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The Team

Meet the Ocean Futures Society Team

The Cousteau name is forever linked with the ocean and so it is also necessarily linked to a ship, a vessel run by a team who keep both the ship and the adventure going. The same is still true and with or without a ship at any given time, this team represents a wide-range of devoted people who love the sea and put in long hours--on expedition, in the editing room, the classroom, or at the office computer. They play different roles, do 150 percent of what they’re asked, and are paid mostly in knowing that their work makes a difference. That, after all, is the great adventure.

  • Nicole Boriski, naturalistNICOLE BORISKI, DIRECTOR - AMBASSADORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM
    Nicole Boriski earned a degree in Environmental Studies and Spanish at Texas A&M University. Her study abroad program in Costa Rica involved sea turtle conservation, which sparked a keen interest and passion for tropical waters and all their inhabitants. She traveled throughout Latin America and discovered the magical world of scuba diving coral reefs. She followed her passion by joining the CELP program as a naturalist, teaching students from elementary to university levels in California's coastal kelp forests on Catalina Island, where she evolved into an Assistant Program Director. She then enjoyed working as a naturalist aboard the M/S Paul Gauguin cruise ship in French Polynesia. She has led the Ambassadors programs in Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman. Since accepting the role as Director of Ambassadors of the Environment, she has worked side-by-side with Jean-Michel and Dr. Murphy in conducting site visits, training and recruiting naturalist teams, and developing new Ambassadors programs around the globe. Nicole is thrilled to continue her journey with the Ocean Futures family and looks forward to the next adventure!
  • Associate Producer and Editor Jim KnowltonJIM KNOWLTON, PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

    Director of photography, digital media producer, environmentalist and ocean lover Jim Knowlton is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer that captures images in the air, on land and underwater. Knowlton is owner and director of photography of Blue Ocean Productions, a video production company that creates videos that bring stories, ideas and brands to life.

    Jim has worked with Jean-Michel Cousteau and Ocean Futures Society as producer, director, writer, cameraman and editor for two decades to create award winning short videos and documentaries. The videos that Jim helped create for Ocean Futures Society have been seen by millions of viewers on YouTube. Jim also manages the Ocean Futures Society video library.

    Jim is Festival Director for the Ocean Futures Society Virtual Film Festival, a pay-per-view site where you can see classic OFS films such as My Father the Captain: Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Swains Island – One of the Last Jewels of the Planet. Jim directs the festival and is host on LIVE Q&A presentations for Jean-Michel and his special guests.

    Jim filmed Jean-Michel Cousteau and a team of scientists on an expedition to Swains Island in the South Pacific. Jim then wrote and edited a 56-minute film about the expedition titled, SWAINS ISLAND – One of the Last Jewels of the Planet that won top award in the category, “People and the Sea” at the Blue Ocean Film Festival in St. Petersburg, FL in 2014 and was official selection at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, and SPIFF.

    Jim was associate producer and co-editor on award winning programs in the PBS series, Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures. Jim edited and co-produced My Father, the Captain: Jacques-Yves Cousteau, a film honoring Jacques-Yves Cousteau and how his life influenced the world.

    Jim was director of the Jean-Michel Cousteau Media Camp that taught 30 students from the United States and the Middle East how to make short films as part of a two-week program called Ocean for Life – an international ocean science and cultural exchange program created by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, The GLOBE Program and the National Marine Sanctuaries Program.

    Jim traveled to American Samoa to film Jean-Michel Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Nainoa Thompson and the arrival of sailing canoe Hokulea on its trip around the world. Jim then wrote and edited six short films about ocean conservation and culture, titled The American Samoa Culture and Ocean Conservation Film Series. One of the films, Our Ocean Heritage, won the Best Ecodox award at the San Pedro International Film Festival and the Series was a Finalist in the Broadcast Series category at the 2016 Blue Ocean Film Festival.

    Jim worked with Jean-Michel Cousteau and Tourism Fiji to create a series of videos about how eco-friendly resorts in Fiji work to restore and protect the environment. Many resorts also offer activities for guests that help leave Fiji in better condition than when they arrived. The video series was adapted to play on Fiji Airlines flights.

    Contact Jim at jknowlton@oceanfutures.org

  • Education and Research Associate Holly LohuisHOLLY LOHUIS, MARINE BIOLOGIST
    Holly is a marine biologist with a degree from the University of California in Santa Barbara and has been diving around the world with Jean-Michel Cousteau for more than a decade. A key member of the expedition team, Holly acts as a liaison between the team and scientists, and is responsible for confirming the factual accuracy of the content of Ocean Futures Society documentaries. Also a marine educator, she has taught thousands of children and adults about the wonders and fragility of the aquatic environment and the importance of protecting them for future generations. For her educational outreach efforts, in 2009 Holly was honored with the Hall of Fame award from the San Juan School district in her hometown Sacramento, California.

