Linda is the founder and driving force behind the HWC. Linda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology, with over fifteen years of field work as a Wildlife Rehabilitator, Certified Oiled Wildlife Responder, and International Wildlife Responder. She has earned 40-hour HAZWOPER certification, and has accumulated over 20 years experience as an educator, supervisor and emergency response manager.

She was the Wildlife Manager for a resort-based partnership program with State and Federal wildlife agencies from 1988-1994. The program ended in 1994 with a change in ownership of the resort, and this left the state without a wildlife center.

Ms. Elliott continues to provide emergency response care when called on by the state. She has directed several rehabilitation projects for avian botulism outbreaks affecting three endangered species, including the very rare Laysan Duck newly established on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, and several species of migratory water bird in the archipelago, and all of the Hawai‘i wildlife responses for four oil spills and one chemical spill in the last decade. During this time, Ms. Elliott has been and continues to be a leading member of an international wildlife emergency response team participating in eighteen international rescue operations to date. She is also the only oiled-wildlife rehabilitation manager in the State of Hawai‘i.

Ms. Elliott works on wildlife recovery and conservation projects in partnerships with Hawai‘i government agencies and nonprofits. She participated in a half-dozen Hawai‘i wildlife conservation projects in 2010 that include teaching wildlife response courses to the Wildlife Agencies throughout Hawai‘i, and in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Shane earned a B.S. in Economics from Santa Clara University and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He has extensive experience in project management, budgeting and marketing. Shane has and continues to work in various residential construction and development leadership roles on the Kona Coast. He has also helped with Ho‘opulama Science and Discovery Center exhibit fabrication logistics at HWC. Shane has a strong interest in preserving environmental and biological diversity, as well as philanthropy, wildlife conservation and Hawaiian culture.

Rebecca earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Communications from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College. While earning her law degree, she also earned her Environment and Natural Resource Law Certificate. Rebecca owns her own law practice, Rebecca Colvin Law, where she assists with estate planning, probate, real estate transactions, business formations and transactions, and general civil litigation. Rebecca also has experience working with native populations and collaborating with a wide variety of stakeholders on natural resource protection.

A scientist by training, Nancy has earned a B.A. in Zoology/Chemistry and a M.S. in Pharmacology from the University of Iowa. She had a fulfilling career at 3M in the health care area engaging in multiple roles including research, product development, project management and supervisory management. She has also led a rich volunteer life serving on multiple nonprofit boards, bringing with her a wealth of experience on board governance, legal and fiduciary responsibilities, strategic planning, communication and collaboration. She is currently retired and enjoying life on Hawai‘i Island. 

Dr. Kimberley Greeson (she, hers) is a professor of sustainability education and environmental studies at Prescott College in Arizona. She teaches in their limited residency programs, which allow her to live on Hawai’i Island. Her academic work focuses on the politics of conservation and environmental issues concerning human/nature relationships, sustainable food systems, environmental justice, and decolonizing research. Her recent work focused on ecological, social, and political issues related to native pollinator conservation in Hawai‘i. Kimberley is originally from O‘ahu and has been living here on Hawaii Island for 6 years. Here in Hawai‘i, she is a curriculum specialist for Uluha‘o o Hualālai, a nonprofit that works for the cultural and ecological preservation and regeneration of Mt. Hualālai. The high elevation areas of Hualālai are important for our watershed (including native forests and native birds) as well as culturally for Native Hawaiians. Kimberley works to bridge scientific ecological knowledge with indigenous knowledge in a meaningful way for Hawai’i’s sustainability.