Board of Directors
President
Nalayini Brito-Davies
New Zealand
Nalayini holds a Master of Science degree in astronomy from Swinburne University in Australia and a Master of Science degree in economics, specializing in finance, from London Business School, University of London. She is the immediate past president and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) and is a co-founder of the Aotearoa Astrotourism Academy, a non-profit promoting dark skies and astronomy education, including indigenous astronomy, through nationwide immersion training courses for those seeking a strong foundation in astronomy and astrotourism.
She serves on the boards of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance, which advocates for the protection of the nighttime environment, and the RASNZ Lecture Trust, which extends public knowledge of astronomy and related sciences through lectures by leading astronomers.
A qualified Chartered Accountant, Nalayini holds a Financial Studies Diploma in Banking from the Institute of Bankers, U.K. She previously worked at Citibank as a Vice President, and also held roles at Kuwait Asia Bank and the Bank of New Zealand. She is currently Executive Director of Vinstar Consulting, a New Zealand-based economic and financial advisory firm serving government clients in 35 countries.
Nalayini was instrumental in establishing Aotea / Great Barrier Island as a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary. She co-leads the promotion of New Zealand’s journey to become a dark sky nation and has spoken at dark sky conferences and workshops internationally.
Vice President
Connie Walker
U.S.
Connie Walker is an astronomer dedicated to dark skies education, including Globe at Night and the Quality Lighting Teaching Kit, as well as measurement and mitigation. Inspired at an early age by astronauts landing on the moon and the original Star Trek series, her curiosity about astronomy led her to become the first in her family to attend college and earn a Ph.D.
Connie has been with the U.S. National Observatory (NSF’s NOIRLab) for 22 years. She is actively involved in light pollution issues on the ground and in space, coordinating the Office of Observatory Site Protection. She holds leadership roles in dark skies protection with the American Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union. In 2020 and 2021, she co-chaired workshops and conferences focused on the impacts of satellite constellations and artificial light at night. In April 2022, she became co-director of the IAU Center on the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS).
She holds bachelor’s degrees in astronomy and physics from Smith College, an MS in electrical engineering from UMass Amherst, and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona. Between her advanced degrees, she worked as an electrical engineer for a large aerospace company. For her efforts in bringing dark skies awareness to the public, DarkSky awarded her the Hoag-Robinson Award in 2011. Asteroid 29292 ConnieWalker was named by discoverers David Levy and Carolyn Shoemaker in recognition of her educational outreach.
Treasurer
Brad Schlesselman
U.S.
As Senior Research Engineer with Musco Lighting, Brad has worked closely with DarkSky for many years to help establish benchmarks and best practices for exterior lighting that align with DarkSky’s purpose and goals.
He has helped advance Musco’s decades-long mission of controlling and applying light in ways that significantly reduce glare, spill, and sky glow. Brad believes the best outdoor lighting systems are designed to preserve darkness while illuminating the intended area. When thoughtfully designed and used only when necessary, lighting at night can co-exist with protecting the enjoyment of dark nighttime skies.
Secretary
Samyukta Manikumar
Kenya
Samyukta is an astrotourism consultant and Director of the Noctia Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to the protection of natural dark skies. With a background in science communication, outreach, astrotourism, and experience design, she takes an interdisciplinary approach to dark sky conservation that integrates science with cultural and environmental preservation.
She received the Dark Sky Defender Award from DarkSky in 2022 and is currently involved in establishing the Kenyan chapter of DarkSky.
Doug Barker
U.S.
Doug is a strategic advisor with Barker & Scott Consulting, which assists regional, national, and international nonprofit organizations in leveraging information technology for organizational advancement and mission success.
He is passionate about helping nonprofits use the art and science of fundraising to connect more deeply with donors and increase impact. Prior to cofounding Barker & Scott, Doug was Vice President and Chief Information Officer for The Nature Conservancy. He previously served as the nonprofit industry lead for the consulting practice of Arthur Andersen in Washington, D.C.
Doug resides in Washington, D.C., where he is active in local environmental causes, including efforts to reduce light pollution. He enjoys nature, night skies, travel, hiking, canoeing, biking, and gardening.
Fernando Avila Castro
Mexico
Fernando Avila was born in Nogales, Mexico. He completed his bachelor’s and graduate studies in physics, specializing in astrophysics.
A strong proponent of science outreach, Fernando has delivered public talks, led astronomy observations, and contributed interviews and articles for newspapers, magazines, radio, and television for more than 25 years.