    Contact Holly at hlohuis@oceanfutures.org

  • Director of Science and Education Richard Murphy PhDRICHARD MURPHY Ph.D., DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
    A Ph.D. scientist in Marine Ecology from the University of Southern California, Murphy began working with Jacques and Jean-Michel Cousteau in 1968 and has been involved in projects and expeditions around the globe. He has served as chief scientist, photographer, writer, educator, and project director and has created many educational programs for young people in developed and developing countries. His book Coral Reefs: Cities Under the Sea offers a unique and fascinating look at how coral reefs function and what lessons they can teach us in making our own communities more sustainable.

    Contact Dr. Murphy at rmurphsurf@gmail.com

  • Director of Expeditions Don SanteeDON SANTEE, DIRECTOR OF EXPEDITIONS
    Don has worked side by side with both Jacques and Jean-Michel Cousteau for more than three decades. Assuming duties as expedition leader and production manager, he coordinates everything from diving excursions to film logistics. An underwater photographer for books and magazines, he has also worked on over 40 television documentaries. In addition to serving as the team's medical dive officer, Don is also responsible for training the Ocean Futures Society team in advanced technical diving procedures and state-of-the-art closed-circuit rebreathers.

    Contact Don at dsantee@oceanfutures.org

  • medium_Carrie-Vonderhaar.pngCARRIE VONDERHAAR, CHIEF EXPEDITION PHOTOGRAPHER
    
As chief expedition photographer, Carrie is the first woman to work with Jean-Michel as both a topside and underwater camera operator. Also an assistant camera operator for Sony 900 HD cameras, Carrie fulfills many responsibilities while on expedition. She is also the only expedition member to travel the entire length of the Amazon from the Andes to the Atlantic for “Return to the Amazon” and the first women to dive using a rebreather at Cordell Banks off California. Her degrees in French, political science and fine arts from Wittenberg University in Ohio and advanced studies at the Université Rennes 2 in France led to studies at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. Carrie was the photographer and photo editor for Jean-Michel’s award-winning, limited-edition book America’s Underwater Treasures, and her images have been published in distinguished magazines such as DIVER, Sublime, Santa Barbara Magazine, Outside, Men’s Journal, Outdoor Enthusiast, Reader’s Digest, Vogue and Discover, as well displayed in many gallery shows including the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco where over 3 million tourists viewed her images. In 2011, Carrie was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame for her contributions in the Arts and Conservation.

    Contact Carrie at cvonderhaar@oceanfutures.org

International Offices

  • Ruben ArvizuRUBÉN D. ARVIZU, FILM PRODUCER/WRITER, DIRECTOR FOR LATIN AMERICA
    Rubén Arvizu is the founder and president of Arvintel Media Productions, an Atlanta based dubbing company with studios in Los Angeles, California specializing in dubbing films, cartoons, documentaries and commercials into English and other languages. As a writer and journalist he has published hundreds of columns and essays in newspapers and magazines in the United States and Latin America. In 1982 he received the Isabella of Spain award, in 1986 La Pluma de Plata and in 1992 La Palma de Oro.

    Rubén was formerly representative to Latin America for The Cousteau Society as well as film producer/writer and worked extensively with Captain Cousteau and Jean-Michel on many of their projects. Presently, he collaborates with Ocean Futures Society as film producer/writer and director for Latin America and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation as their director for Latin America.

    Contact Rubén at rarvizu@oceanfutures.org

  • LEDA L. BOZACIYAN, ADVISOR
    Leda Bozaciyan has known the Cousteaus since the early 1980s when she collaborated with The Cousteau Society during the Amazon Expedition.

    Contact Leda at leda@ofsbrasil.org.br

  • MARIE-CLAUDE OREN, ADVISOR

    Marie-Claude has been working with Jean-Michel Cousteau for more than 25 years. She assisted and managed the Jean-Michel Cousteau Productions office in France. Marie-Claude specializes in finance and financial analysis but she contributes in a variety of ways to the organization.

