Our Team & Partners

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President & Director, The Harris Conservation Initiative

President & Director, Project Palaka

     Norman has 20 years of experience in environmental science, herpetology, tropical forest ecology, and conservation. He earned his undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies with a Concentration in Chesapeake Bay Regional Studies from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and his master’s degree in environmental science from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. 

In 2013, he was awarded the Earthwatch Neville Shulman Award for Emerging Environmental Leaders. This award made it possible for him to work in Panama, Belize, Honduras, and Bolivia to obtain experience training in both in-situ and ex-situ conservation techniques for many groups of reptiles and amphibians- Anura, Chelonia, Serpentes, Lacertilia, and Crocodilia. He also traveled on his own accord to the Smithsonian Institute’s Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (PARC) to obtain training in the ex-situ care of amphibians.

     In 2015, Norman was awarded a Fulbright Student Award, which took him to the Philippines for the first time. He enacted Project Palaka, the only first (and only) ex-situ conservation project for Philippine amphibians. Norman designed every aspect of the ex-situ setup, and the success of this early project led to Project Palaka working with Platymantis insulatus, the only species of amphibian in the Philippines that has been designated as “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN. Norman has also been designated as a Fulbright Specialist until 2024, a Research Scholar at Washington College, and a 2021 National Geographic Explorer. 

Vice-President of Research for Belize

     A native of Delaware, Dr. Nicholas Van Liew Brokaw earned his PhD in Biology at the University of Chicago. He taught at the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras,from 2001 until 2018. He now serves as Professor Emeritus at the University.  Dr. Brokaw has also served at the Principal Investigator at the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program, Puerto Rico, a Bullard Fellow at Harvard University, a Senior Scientist at the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, and as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Kenyon College.

     Dr. Brokaw's research focuses on discovering what factors determine the three-dimensional structure and tree species composition of tropical forest. His investigations relate structure and composition to site environment (e.g., slope, soil) and site history (disturbance), and records forest changes over the long-term. His studies in tropical forest ecology span such places as Panama, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Ecuador. 

     Dr. Brokaw has authored or co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, and has co-authored or edited five academic books.  He has received 31 grants over the course of his career, including but not limited to funding from the National Sciences Foundation, the Smithsonian, the National Geographic Society, and the Pew Charitable Trust. 

Vice-President of Research for Puerto Rico

     Angela is currently on track to finish her PhD in Environmental Sciences from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. Her specialty is Marine Biology. Her thesis is focused on the current state of coral reefs adjacent to important urban infrastructures around the island, and understanding the long-term persistence of their ability to buffer wave action and the impacts of extreme events (e.g. hurricanes, climate change). The information provided by Angela’s research will be an important decision-making tool for the projection of possible future options to design cost-effective and functional restoration projects in urban shallow fringing coral reefs under diverse environmental conditions.

     Angela is also a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor, and completed her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at Texas A&M University before working at the Melbourne Aquarium in Australia, and the Dubai

Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in the UAE.

    When not in the classroom or diving the reefs of Puerto Rico to collect data, Angela can be found in the gym, training for her next fight; in addition to being a scientist and conservationist, Angela is a world-champion Muay Thai fighter, under the nickname Angela “Riptide” Whitley.

Director, The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center

     Celso is preparing to defend his PhD at the University of Florida, while simultaneously serving as the Director of the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center. Celso began his career at the zoo in 1995, and served as the Education Director. Celso believes that education is an

important aspect of conservation success. Under his leadership, the Belize Zoo brings high school students for two weeks at a time so they can get experience working in a zoo environment. Celso also developed a pen pal program for Birds Without Borders – Aves Sin

Fronteras program from the Milwaukee County Zoo.

     Celso’s plans as Director involve emphasizing and developing the Zoo as a conservation science education center and a focus on more research and conservation. Under Celso’s directoship, the Zoo is establishing a research program for the globally endangered Yellow-

headed Parrot, (Amazona oratrix). Under his leadership, the Zoo is now overseeing the management of the Sharon Matola Wildlife Sanctuary, named after the founder of the Belize Zoo and comprised of 2,600 acres of forest habitat. Celso is currently overseeing the development of

a management plan for the sanctuary.

Assistant Director & Vice-President of Research, Project Palaka

     Sam has been with Project Palaka since October 2021, starting as a student research assistant, then becoming an in-country partner, before finally being invited to sit on the Board of Directors. Sam will take over as Director after Norman’s departure from the Philippines in March 2024.

Sam is a brilliant young scientist; by June 2024, he aims to complete his dual master’s degree in Wildlife Studies and Genetics. He is developing a process to identify genetic markers in Platymantis insulatus to allow us to identify potentially genetically distinct sub-populations. He has previous management/directorship experience through his positions as a Pollen Technologist and Scientific Research Analyst. In both of those roles, he was responsible for designing research experiments and training/managing other staff members. 

    As a Research Assistant at Project Palaka, Sam was a “self-starter”, and within months of joining the project, his talents for management were on full display. Most recently, during Project Palaka’s relocation from Los Banos to the Ocean Adventure facility in Subic Bay, Sam has stepped forward and voluntarily taken on more responsibility, meeting with OA staff members to formulate weekly work schedules, address concerns, and coordinate with WIN/OA staff.

Vice-President of Education and Community Outreach, Project Palaka

    Jazz is the founder and CEO of Wildlife Matters, a Philippine nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of endemic Philippine fauna and the education of the public about wildlife issues. Jazz currently works at the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity. She is a natural “show woman”, and was the perfect choice to head up efforts to reinvigorate our lagging educational outreach goals. Jazz is experienced with all types of herpetofauna, and is not only skilled in safely handling large and venomous snakes, but runs a certification program through Wildlife Matters to train others in snake handling. Jazz is currently enrolled in a Master's program in Wildlife Studies.

Chairman of the Board, Project Palaka

   David is in the process of obtaining his PhD from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. One of his research interests is disease processes, and he recently published a paper on the continued circulation of variants of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. David is new to the world of nonprofits, has proven to be an attentive and dedicated Chairman of the Board. He and Sam are in regular communication to develop future research plans for Project Palaka. David hopes to develop research projects focuses on amphibian diseases, and the threat they pose to conservation efforts.

 We’re in the process of finalizing our Memorandums of Understanding with our partners in Japan. Once those are finalized, we will list our conservation partners. 

We’re in discussion with potential partners on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Once these partnerships are confirmed and finalized, we will list our conservation partners. 

The Harris Conservation Initiative is looking for additional members of our Board of Directors, as well as additional conservation partners. If you think you or someone you know would be interested, contact us!