THE TEAM
We are a volunteer-led organisation and have a team of staff that are dedicated to educating, motivating and activating ocean conservation.
If you would like to join the team, visit our current volunteer vacancy’s page here.
the board
Hala is a seasoned environmental strategist and consultant with over 15 years of experience in fostering trade and business opportunities across nations, regions, and individual businesses. She has worked extensively in the environment sector, collaborating with governments and senior officials on complex and sensitive projects. Hala is committed to driving Azraq’s mission of educating, motivating, and activating communities across the UAE to make a positive impact on the marine environment.
HALA DAHMANE PRESIDENT / MANAGING DIRECTOR
Aa a Senior Consultant with 10 years of experience within the Higher Education/Training Industry working closely with schools, universities, corporates and accreditation bodies in THE GCC, KELVIN HAS provided a gateway for students who are keen on pursuing specialized qualifications in addition to their education background.
KELVIN KURIAN
VICE PRESIDENT
MAZ is an experienced sustainability and social impact strategist with 10+ years experience in policy, strategy, partnership building, advocacy, thought leadership and campaign development. Throughout her career, she has worked on a number of globally impactful issues such as marine conservation, plastic pollution, illegal fishing and deforestation with organisations such as the UN and World Economic Forum.
MARIAN FLETCHER
GENERAL SECRETARY
Steph is a driven individual with 10 years experience in finance and strategy roles and has been based in the UAE since 2018. A Qualified Chartered Management Accountant as well as a Divemaster. She is Looking forward to blending her corporate expertise with her passion for the ocean and marine conservation initiatives.
STEPHANIE BIGGS
TREASURER
SARA is a proud Chinese-Emirati who has strived to integrate the goals of effective altruism throughout her life. From leading CSR & Sustainability at EMAAR to launching Dubai Can, the Crown Prince of Dubai’s single-use plastic bottle campaign; she now represents the UAE as part of the Climate Change Special Envoy’s Negotiations team for COP28. A devout yogini and dancer, Sara sees the importance of living cohesively with nature to in order to ensure that Mother Earth’s needs are rightfully respected. Sara’s interests and expertise broadly spans between innovative farming, water sanitization and filtration, health & wellbeing to waste management.
SARA AHMED ALLIUSIE
BOARD DIRECTOR
AMANDA is a travel and wellness blogger with over 20 years experience in the Middle East. Always next to the ocean, Amanda has a passion for travel and adventure and with that a love for the planet and a consciousness to help towards keeping it clean and protected.
AMANDA RUSHFORTH
BOARD DIRECTOR
Dr. Afra Atiq is an Emirati poet, scholar, and teaching artist. She holds a strong record of academic and professional excellence, having spent the last 10 years at the intersection of education and culture in various capacities.
She completed her PhD in Media and Creative Industries at UAE University. Her research focuses on mapping the Arab literary ecosystem and, in particular, the use of the parallel convergent research method. Additionally, she has been published in notable academic journals. She also earned a Master’s Degree in diplomacy.
Colette is a passionate environmentalist and nature lover. She is also the author of a children’s environmental book series in the UAE and has an extensive corporate background in driving sustainable change projects in the Middle East, including work on plastic pollution for FMCG clients. Colette is a qualified swimming teacher, loves practicing yoga and her favorite animal is the great white shark.
DR. AFRA ATIQ
BOARD DIRECTOR
COLETTE BARR
BOARD DIRECTOR
James moved to the UAE in 2005 and throughout his time in the Middle East has built a strong reputation as an executive business consultant and brand strategist. For over 20 years James has helped hundreds of local and international companies to grow and flourish under his careful guidance. He is a champion for sustainability and believes that CSR should be at the heart of every organization’s mission, vision and values. He has always been a passionate environmentalist and is a strong advocate for marine conservation initiatives in the UAE.
JAMES KHOURY
BOARD DIRECTOR
Born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Omar is the visionary behind the Middle East’s forward-thinking and leading sustainable restaurant, BOCA. Passionate about marine life and the sea, an advocate of local food and farming, foraging, exploring new food sources, rethinking dining experiences and collaborating across borders and industries. Omar is Gault&Millau UAE 2022 Sustainability Champion of the Year, and an advisor to board of the UAE Restaurant Group.
OMAR SHIHAB
BOARD DIRECTOR
AZRAQ ADVISORS
DR. NATOLI is a molecular ecologist with a broad background covering plant genetics, chemistry, microbiology and general ecology, but her main research focuses on marine megafauna, in particular whales and dolphins for which she has extensive monitoring experience.
She is currently concentrating her efforts on the cetaceans in the Gulf and Northern Indian Ocean, developing different lines of long term research to support the development of conservation measures for these species. These include boat based and land based monitoring surveys, stranding monitoring, diet and genetic analysis and citizen science.
Ada is currently part of the IUCN cetacean specialist list and she is involved in the International Whaling Commission as well as the lead of the UAE Dolphin Project.
DR ADA NATOLI
MOLECULAR ECOLOGIST