He is currently employed at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Astronomy Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he leads the Dark Skies Law Office. There, he educates about light pollution and how it can be reduced without compromising safety.
A significant part of his work involves collaborating with all three levels of Mexican government to promote laws and ordinances that reduce light pollution. His efforts have contributed to updated city ordinances in Ensenada and Mexicali, new ordinances in Tijuana, new state laws in Baja California and Sonora, and updates to federal law recognizing artificial light at night as a pollutant. He has also supported legislative efforts in Jalisco, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and Quintana Roo. Currently, two states have applications underway to host a Dark Sky Park (Hidalgo) and a Dark Sky Sanctuary (Baja California), both promoted by Fernando.
From 2014 to 2016, he served as technical advisor on a project to replace Ensenada’s public lighting system, transitioning from 17,000 HPS semi-cutoff luminaires to 25,000 LED full cutoff luminaires. Despite budget constraints, the project resulted in a darker night sky by approximately 0.8 magnitude and significant energy savings.
Fernando is the DarkSky representative in Mexico, has served on the DarkSky Education Committee, participates in the DarkSky Mentor Program, and has helped translate outreach materials into Spanish. In 2016, DarkSky awarded him the Dark Skies Defender Award.
Sergio Emilio Montúfar Codoñer
Guatemala
Sergio, a 2020 Dark Sky Defender, is a multi-award-winning science communicator and artist. A lifelong stargazer, he served as Official Astrophotographer at the La Plata Planetarium in Argentina. Recognized by Forbes as one of Central America’s most creative minds, he developed Guatemala’s sustainable astrotourism strategy and collaborates with public and private sectors across Latin America to advance astrotourism.
As a light pollution advocate, Sergio promotes dark sky practices through outreach events and is the author of multiple books and documentaries. His astrophotography has been exhibited in more than 18 countries, and his work has appeared in international media outlets including National Geographic, Science, Astronomy Magazine, Sky & Telescope, Daily News UK, and Yahoo News. He also works with cultural astronomers and Indigenous communities to help preserve astronomical heritage.
Kevin Gaston Ph.D.
U.K.
Kevin is Professor of Biodiversity and Conservation at the University of Exeter, U.K., with more than 35 years of research experience in environmental issues. He began studying the biological impacts of artificial nighttime lighting in 2006, intrigued by why European robins were still singing when he left late-night visits to the cinema.
Since then, Kevin has led research on the spatial and temporal variation of artificial lighting, its wide-ranging biological impacts, and practical approaches to mitigating these effects.
Tom Reinert
Immediate Past President
U.S.
Tom is a retired Washington, D.C., attorney who spent most of his career representing airlines and railroads in labor and employment matters. His work included extensive experience translating complex scientific expert testimony for lay decision-makers. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.
His environmental advocacy includes a decade working with local riverkeeper organizations on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland to combat water pollution. In 2013, seeing the Andromeda Galaxy with his naked eye from atop Kitt Peak rekindled his interest in astronomy and inspired a commitment to reducing light pollution.
Now residing in Northern Virginia and wintering in the desert outside Tucson, Tom and his wife Chris travel extensively throughout the western United States seeking dark sky locations. For several years, he has volunteered with DarkSky on legal and national public policy issues.
Sibylle Schroer
Germany
Since 2010, Sibylle Schroer has served as Scientific Coordinator of the working group Light Pollution and Ecophysiology at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin, Germany. She coordinated the COST Action Loss of the Night Network (ES1204, 2012–2016) and contributed to developing guidelines for environmentally friendly outdoor lighting.
She now applies this expertise through the project “Species Protection through Environmentally Friendly Lighting.” Since 2022, she has also served as Coordinator for Sustainability and Freshwater Biodiversity Research at IGB.
Sibylle is an active member of the global science network Future Earth. Her research focuses on the protection of insects and their habitats. She has also studied biological alternatives to chemical pesticides at the German Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants (JKI) and at the University of Florida (Fort Lauderdale, U.S.).
She holds a doctorate in agricultural science and studied horticultural science.
LinkedIn
Mike Simmons
U.S.
Mike Simmons has been an amateur astronomer for nearly 50 years and is passionate about sharing the night sky with others. He is past president of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and co-founder and past president of the Mount Wilson Observatory Association. His efforts expanded internationally following a trip to Iran for the 1999 total solar eclipse and later to Iraq, where he discovered enthusiastic but isolated amateur astronomy communities.
He co-chaired the 100 Hours of Astronomy Cornerstone Project for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and is founder and past president of Astronomers Without Borders. Mike is retired from a career in medical research at UCLA.
