Christophe Mason-Parker & Stella Diamant
Stella Diamant is the founder and director of the Madagascar Whale Shark Project Foundation (MWSP). As a conservation biologist with a masters degree from Imperial College, London, she initiated the project in 2016, the first long-term research programme focusing on Endangered whale sharks in Madagascar. Through regional collaborations and multi-disciplinary projects, she strives to identify solutions for both animals and communities, while igniting pioneering research in her study site, Nosy Be in north-west Madagascar. Her research has contributed to the implementation of more protection measures for marine megafauna in Madagascar, the empowerment of local scientists to study sharks and rays, and has guided the development of sustainable tourism in Nosy Be.
Christophe Mason‑Parker is the Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS) and has over 20 years’ experience leading marine conservation initiatives across Europe, Asia, Central America and Africa. Throughout his tenure at MCSS, Christophe has worked to advance the organization’s vision, blending scientific rigour with community-driven action, strengthening MCSS’s role as a key contributor to marine conservation in the Western Indian Ocean.
