future leaders to shape the businesses of tomorrow. Shelly’s passion is to manifest innovate educational programs and methodologies, connecting ecology with technology, finding ways to make environmental management and sustainability a spiritual journey for Envirotech stakeholders.

Mrs Shelly Bengiat led VET projects for over 20 years and is committed to the VET environmental reform as a strategic international bridge between sustainable development projects and people mobility.
Mrs Bengiat is connected to both the Great Barrier Reef as a Queenslander, and to the Mediterranean and Red Sea as Israeli, and she believes that the Red Sea region represents regional ecological and spiritual values that are well connected with COVID-19 reginal recovery plan and the ecological collaborations the ultimate peace grounds she wish to develop with the export of the marine, environmental and sustainability VET training in strategic marine locations. She believes that these VET products are urgently required by local communities, internationally, to provide quality training and VET certification to the local communities, to be skilled in months rather than years.