Alejandra Voigt
Chile
Alejandra Voigt is Vice President and Head of Mission for the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), where she leads AURA’s operations in Chile. She provides overall strategic direction, advances organizational development and performance, and serves as AURA’s principal representative in the country, working closely with local communities, authorities, and key stakeholders.
Prior to joining AURA, she served as Executive Officer of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), where she played a central role in the Observatory’s transition from construction to full operations. She helped develop and optimize core processes, policies, and institutional strategies, and managed ALMA’s governance.
Earlier in her career, she was Deputy Head of the Legal and Legislative Division of Chile’s Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency, advising the President and Cabinet on legal and legislative matters, including those with international dimensions.
Alejandra Voigt holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a master’s degree from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Originally from Patagonia, she enjoys hiking and fly fishing.
Paulina Villalobos
Chile
Paulina hails from the Atacama Desert in Chile — one of the driest and clearest night sky regions on Earth. In 2005, she founded DIAV, an architectural lighting design practice based in Santiago, Chile, and developed Conceptual Design for Singapore. Her work has received lighting design awards in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
In 2012, she founded Noche Zero, an initiative to shift the paradigm of urban lighting planning by promoting thoughtful lighting design that integrates ecology, human health, and light pollution control. Noche Zero received the Dark Sky Defender Award in 2012 and was nominated for the Award at Large at PLDC Copenhagen.
Paulina is a lighting design professor in post-graduate programs at the University of Chile and is an active international speaker. She has presented at conferences, classes, and seminars worldwide. She also serves as editor of the lighting chapter for Chile’s Guide to Sustainable Public Spaces and as a consultant on interior lighting regulations and outdoor lighting policy review for Chile’s Ministry of Energy.
Ken Walczak
U.S.
Ken Walczak is Senior Manager of Far Horizons, a scientific research and engineering program at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. The program engages students, volunteers, and the public in hands-on, participatory research projects, including more than 140 stratospheric balloon missions, an underwater meteorite retrieval craft, and orbital nanosatellite missions.
He has helped design and deploy innovative instruments for light pollution research and has co-authored numerous papers on the subject. He also helped lead the successful designation of the world’s largest Urban Night Sky Place, the Palos Preserves, southwest of Chicago.
Ken previously owned a lighting and furniture design company and is a trained photographer, avid public policy advocate, and experienced science and astronomy communicator.
Non-voting members
Charles Mudd
General Counsel
U.S.
Charles Lee Mudd Jr. is the founder and principal of Mudd Law. He has positioned his firm at the forefront of space law and the expanding commercial space industry. Charles regularly speaks and writes internationally on space law and policy. He has participated in United Nations conferences, testified in Washington, D.C., and lectured at universities in the United States and Russia.
Charles is a founding member of the Internet Law Leadership Summit. He serves as a board member of NewSpace Chicago and as General Counsel for DarkSky International. He is also a member of the International Institute of Space Law, the European Centre for Space Law, ITechLaw, the American Astronomical Society, AAAI, AIAA, and the IEEE.
Ruskin Hartley
CEO and Executive Director
U.S.
Ruskin champions equitable access to dark skies and quality lighting for all through DarkSky’s award-winning programs. He works closely with volunteer leaders and donors to build support for DarkSky’s global priorities. Ruskin believes that experiencing a dark sky and appreciating quality lighting are central to advancing DarkSky’s mission.
Prior to this role, Ruskin directed and managed conservation programs protecting land, water, and ocean resources. He served as executive director of Save the Redwoods League, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring redwood forests. He also served as president and CEO of Heal the Bay in Los Angeles and as vice president of resource development at Fair Trade USA, an award-winning social enterprise focused on alleviating poverty worldwide.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Ruskin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree from the University of East Anglia. He enjoys heading out on the trail with his wife and children and cooking under the stars.
Join the DarkSky board
DarkSky International seeks passionate, thoughtful, and influential volunteer leaders to join our board to advance our mission to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.
Board policies
As a nonprofit organization, we deeply value the trust that has been placed in us. Our members and donors trust us to use their contributions wisely. Governments and private entities trust our science and our ability to create solutions that protect the night skies, wildlife, humans, and the planet. To preserve this crucial trust, DarkSky is committed to best practices in governance, accountability, and transparency. This commitment exists at all levels of the organization.
- Bylaws (PDF)
- Conflict of Interest (PDF)
- Cost Allocation Plan (PDF)
- Document Retention Policy (PDF)
- Fraud Policy (PDF)
- Whistleblower Policy (PDF)
