A conservationist from Sri Lanka, Vinod has worked in several roles within the environmental field. He co-founded the Parrotfish Collective, a group of conservation communicators; operated as the project coordinator for the Rewilding for Tourism (RFT) project under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA); as the co-founding project manager for Waste Less Arugam Bay (WLAB); and as project manager for the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO), Sri Lanka. Vinod has a masters degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Environment with a focus in community engagement and sustainability planning management and an undergraduate degree in Geography and Anthropology from Macalester College, USA.

In addition to his work with the LEF, Vinod is currently Co-Chair of the Mangrove Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods (MCSL) Forum which comprises of several local conservation organizations working to conserve mangrove ecosystems, sits on the Policy and Advocacy committees of the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO), Sri Lanka and is on the judging panel for the Best Sustainability Projects awarded by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) at their annual Corporate Citizen Awards.

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Naduni has extensive experience in operations management and holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA. While her academic background is in psychology, she has a deep-rooted interest in conservation and environmental science. In her various operations roles, she has helped to build systems to ensure smooth functioning within the organisations and helped foster connections with external stakeholders. Naduni also has a strong passion for science communication and education, and is looking forward to making contributions in these areas through her work.

Mehak is a conservationist from Sri Lanka currently pursuing an International Masters in Marine Biology with a specialisation in Applied Marine Ecology and Conservation. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology from New York University Abu Dhabi, Mehak brings a strong academic foundation to her work.

She has gained diverse professional research experience in the field of conservation, including roles as Extern at the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy, Project Assistant at Environment Foundation Ltd, Strategy Analysis Extern at Greenpeace USA. Her research experience includes studying vision of deep sea cephalopods, coral spawning and larval growth, and genetic and phenotypic divergence in mangrove species.

Passionate about the environment, Mehak is dedicated to making a positive impact on the conservation and sustainable management of Sri Lanka’s ecosystems.

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Chanuka Maheshani is an environmental professional with over 15 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, environmental governance, and sustainable development. She currently serves as Programme Manager at LEF, following an accomplished career with the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Sri Lanka), and the Open University of Sri Lanka. She is pursuing an International Master's Degree in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development at Tongji University, China, under the prestigious MOFCOM Scholarship, and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Science from the University of Colombo and a B.Sc. in Natural Sciences from the Open University of Sri Lanka. Her professional qualifications include Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Project Management, Environmental Communication, IUCN Red List Assessor Training, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), GIS and Spatial Analysis, and Ecosystem-based Approaches for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, complemented by specialized international training in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Chanuka has led and coordinated nationally and internationally significant programmes, including the Sri Lanka Coral Reef Initiative (SLCRI), the Managing Together project in the Malwatu Oya Basin, the GEF-7 Biodiversity Mainstreaming and Sustainable Land Management Programme, the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Programme, the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Programme, CBD-Ecologically and biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) and the GEF Invasive Alien Species Project. She has represented Sri Lanka at the UNEP Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) and contributed to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Ramsar Convention, CITES, and CMS. Her notable contributions include coordinating the National Red List (Fauna) programme, serving as the National Coordinator for IUCN Global Red List assessments, leading Sri Lanka's first National Symposium on Soil Biodiversity, and coordinating the National Butterfly Conservation Action Plan. Her research and consultancy work focus on biodiversity conservation, coastal and marine ecosystems, wetland management, butterfly conservation, ecological restoration, and microplastic pollution, bridging science, policy, and practice for sustainable conservation outcomes. She is a member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) and the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL), and has also contributed as a volunteer with the Shanghai Media Group – City News Service (China) and Professionals Without Borders – Redesign Sri Lanka, promoting community engagement and sustainable development.

Ashanee Kottage is a researcher and artist from Colombo, Sri Lanka, by way of Washington, DC and Boston, Massachusetts.

Her research is interdisciplinary, invested in understanding and improving the systems we interact with in order to live in our geographies—from food to energy to leisure. In addition to her work at LEF, Ashanee is currently a part-time researcher at Centre for a Smart Future working on a national heat action plan and expanding social protections on the island.

An an artist, Ashanee is a poet, theater maker, and dancer, as well as the founder of Kavaya Press—an artist collective and publishing home for writers of the Global Majority. Ashanee’s professional artistic practice began in climate theater, translating science into embodied performance, and spans projects with the Earth Commons, the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, and We Hear You: A Climate Archive—which has reached COP27, the Hirshhorn Museum, and Stockholm’s Dramaten. Her debut poetry collection Sand & Sweat traces a coming-of-age across continents.

Ashanee holds a Master of Science in Sustainability from Tufts University, where she studied Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, with a major in Science, Technology, and International Affairs and a minor in Theatre and Performance Studies.

Ashanee shares LEF’s radical commitment towards locally empowered and managed conservation; she is excited to be a part of this team of enthusiastic administrators.

You can learn more about her work at ashaneekottage.com.

Daisy is a classical singer, photographer and tv presenter. Founder of events photography company Honeybunn Photography, Daisy also presents HCTV’s hit show Daisy Dines With, and is a director of the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead. Daisy and her husband Pravin Mukhi founded the DHD Foundation in 2020, which supports charitable organisations and philanthropic causes. The foundation’s current core projects are working with the LEF, and leading a joint campaign to increase diversity and inclusion throughout the equestrian industry. Daisy has spent many happy times in Sri Lanka, and her and husband have a home near Tangalle.

Dr Chethika Gunasiri is a sustainability specialist and researcher with over 12 years of experience in ecosystem management, nature-based solutions, environmental strategic planning and governance. She has served as an Environmental Scientist with the Government of Sri Lanka, where she has led and contributed to urban ecosystem management and governance initiatives. Chethika has played a key role in several nationally significant policy and planning efforts, including the preparation of the Colombo Wetland Management Strategy (2016), the Wetland Management Strategy for the Kalu Oya and Mundun Ela Basin (2018), and the application for the Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation for Colombo (2018). She was also a member of the National Invasive Species Specialist Group of Sri Lanka (2016–2019) and was involved in the development of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Chethika holds a PhD in Sustainability Science from the United Nations University, Japan, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Tokyo.