MEET THE TEAM

Aliah Banchik

CO-FOUNDER

Aliah is the founder of the FINstitue at James Cook University. She oversees club operations, manages the executive team, and organizes partnerships, speakers, and field activities for the club and its members.

  • Some quick facts about Aliah:

    • She is a PADI-certified Divemaster and Assistant Instructor and has been a certified diver since she was 11

    • She is a Ted X Talk speaker and published author & illustrator of her own book on dyslexia

    • Aliah is a wildlife photographer with a specialization in underwater photography. Check out Naked 4 Nature to see her work

Luca Hoffecker

CO-FOUNDER

Luca is the co-founder. He oversees internal operations and logistics, organizes speakers for club events, coordinates field trips, and assists in managing the executive team.

    • Luca is a biologist and oceanographer from Vancouver, currently completing his Master’s in Marine Biology, focusing on conservation and management.

    • He is a PADI Divemaster and aspiring tech diver with significant research experience diving with whale sharks.

    • Luca has animal husbandry experience, and his marine specialty includes pinnipeds and sea otters from the west coast of Canada.

Current Executive Team

  • Liat Dayan

    PRESIDENT

    Liat oversees club operations, manages the executive team, and organizes partnerships, speakers, and field activities for the club and its members.

  • Mats Brentebarten

    Mats oversees internal operations and logistics, organizes speakers for club events, coordinates field trips, and assists in managing the executive team.

  • Kiesha Lara Venga

    SECRETARY

    Kiesha is in charge of recording minutes from each meeting, preparing documents, and assisting in managing club logistics

  • Jaelen Myers

    TREASURER

    Jaelen performs the financial management tasks, including financial record keeping, planning and budgeting, monitoring and reporting

  • Shana Sullivan

    SOCIAL EVENT COORDINATOR

    Shana is responsible for creating opportunities for club members to mingle and engage with one another in a fun and casual environment outside of the school setting through the coordination of social events

  • Aaron Hasenei

    GRADUATE RESEARCH CONSULTANT

    Aaron provides mentorship and research guidance to club members by giving guest talks and conducting peer reviews for club -based projects

Previous Executive Team

  • Aliah Banchik

    PRESIDENT

    Aliah is the founder of the FINstitue at James Cook University. She oversees club operations, manages the executive team, and organizes partnerships, speakers, and field activities for the club and its members.

  • Luca Hoffecker

    VICE PRESIDENT

    He oversees internal operations and logistics, organizes speakers for club events, coordinates field trips, and assists in managing the executive team.

  • Michael Reed Basangan

    TREASURER

    Reed performs the financial management tasks, including financial record keeping, planning and budgeting, monitoring and reporting

  • Genevieve Drennan

    SECRETARY

    Genevieve is in charge of recording minutes from each meeting, preparing documents, and assisting in managing club logistics

  • Aaron Hasenei

    GRADUATE RESEARCH CONSULTANT

    Aaron provides mentorship and research guidance to club members by giving guest talks and conducting peer reviews for club -based projects

  • Taina Maddigan-Ould

    FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR

    Taina is responsible organizing and executing field trips for club members with the goal of giving small groups hands on experiences in the field of elasmobranch science

  • Liat Dayan

    SOCIAL EVENT COORDINATOR

    Liat is responsible for creating opportunities for club members to mingle and engage with one another in a fun and casual environment outside of the school setting through the coordination of social events

  • Alex Slater

    SOCIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR

    Alex is responsible for creating opportunities for club members to mingle and engage with one another in a fun and casual environment outside of the school setting through the coordination of social events