    Contact Marie-Claude at mcoren@ofeurope.org

Advisors

  • Board member and secretary James R. AndrewsJAMES R. ANDREWS, OCEAN FUTURES SOCIETY PAST BOARD MEMBER AND SECRETARY
    James R. Andrews is an attorney in Santa Monica, California, with a long affiliation and friendship with both Jacques Cousteau and Jean-Michel Cousteau. A graduate of UCLA Law School, his legal practice has focused on general business transactions and he has represented many nonprofit entities over the years. In 1969, he represented Captain Cousteau in the creation of the Living Sea Museum located aboard the former ocean liner, the Queen Mary, in Long Beach, California, and it was the beginning of a relationship that lasted until the Captain’s death. Mr. Andrews continues to represent Jean-Michel Cousteau and Ocean Futures Society and is a member of the Board of Directors of OFS. Mr. Andrews has been in love with the sea since he was a little boy. Growing up, he spent virtually every summer weekend swimming and fishing at the beach in Oceanside, California, and regularly bicycled to the Palos Verdes peninsula to snorkel in its many coves. His present involvement with OFS is a continuation of his life-long dreams.
  • Jean-Michel Cousteau and Dr. Sylvia EarleDR. SYLVIA EARLE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    Dr. Sylvia A. Earle is a longtime friend of Jean-Michel Cousteau and has been a member of the Ocean Futures Society Advisory Board since its beginning in 1999. She is a pioneer in ocean exploration and research and is currently an Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, leader of the Sustainable Seas Expeditions, chair of the Advisory Councils for Harte Research Institute and for the Ocean in Google Earth. Dr. Earle also served as Chief Scientist of NOAA in the early 1990s and she is a 2009 recipient of the coveted TED Prize for her proposal to establish a global network of marine protected areas.
  • Director of Photography Matthew FerraroMATT FERRARO, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
    Matt graduated from California State University Monterey Bay in 1999 with a degree in Earth System Sciences and Policy. As an original expedition member for Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures PBS series, Matt’s duties have encompassed research, still photography, camera operator, underwater lighting, and marine operations. Currently he is Director of Photography and Chief Diver for Ocean Futures Society.

    Contact Matt at mferraro@oceanfutures.org

  • Brian Hall Cameraman and Post ProductionBRIAN HALL, CAMERAMAN/POST PRODUCTION
    Brian graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a minor in Oceanography from the University of New Hampshire. He then studied whales in the field with renowned biologist Roger Payne and Ocean Alliance. Through his work in the field, Brian realized the importance of conveying the discoveries and issues that scientists were uncovering to the public to help promote awareness and better decision-making. He left field research and began freelancing for documentary photography and video projects that work towards this goal. Brian joined the Ocean Futures team in 2006 working on post production for “America’s Underwater Treasures” and continued with post production work on “Return to the Amazon,” “Sea Ghosts,” and “Call of the Killer Whale,” contributing second camera filming and assistant camera duties for “Call of the Killer Whale.”

    Contact Brian at bhall@oceanfutures.org

  • International Advisory Council Chair Nancy MarrNANCY MARR, CO-FOUNDER, INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIR
    
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Nancy Marr is instilled with a love for nature. An aspiring artist, she studied art and then made a career representing artists and antiquarian maps in galleries in Hawaii. Moving to Santa Barbara, California, in 1992, she helped found Ocean Futures Society with Jean-Michel Cousteau and continues fundraising efforts and working behind the scenes. She is an eclectic collector of native arts and crafts worldwide and antiquarian maps. She actively supports peaceful enterprises, global healthcare and education for women and children.
  • International Advisory Council Jeffrey MoraJEFFREY MORA, INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
    Jeffrey is the corporate chef and owner of Metropolitan Culinary Services Inc., chef for the Los Angeles Lakers and a devoted environmentalist. His unique menus featuring sustainable meats, seafood and produce have delighted palates for more than 20 years, for people in more than 20 countries. He competed in the Culinary Olympics in 1992 and 1996 as part of the U.S. team. Jeffrey now serves as a member of the International Advisory Council of Ocean Futures Society, and sits on the board of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Earth Communications Office.
  • Co-Producer and Writer Pamela StaceyPAMELA STACEY, CO-PRODUCER/WRITER
    Pamela Stacey is an Emmy-nominated writer for a variety of film projects, including work as producer and writer of a one-hour ABC network special on dolphins, writer and producer of films for Ocean Futures Society/PBS productions, Cousteau Society/Turner Broadcasting, and IMAX feature films. Pam served as chief editor for the Cousteau Society’s Dolphin Log magazine for children and is an author/editor of books about water, coral reefs and ocean protection. Pam has written, co-written and produced nine episodes of the Ocean Adventures series including “The Gray Whale Obstacle Course,” “Sharks at Risk,” “America’s Underwater Treasures,” “Return to the Amazon,” “Sea Ghosts,” and “Call of the Killer Whale.”

