Our ambassadors

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Hi! My name is Hannah, and I am very passionate about all things law! I was born in Toronto, Canada, but I am Caymanian by heritage and have grown up in the Cayman Islands for the majority of my life, aside from my time at boarding school. My time in the Cayman Islands Youth Parliament ignited my passion for protecting the interests of Caymanians and Caymanian culture, as we discussed more affordable and sustainable housing programs. I am an aspiring litigator and have been heavily interested in understanding the implications of sustainable development legislation as I head into my law degree at the University of Exeter. I hope to work more closely in editing policy and speaking publicly on behalf of Sustainable Cayman, to bring more awareness to the cultural and social nuances that come from preserving our environment.

 Hi, I'm Connor and I grew up in Cayman playing by the sea and I still spend as much time as possible outside, usually surfing, paddleboarding, diving, or free diving.  I have taken part in many conservation activities including attending COP25 in Madrid as a Youth Ambassador, volunteering for Plastic Free Cayman and the Surfriders Foundation, being a student leader for Protect Our Future and the Caribbean Tree Planting Project, and acting as an ambassador for 4Oceans and Nauti Nomad.  I love Cayman and feel an intense desire to do my part to protect my beautiful island home.   

Em is a Caymanian sustainability consultant and climate justice advocate, passionate about Island culture and quality of life. Upon leaving a decade-long career in the Financial Services Industry and Legal sector in 2022, she founded the sustainability consultancy firm TRUE.M (@truedotm) and holds a Total Resource Use & Efficiency (TRUE) Advisor qualification. 

Em's hobbies include creating plant-based culinary art using local ingredients, nature photography, hiking, traveling sustainably, going to museums, watching documentaries about nature and conservation, and being in the ocean. 

Hi, I'm Al Ebanks, also known as the Caiman Cowboy. My expertise lies in Game Design and Development, but my heart beats for sustainable public infrastructure, historical preservation, and environmental activism. I'm deeply passionate about using technology as a tool to safeguard Cayman's rich heritage, educating others about our culture, and capturing the beauty of our wildlife and marine life through photography.  As a Sustainable Cayman Ambassador, a member of Colours Cayman, and actively involved in the West Bay District Committee of the National Trust and West Bay Central Council, I channel my energy into various community initiatives. My mission is to bridge the past and the future, preserving our history while advocating for a greener, more sustainable tomorrow.

 Hi, I'm Matt a hardware designer who is interested in using intelligent systems to improve sustainability. I hold a Bachelor of Applied Science in mechanical engineering. Growing up in the Cayman Islands and attending school in Canada, I developed a passion for nature, enjoying camping, paddling, and scuba diving.  During an internship at NeuralStudio.ai, I contributed to a proof of concept for a lionfish smart trap. Currently, I am employed at CostWatch, where I develop electronics to manage utilities.  

Hi I'm Rickeem, a dedicated and skilled professional in marine systems and environmental sciences, with an academic foundation from the University of Edinburgh, where I earned an MSc in Marine Systems and Policies with Merit, and Aberystwyth University, where I completed a BSc in Marine and Freshwater Biology. 

My professional experience spans roles such as Laboratory Technologist at Water Authority–Cayman, Research Intern at Central Caribbean Marine Institute and Research Assistant at the Cayman Islands Department of Environment. I have assumed leadership roles as a Youth Delegate for the Cayman Islands at COP26 and COP28. 

Through comprehensive academic pursuits, professional engagements, and leadership experiences, I'm committed to sustainability in our islands positioning myself at the intersection of people, science and policy in the Cayman Islands

Meet Dejea Lyons, Sustainable Cayman's 2024 One Planet Summer Ambassador!  At just 19, Dejea had already made waves as Vice President of Protect Our Future and a recipient of the prestigious The Diana Award for her environmental advocacy. This award, established in memory of Princess Diana, honors young changemakers aged 9-25. Dejea’s passion for sustainability has led her to champion causes like banning single-use plastics Plastic Free Cayman , opposing the cruise port in George Town Cruise Port Referendum Cayman, and creating the Caribbean Ocean Heroes Boot Camp during the pandemic.  As a One Planet Summer Ambassador, Dejea will leverage innovative OnePlanet technology to develop, monitor, and present sustainable actions and strategies. This role allows her to play a crucial part in advancing Sustainable Cayman’s mission by making sustainable initiatives more accessible and actionable. Join us in celebrating Dejea's journey and her commitment to driving positive change and fostering collaboration for a sustainable future.

 Hi, I'm Soleil and I'm a sustainability studies major at the University of Texas at Austin where I specialize in the interconnected web of social and environmental issues. My biggest passions revolve around sustainable food systems and second hand fashion. Both in Cayman and globally, our food systems and fast fashion are top contributors to carbon emissions and climate change, as well as human and animal abuse. My mission is to educate others on the harm of these industries, and research and develop creative innovations to increase accessibility to carbon neutral and environmentally friendly options, especially in Cayman!  

Hi, I'm Hayley.  I'm a Caymanian consultant based in Vancouver, Canada, and worked as the Campaign Support Officer at Sustainable Cayman to bolster the "Wetlands Thrive Life Survives" Campaign advocating for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) directive for the East-West Arterial Road extension. 

I hold a bachelor's degree in Geography and International Development, and a master's in Environment, Development, and Policy from the University of Sussex, I'm very passionate about leveraging my expertise in climate change adaptation and mitigation to create net-zero solutions.  I maintain strong ties to my Caymanian roots, representing the Cayman Islands on global platforms, contributing to sustainability webinars, supporting research and project management.

Presently I work in Indigenous consulting in Canada advancing Truth and Reconciliation protocols whilst continuing to be a Sustainability Ambassador for the Cayman Islands.

Hi! My name is Dani, and I am currently pursuing an MSc degree in Marine Environmental Management after studying at the University of Plymouth for a BSc in Ocean Science and Marine Conservation. Through my seasonal internship with the Department of Environment, I developed a passion for sea turtle conservation and research.  I was also selected to represent Cayman at COP28, where I spoke about the connection between culture and heritage and climate change and learned about the lack of access to climate finance in the British Overseas Territories. 

I hope to expand environmental awareness within the Cayman Islands, help promote sustainable living and development, and collaborate with other Caribbean islands to create a better future for our region and communities. 

Chiara has been a long-standing advocate for environmental initiatives in Cayman, with a specialisation in anti-plastic and sustainable development policies. Chiara studies International Development and Economics at university in the UK, and combines her knowledge of Cayman’s environment  with her academic focus on economics to propose sustainable solutions through her spokesperson position in various grassroots movements. 

She represented the Cayman Islands at the 27th Conference of the Parties as a Youth Delegate, where she spoke about the Caribbean’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Here, she was invited to present on the various future threats to culture, heritageMeet and livelihoods in Small Island Nations, communicating her experiences with coral bleaching, sea level rise, and increased frequency of climate disasters in the Cayman Islands.
As a Marketing & Communications Intern, she will enthusiastically continue to advocate for sustainability in the spheres of green finance, renewable energy, and education.

Hi, I'm Bela. I love spending time in the ocean and doing my part to protect it. I have worked with Protect Our Future, the Youth Ambassador's Program, and the DoE's SCTLD team to help community efforts in climate and mental health advocacy and ecosystem restoration. In 2021, I represented the Cayman Islands at COP 26. I currently study marine biology at the University of California Santa Cruz and work at The Center for Agrogeocology's Basic Needs Cafe. I am passionate about protecting Cayman's future and I hope to help make Cayman more sustainable and inclusive, preserve our society's maritime culture, and encourage stronger youth voices.