Board

Current Board members are listed below. Follow the links to find out more about each Board member.

Irving Brown

Irving left his native island of St Eustatius at the tender age of 12 to study at Lower and Middle Technical School (Aruba) and then continued to the University of Netherlands Antilles to complete a BS in Mechanical Engineering (Curacao). After completing his studies, Irving returned to St Eustatius in 1992 and started working for Statia Terminal nV in January 1993 as an Engineer Trainee, working his way up to become Assistant Maintenance Manager in 2005.
Upon his return to St Eustatius, Irving found that the island was dirty and that a lot of people were not environmentally friendly. He decided to jump in and see if he could make a difference. With this in mind, Irving applied to be a Board member in February 2002 as he felt that STENAPA was a worthwhile organisation to dedicate his time to, and he wanted to contribute something back to the island in return for his education.
Irving was elected Vice President in 2003 and then elected President in 2005. Irving carries out many duties: he attends many meetings with government and visitors, he is always present with his family at staff and volunteer functions, and assists with many of the projects between Statia Terminal and STENAPA. Irving often passes by the National Park office just to check on how things are going, and is always willing to give his advice. Irving is also the replacement representative for STENAPA on the board of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA).[go up]

Ronald Courtar

Ronald joined the Board of STENAPA as Vice President in 1998, and became President in 1999. Ronald held the office of President until new Statutes were introduced in 2005 with elections every two years so that officers could remain in the same position for maximum four years, and was then elected Vice President.
Ronald was born on St Eustatius and left to attend Middle Technical School (Curacao). After school graduation, he trained to receive a Commercial Pilot License in 1986 (Puerto Rico) and moved to the Netherlands to gain the Dutch equivalent Pilot License (B3). Ronald then studied in the Netherlands as a Diesel Technician until 1988. Since returning to St Eustatius, Ronald worked for ten years in the family business managing heavy equipment. Additionally, Ronald has flown commercially in the Caribbean.
Ronald has always been interested in nature conservation and care for native vegetation on St Eustatius. These interests first led Ronald to join the Board of STENAPA and, more recently, led to establishment of his own business with a plant nursery and plantation in 2003. Ronald assists STENAPA in many ways, primarily through representation at many government and funding meetings and events, and also with the Botanical Garden, such as landscaping, delivery of water during drought, donation of plants and organisation of local volunteers at weekends. [go up]

Jana Mason

Jana moved from the USA to work in St Eustatius in 1987. Due to her interest in environmental issues, and in assisting STENAPA in particular, Jana became an Ordinary Board Member in May 2000 and was elected Treasurer in March 2001.
Jana has a BS in Marketing and Fashion Merchandising (USA) and had further training in bank management when she was Assistant Manager of the Department of Cash Management at a major bank in Oregon for 10 years. Since moving to St Eustatius, Jana became owner and manager of a small tourist gift shop and, more recently, Assistant Manager and bookkeeper for Mazinga Gift Shop. Much of Jana’s work experience involves accounting entry, financial record management, merchandise purchase and customer relations.
Over 30 years of bank and shop management has made Jana a perfectly qualified Treasurer of a growing Foundation. Since taking on the role of Treasurer, Jana has developed accounting company files for the Foundation, regularised the banking accounts, conducted most of the bookkeeping entries (until an Office Administrator was hired in 2005) and is responsible for tax payments and government subsidy collection. At times, these duties are almost a separate job, and Jana has devoted many evening and weekend hours to ensuring that STENAPA’s finances are in order. In addition to her role as Treasurer, Jana has been a member of the Botanical Garden Committee since 2003, attending meetings every 1-2 months, as well as significant events such as ministerial visits, educational group activity days, contests and media events. Jana also attended the Nature Forum of the Netherlands Antilles in 2005. [go up]

Ira Walker

Ira applied to become a Board Member due to his interest in environmental issues in Statia, and his wide experience working as a horticulturist for 32 years at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York. Ira first came to St Eustatius in 1986 and is a founding member and President of the Statia Morning Glory Foundation – established in 2001 to protect endemic species of flora and fauna on St Eustatius. Ira has been an Ordinary Member since March 2002.
Ira has a BS in Ornamental Horticulture (USA). As a long term horticulturist at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Ira was curator of conifers, taught bonsai and house plant classes to adults, and was Board Member (1985-1993) and President (1993-1996) of the Eastern Region of the American Conifer Society.
Since joining the Board of STENAPA, Ira has been active in a variety of ways. Ira is one of the two Board members on the Botanical Garden Committee, and attends meetings held every 1-2 months. As Committee member, Ira also attends significant events at the Garden, including ministerial visits, educational activities, public awareness events and volunteer awards. Ira assists with training of volunteer groups, particularly with plant identification and plant care. Ira has also been responsible for donation of a number of plants from the Statia Morning Glory Foundation to the Botanical Garden. Ira is one of the most social members of the Board, often pops by the National Park office to say hello to staff, and is always willing to bring some dips to volunteer and staff gatherings. [go up]

Daniel Eaton

Daniel applied to become a Board Member due to his concern for the preservation of the natural environment of St Eustatius. He was one of the first citizens of Statia to join STENAPA as a member. He is also a founding member, Vice President and Secretary of the Statia Morning Glory Botanical Foundation, established to protect endemic species of flora and fauna on St Eustatius.
With an education and background in theatre, film and television in New York, he finds the tangible rewards of nature preservation equal to the ephemeral ones found in the theatre. At present he divides his time between a non-profit theatre foundation there and the eco-foundations on Statia.
Since joining the Board of STENAPA Daniel often assists in office duties pertaining to Board matters, and will readily respond to represent STENAPA issues in the wider community. He has assisted with the donation of a number of plants from the SGMBF to the Botanical Garden. Whenever possible, Daniel is always present at STENAPA seminars, public meetings and social gatherings. [go up]

Kay Boyd

Kay joined the Board of STENAPA in 1998 due to interest in the public becoming more involved with environmental conservation on St Eustatius. Kay saw that the island was still undeveloped, and was concerned that it would develop in an uncontrolled fashion, and wanted to help influence the direction of development.
Kay has a BS in English Education and had experience working in Alaska and Houston teaching and training adults. It was in Alaska that Kay saw at first hand what development can do in an uncontrolled environment, and fostered her concern for the environment. Kay first came to St Eustatius from her native USA in 1982, and came to live permanently in 1990 when she started employment with Statia Terminal.
Kay has been a regular attendee of Board meetings, often fulfilling duties for the Secretary when absent. Kay often hosts staff and volunteer gatherings and is always interested to solve staff and volunteer issues. [go up]

Ingrid Walther

Ingrid Walther represents the dive centre currently on rotation for Board representation, and has represented the dive industry on the Board since January 2007.
Born in Switzerland in 1968, Ingrid has a Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management with a specialisation in tourist marketing. She worked for over 15 years in the tourism business in Switzerland as an incentive and congress organizer and finally as a sport event manager in the Olympic capital, Lausanne. Diving has always been a hobby for Ingrid, and she is a CMAS M2 instructor and PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. Having spent a few years teaching diving in the Swiss lakes, she decided with her husband Menno to change her life and to take over a Diving Center in the Caribbean. Ingrid and Menno came to St Eustatius in 2006 to take over Scubaqua Dive Centre.[go up]