Staff

Bradley joined the Department as a summer student in 1993 and became a full time employee after graduating from Eckerd College in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Science. He has had involvement with most of the Department’s projects over the years but now is involved with the Nassau Grouper study, the Lionfish Control Program, and various licensing and permitting directives.

Carl is one of the Department’s Conservation Officers patrolling the waters around Grand Cayman and enforcing the Marine Conservation Laws.

Cheryl performs a wide variety of administrative support functions for a staff of 35, and provides bookkeeping support to the AFM in the administration of the department’s annual budget.

Croy works in the research and assessment section of DOE, working mainly with coral reefs, seagrass and mangrove systems, with coral reefs as his main focus. He coordinates the Department’s long-term Coral Reef Monitoring Programme along with assisting in the planning and implementation of other environmental monitoring and research programmes ensuring that changes in the general ecology of the marine and coastal environments are detected and these environments are safeguarded.

Claire is a research officer in the Marine Resources Unit. Having acquired a BSc in marine biology and zoology and an MSc in marine environmental protection at Bangor University, she started working for the DoE in 2017. She is part of a team that specializes in the research and monitoring of benthic habitats and communities.

Gene’s departmental roles include fisheries conservation, coastal water quality monitoring, and local aquaculture development. He began his aquatic science career in 1975 as the C.I.G.’s first Caymanian marine biologist. In the photograph, Gene is preparing to deploy a buoy to mark a sampling station during conch survey.

Gina Ebanks-Petrie is the Director of the Department of Environment. She describes her job as challenging, but never boring, and says she feels extremely privileged to lead such a competent and dynamic team who are passionately committed to the conservation of Cayman’s biodiversity and natural environment. Gina would like to extend a very warm Caymanian welcome to all visitors to this website and hopes that you will find it both informative and inspiring

Jane is a zoologist with an MSc in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health from the University of Edinburgh. She has previously worked at the Bristol Zoo, UK, and at the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme. She now works in the Terrestrial Research Unit of the Department and her responsibilities include updating species action and conservation plans, responding to enquiries and continuing the TRU’s many conservation projects on all three islands. Jane is also the editor of TRU’s bimonthly magazine Flicker.

Janice’s work for the Department of Environment focuses on marine turtle research, conservation, and public education. Current projects include monitoring and satellite tracking nesting female green and loggerhead turtles ( http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking ) and investigation of genetics, diving behavior, habitat use, and ecology of juvenile hawksbill and green turtles. These efforts are targeted toward providing information of aximum relevance to the conservation of marine turtles in the Cayman Islands, through elucidation of international migratory patterns and local management requirements. Janice is also involved in Darwin Initiative benthic habitat mapping and a variety of other DoE research and education programs.

Jeremy provides input for the mapping, spatial data maintenance and spatial data analysis needs of the department.

Jerrica joined the Department in April 2017. Her background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Wildlife Conservation and a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Development in Practice. During her undergrad degree Jerrica worked with the DOE as a student intern. Today, Jerrica’s role within the Department is to assist in the development and implementation of the DOE’s sustainable development initiatives and programmes at the department and national level and to assist in the assessment and monitoring of coastal and terrestrial development likely to impact the natural environment.

John Bothwell is Manager of the DoE’s Legislation Implementation and Coordination Unit. The Unit’s role can be summed up as turning research into conservation. Though with a background in marine biology John tries not to get too busy to help other Officers with their in-water research, as long as they handle the data management and analysis.

Casey is a Conservation Officer with the DoE enforcing the National Conservation Law at sea and on land. Casey is also involved in invasive lionfish control.

Kevin keep DoE operations running smoothly – whether that involves repairs to machinery, boats and vehicles, designing and constructing customized research gear, or lending a hand with the work in the field.

Leah joined the Department as a summer student in 2002 and became a full time employee after graduating from the University of Guelph in 2011. Her background is in Environmental Economics and Policy and her role within the Department is to assist with the reporting of the Department’s recommendation on Coastal Works and Planning applications, assisting the public and private development sectors in achieving sustainable development and monitoring the Environmental Management System. She also assist in various research projects within the department, including the Turtle Nesting programme.

Nathan joined the DOE in May 2014 as a Sustainable Development Officer working in the Sustainable Development Unit and as a part of the Technical Review Committee. He recently graduated with degrees in Environmental Biology and Environmental Monitoring from universities in the UK. He also has past experience working at the DOE as a student intern and has worked in environmental waste management consultancy in the UK. Nathan’s role within the Department is focussed around the review of Coastal Works and Planning Applications with involvement in other sustainability projects.

Phil is Secretary of the Marine Conservation Board, and presides over the issue of fishing licensing and permits. He also heads up our year-round research into the Nassau grouper, and manages the data collection and reporting for CARICOM projects.

Robert is the Marine Parks Officer for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. His duties encompass all aspects of Marine Conservation, assisting scientists in field studies and enforcement and compliance of Marine Conservation Laws.

Ronnie supervises the team of Conservation Officers enforcing the Marine Conservation Law.

Wendy’s role within the Department entails assisting in the assessment and monitoring of coastal and terrestrial development likely to impact on the natural environment. This includes reporting the Department’s recommendations on Coastal Works and Planning applications, assisting the public and private development sectors in achieving sustainable development and inputting to Environmental Impact Assessments/studies for proposed development projects. Wendy also coordinates the reporting of the Country’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions to the UK.

Tim is the Assistant Director, and oversees the Department’s diverse marine and terrestrial research and conservation programmes on all three islands.

Ivan is in charge of DoE support staff, equipment repairs and upkeep and replacement of dive moorings. He’s also a dive instructor and a boat captain.

Paul helps the DoE “keep the wheels turning and the boats floating”! He’s a mechanical and marine technician with more than 30 years’ experience, and also helps monitor and upkeep Cayman’s public moorings.

Martines maintains the dive moorings in Cayman Brac and assists with logistics terrestrial and marine operations, as well as for visiting scientists.

As part of the Terrestrial Unit, Sophie undertakes monitoring of flora and fauna of the Cayman Islands and is active in initiatives to safeguard the ecosystem.

Joe started with DoE in May 2019. He’s based on Cayman Brac and responsible for enforcing marine and terrestrial conservation laws within the Sister Islands.

Lauren provides technical input on proposed developments with respect to Environmental Impact Assessments, planning applications and coastal works applications.