Meet the RRFB Team
Francesca Virdis
Executive Director
Raised in a family of divers, Francesca fell for the ocean and earned her scuba certification at a very young age. She holds an MSc in Marine and Environmental Science and moved to Bonaire in 2008, where she helped launch the island’s first coral restoration project and grow Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire. Over the years, she guided the foundation to become a model of successful coral restoration worldwide.
Ernst Noyons
Director of Operations
Ernst’s passion for the underwater world led him to pursue a career in marine conservation, working in the Philippines and Madagascar as a dive instructor and teaching ecological monitoring and species identification. After joining RRFB in 2021, Ernst worked in various aspects of the foundation and now serves as Chief Operating Officer. His leadership and commitment to Bonaire’s reefs drives the Foundation’s core mission forward.
Netta Murphy
Administrative & Financial Coordinator
Netta brings over 15 years of experience as a CFO for nonprofits and government organizations, an MBA, and a CPA certificate from Missouri. She combines her love for Bonaire’s underwater world with her diverse professional background. Netta aims to lighten the load for Reef Renewal staff, allowing them to focus on healthy and resilient coral communities!
Sanne Tuijten
Science Officer
After starting to dive at age 12, Sanne aspired to be a marine biologist. She earned her M.Sc. in Marine Biology from the University of Southampton and joined Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire in 2020. She now applies her scientific knowledge to support the organization’s mission and guide best practices and strategies.
Caitie Reza
Communication & Development Officer
Caitie joined RRFB in 2022, after getting her Master’s in Environmental Science and Management at UC Santa Barbara. Inspired by animal ecology, she spent several years studying Zoology and working as a biologist in the US and Guam. She’s inspired by the role that communication plays in conservation and restoration, and loves merging these concepts to support coral reefs in Bonaire!
Lola Salvador
Education & Training Officer
Born on Maui, Lola fell in love with the ocean early. Despite growing up far from the coast, she pursued marine conservation after learning to scuba dive at 16. During her master’s in marine ecology, Lola interned at RRFB and now hopes to inspire the next generation, applying her experience to foster a love for marine environments.
Augusto Montbrun
Dive Safety Officer
Being raised in the Caribbean Sea- Venezuela, he naturally pursued a degree in Marine Sciences (Aquaculture, and Oceanography), he never quite learned to keep his feet dry. As one of the original founders of Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire, Dive Safety Officer, and Recreational and Scientific Diving Instructor, he combines a lifelong love for the ocean with a deep commitment to coral restoration, reef protection, and safe, adventurous research.
Cheyenna de Wit
Lead Restoration Technician
Growing up in a small Dutch town surrounded by water, Cheyenna pursued a career in Marine Biology with great enthusiasm. Her passion for coral reefs thrived during her Bachelor’s in Coastal and Marine Management. After earning a Master’s in Marine Biology in 2024, she became a Reef Restoration Technician with RRFB. Cheyenna is eager to impact marine ecosystems on Bonaire!
Perri Rappaport
Fundraising and Planning Associate
Perri’s passion for underwater ecosystems began at age 14 when she started scuba diving. She pursued her passion for marine conservation by earning a degree in Environmental Studies from Tulane University. After college, her experiences diving in the vibrant coral reefs of Australia and Southeast Asia inspired her to gain hands on experience in coral restoration in the Florida Keys. Perri is excited to join the team!
Alex Van Der Last
Research and Technology Technician
Alex rejoined the RRFB team in the summer of 2025 after a stint in Curaçao with our partners at SECORE. There, he fully submerged himself in the realm of coral larvae propagation and travelled the world to train and inspire practitioners on how to restore coral populations. He also spent time on Saba researching and restoring the long-spined sea urchin populations, a passion he now also shares on Bonaire to help and restore its coral reef ecosystems.
Jason Mirtsopoulos
Volunteer Program & Restoration Technician
Jason joined RRFB in 2024 after working as a coral restoration practitioner in the Florida Keys. Growing up in New York, he developed a passion for marine ecosystems through nature documentaries and family trips. Inspired by the beauty and decline of coral reefs, Jason graduated from Stony Brook University in 2021, ready to dedicate his life to their preservation.
Nicolas Franchini
Reef Restoration Technician
Nic discovered scuba diving at 10, sparking a passion for the ocean. With roots in Puerto Rico and New York, he gained a deep respect for marine ecosystems. Nic earned a Conservation Biology degree and studied ecosystem interconnectivity in Panama and Ecuador. Now, he’s dedicated to advancing conservation efforts and fostering a greater appreciation for our oceans.
Ibrahim Valentijn
Technician in Training
Ibrahim was born and raised on Bonaire. His passion and enthusiasm for the marine world began while snorkelling at a young age, which prompted him to get his dive certification as a teenager. He started at RRFB as an intern in early 2025 and soon joined the team as a part-time technician-in-training.
Board of Directors
David J. Fishman
President
Paulus P. Coolen
Treasurer
Christine Nicolaas
Director
Bridget Hickey
Director
Weero Koster
Director
Advisory Board
Ken Nedimyer
Technical Advisor
Ken Nedimyer is the founder of Reef Renewal International and the founder and former president of the Coral Restoration Foundation. Ken has designed and set up coral nursery and reef restoration programs in over 12 different countries, has a degree in Marine Biology and has a life time of experience diving on coral reefs. Ken played an important role in establishing the nursery and restoration program on Bonaire, and continues to work with the program managers at Reef Renewal Bonaire to share lessons learned in Bonaire and around the world.