Our Team

Venkatesh Charloo
Founder / Trustee
Bachelor of Commerce – Bangalore University
Certified Instructor; Development Course Staff Instructor certified with Professional Association of Diving Instructors

A banker by profession, Venkat worked in Hong Kong for 11 years between 1984 and 1995 before deciding to quit the rat race and start recreational scuba diving in Goa, India, in Nov 1995. He joined Barracuda Diving India as a freelance instructor, becoming a partner in 1996 and then taking over the company as a Sole Proprietor in 1997. He is passionate about marine conservation, and founded Coastal Impact with the intention of building awareness about marine ecosystems and motivating people to become divers and ‘ocean ambassadors’, as well as join in to save Goa’s precious marine life. He is an SSI Master Instructor and PADI IDC Staff Instructor. He is one of the most highly qualified dive instructors in India and has been diving since the last 30 years.

Roanna Silveira
Volunteer

MSc Microbiology (2015)
MSc Marine Environment and Resources (2022)

Roanna has been fascinated with the underwater world, but her interest in coral reef research was piqued while she was working as a project assistant at the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa.

While working with us, she had the opportunity to contribute to hands-on projects in coral micro-fragmentation and fish identification, while also organizing educational webinars and carrying out other operational activities at Coastal Impact.

Roanna is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Marine Environment and Resources in Europe. She hopes to pursue a thesis in coral conservation and thereafter a PhD in the same field. While her work prevents her from being an active volunteer, she continues to contribute to our efforts.

Karen Shaikh
Volunteer

Karen has made it a point to live by the ocean wherever in the world she finds herself, and for the past 21 years that has been in India.

Having worked in the tourism and education sectors in many countries, and with a keen interest in marine conservation, Karen felt naturally drawn to Coastal Impact’s mission – educating and promoting awareness of Goa’s fragile marine ecosystems

Since joining our team, Karen has been actively involved with the implementation of our Coral Crusader and Marine Monitors programmes, co-hosting weekly webinars, coral nursery dive surveys and beach and underwater cleaning drives.

Karen has also indulged her passion for graphic design via our social media posts and promotionals.

Karen Herbert
Volunteer

Having spent almost 12 years in the corporate world, Karen felt a strong desire to disconnect and realign.

She has always been strongly drawn to the ocean, its ferocity and its serenity. And that’s what brought her to Coastal Impact, an intent to support the cause and build a new skill in the process.