    Contact Pam at pamstacey@gmail.com

  • CHARLES VINICK, OCEAN FUTURES SOCIETY BOARD MEMBER

    Charles has worked closely with both Jacques and Jean-Michel Cousteau for over 25 years, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ocean Futures Society, Vice President of the Cousteau Society, and Fonde de Pouvoir of Parc Oceanique Cousteau in Paris, France, and is now an advisor to the wide range of Ocean Futures Society projects and goals. Charles is also a consultant to Ecomerit Technologies, a renewable energy development company in the areas of business development, government relations and environmental permitting, and he brings extensive experience in ocean policy, environmental policy, project management and government relations. He has been extensively engaged in the offshore renewable energy regulatory development process and MMS and FERC permitting regimes. Charles served as President and CEO of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound and as the CEO of the Santa Barbara City College Foundation as well as Director of Training and Development for TRW, Inc., and Executive Director of Adult Education for the University of Southern California. He has received commendations from the White House for his work with youth education and from the Los Angeles City Council for community environmentalism. Mr. Vinick currently serves on the Board of Directors of Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., Heal the Ocean, and Ocean Futures Society Europe. He also provides management and policy consulting services to for profit and non-profit organizations.

Naturalists

  • medium_EstelleShowingUrchin.jpgESTELLE DAVIES, NATURALIST
    Estelle was born on the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus and now lives in Hong Kong. She has her Masters degree in Tropical Marine Ecology from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, a BSc in Marine and Environmental Science from St. Andrews University in Scotland, during which she spent her junior year on exchange at the University of California at Santa Cruz. In 2004, Estelle received a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) in Biology from King’s College, London. Estelle joined Ocean Futures Society in 2005 and spent five years lecturing on board Regent Seven Seas Cruises, where she inspired and educated guests and crew on the marine environment around the globe. She has also worked as a Resident Marine Biologist in the Maldives, Bonaire, and Australia and on Marine Conservation projects in Belize, Madagascar and along the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. She has served as a Cousteau Naturalist on the Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia since 2006.
  • Laura Brands LEULIER , Education Associate and NaturalistLAURA BRANDS LEULIER, EDUCATION ASSOCIATE/NATURALIST
    Laura first fell in love with water on a trip to the Everglades, immersed in the most crystal clear water she’d ever known. With a taste for the far-flung and unique, at twenty Laura headed to Madagascar for studies in coral reef conservation. Her studies continued in Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, including French language studies. As a naturalist for Ocean Futures Society since 2000, Laura thrived at teaching tropical marine ecology in the South Pacific onboard cruise ships. Other ship-based naturalist work took her to the icy waters of the North Pacific and Cape Horn, into the turquoise Mediterranean and Caribbean. Now at Ocean Futures’ headquarters in the South of France, Laura directs the Tahiti-based Ambassadors of the Environment program which takes place on the m/s Paul Gauguin, and also works along side Jean-Michel Cousteau on environmental advocacy, education and conservation projects on the French-Mediterranean coast.

    Contact Laura at lbrands@oceanfutures.org

In Memorial

  • Board member Albert FalcoALBERT FALCO, PAST BOARD MEMBER (deceased)
    As Jacques Cousteau’s first diver, Albert Falco spent nearly four decades as expedition chief and captain of the Calypso, a pioneer diver uncovering the sea’s wonders and secrets. He calls those years “the most beautiful of my life.” Falco is now retired, but not from the ocean, still sharing what he has learned in short films he creates for environmental organizations such as Martinique Vidéo Sub, Earth and Sea Images and others. He also works to preserve the Calanque de Sormiou, a place close to his heart where he first discovered underwater diving. His films aim to protect the ocean and the riches it conceals; to create marine reserves in order to save aquatic species facing extinction; and to teach children about the environment. An OFS board member, Falco lives in Marseille with his wife, Maryvonne, and has a daughter and four grandchildren.
  • Board Member and CFO Tim TrabonTIM TRABON, PAST BOARD MEMBER (deceased)
    An admirer of Jacques Cousteau since his teens, Tim first joined Calypso as a guest in November 1980 for its voyage on the St. Lawrence River. At one point, the ship was caught in a winter storm and threatened to capsize. But since that was Tim’s first time sailing, he was blithely unaware of any danger. “My inexperience and ignorance led everyone to believe I was fearless,” he recalls, ultimately leading to an invitation to join Calypso on the Amazon in 1982, this time as financial director. Later Cousteau expeditions took Tim to the Sea of Cortez, the British West Indies, Papua New Guinea, the Fiji Islands, and the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Today, in addition to serving as OFS Chief Financial Officer, Tim co-leads Trabon Solutions, a custom-software company; owns and operates Fallin’ T Ranch, raising 750 head of Black Angus cattle; and runs Trabon Printing, which published Jean-Michel Cousteau’s award-winning book America’s Underwater Treasures. Tim lives in Kansas City with his wife and four children, including Delila, an orphan he brought home and out of the war in Sarajevo in 1993.