Double Bay Sanctuary Foundation (British Columbia)
MICHAEL REPPY
Stanford University, BA History, 1967. University of Southern California, MS Physical Therapy, 1979. Physical therapy practice 1980-2017, including private practice Santa Monica, CA, home care specialty with Marin Home Care and Sutter Care at Home, Marin County, CA. Now retired, and lives in Mill Valley, California.
Michael has spent over 30 years volunteering with Earth Island Institute, focusing on using ocean sailing and racing to support Earth Island campaigns, beginning with Dolphin Safe Tuna in early 1990’s, and then Save Japan Dolphins to stop the capturing and slaughter of Dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Michael made three attempts to break the solo sailing record from San Francisco to Tokyo in support of this campaign. In 2018, Michael purchased the former sport fishing lodge, Pacific Outback Resort, Double Bay, Hanson Island, BC, Canada. For the past seven years, Michael has been directing the rebuilding of the facility to create the infrastructure for DOUBLE BAY SANCTUARY to be the retirement home for Corky.
DAVID MALYSHEFF
David Malysheff has over 35 years of extensive television production experience in film and broadcast television. Over this time, David has acted as both a Director of Photography and Director on literally hundreds of projects for both broadcast, and non-broadcast. Last summer, David was honored with a Leo Award for Best Cinematography for the documentary “Listening to Orcas” for CBC.
David has been working with First Nations People and telling their story for over 25 years, when he first acted as Director Of Photography on the award-winning film “Kuper Island; Return To the Healing Circle” for CBC National. A 25 year follow up film, “Penelakut; Return To the Healing Circle” is now complete, and is about to be released.
David lives in Victoria, British Columbia.
DAVID Howitt
Born St.Ives, Cornwall. After studying in underwater photography David joined the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as ship’s engineer to save the whales. His travels eventually took him by canoe to Hanson Island, B.C. studying culturally modified cedar trees for the Nimpkish First Nation. His experience as a truck mechanic with caravans of vehicles carrying humanitarian aid through Central America gave David the necessary experience to skipper the Free Corky School Bus displaying the Free Corky Banner on tours from San Fransisco to Hanson Island. In order to better answer the questions of school children David volunteered at Orcalab to help record calls and behaviour of Corky’s family.
A highlight of David’s career with Orcalab was to huddle overnight on a rock recording the reunion of A73 Springer with her Northern Resident Orca community. David also worked with Paul Spong to establish a remote hydrophone network in Nootka Sound recording the calls of another wayward young orca L98, Tsuxuit, Luna. Currently David assists with hydrophones around San Juan Island and operates a sailing whale watching company with his wife and daughter ‘All Aboard Sailing’
Friends of Double Bay Sanctuary (USA)
MICHAEL REPPY
Stanford University, BA History, 1967. University of Southern California, MS Physical Therapy, 1979. Physical therapy practice 1980-2017, including private practice Santa Monica, CA, home care specialty with Marin Home Care and Sutter Care at Home, Marin County, CA. Now retired, and lives in Mill Valley, California.
Michael has spent over 30 years volunteering with Earth Island Institute, focusing on using ocean sailing and racing to support Earth Island campaigns, beginning with Dolphin Safe Tuna in early 1990’s, and then Save Japan Dolphins to stop the capturing and slaughter of Dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Michael made three attempts to break the solo sailing record from San Francisco to Tokyo in support of this campaign. In 2018, Michael purchased the former sport fishing lodge, Pacific Outback Resort, Double Bay, Hanson Island, BC, Canada. For the past seven years, Michael has been directing the rebuilding of the facility to create the infrastructure for DOUBLE BAY SANCTUARY to be the retirement home for Corky.
Alison Loomis
Alison Loomis is an ocean sustainability consultant, naturalist, and systems change storyteller. She works with diverse organizations such as Social Capital Markets, Blue Frontier, and the US National Parks Conservancy to scale environmental, economic, and social solutions. Her motto is to make waves for a force of good.
Sebastian Nicholls
Sebastian Nicholls works at an international non profit on the global campaign to protect at least 30% of the ocean’s area in marine protected areas by 2030, through engagement at United Nations negotiations on Biodiversity and on a new governance framework for the high seas- two thirds of the global ocean or 40% of the planet that is currently unprotected. His ocean conservation journey began with a fascination with the ocean since he can remember, falling in love with coral reefs and marine biodiversity as he began snorkeling and scuba diving. In university he helped plan several conferences to inform young people about ocean sustainability, including leaders like John Kerry and Heads of State of several countries. He has a Bachelor’s degree in international politics with a focus on energy environment issues from Georgetown University.
Tomoko Shimotomai
Born in Hokkaido, Japan.
Worked as a research assistant for the California Killer Whale Project for ten years.
Worked with and built relationships with killer whale research groups around the world, and has spent countless hours on the water observing various types of killer whales.
After working as a software quality assurance engineer in Silicon Valley for 20+ years, she is now retired and is currently focused on helping to improve the health and well-being of killer whales.
She is a lifelong student of world music and dance, and has obtained a degree in Cultural Anthropology from UCSC.
Leadership
Nicolette Audy
Nicolette has played a central role in the redevelopment of Double Bay Sanctuary over the past four years, coordinating logistics to support the creation of a pioneering ocean conservation facility and whale sanctuary for formerly captive marine mammals. In addition to operational oversight, she leads the Sanctuary’s communications and digital outreach, helping to build public awareness and engagement around marine welfare issues.
Her commitment to ocean advocacy is grounded in a lifelong fascination with marine ecosystems and a deep respect for the sentience of all marine mammals. Recently, she has joined several marine mammal rescue initiatives, furthering her hands-on involvement in frontline conservation work.
Prior to her role at Double Bay, Nicolette worked in wilderness education and holds a number of marine and environmental certifications. Her global volunteer experience spans sea turtle rehabilitation, coastal ecosystem restoration, and international marine debris removal campaigns.
A certified diver, drone operator, and photographer, Nicolette is passionate about documenting the natural world and is most at home on—or beneath—the water.
She remains deeply grateful to the local community for their continued support and for embracing the Sanctuary’s vision with open arms.
SanDy Shaw
Based in Campbell River, Sandy Shaw is a seasoned communications professional with decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, business development, environmental learning and fundraising. Her career has been dedicated to advancing mission-driven organizations through thoughtful storytelling, strategic partnerships, and sustainable growth planning. At Double Bay Sanctuary, Sandy brings deep expertise and unwavering commitment to building meaningful relationships, securing philanthropic support, and sharing the sanctuary’s vision with clarity, compassion, and integrity.
Passionate about animals, the ocean, and the power of community, Sandy brings her full commitment to every conversation, every proposal, and every relationship she builds. She considers it a privilege to support Double Bay’s mission at this pivotal moment in the sanctuary’s evolution.
On-Site Team (British Columbia)
Nicolette Audy
Nicolette has played a central role in the redevelopment of Double Bay Sanctuary over the past four years, coordinating logistics to support the creation of a pioneering ocean conservation facility and whale sanctuary for formerly captive marine mammals. In addition to operational oversight, she leads the Sanctuary’s communications and digital outreach, helping to build public awareness and engagement around marine welfare issues.
Her commitment to ocean advocacy is grounded in a lifelong fascination with marine ecosystems and a deep respect for the sentience of all marine mammals. Recently, she has joined several marine mammal rescue initiatives, furthering her hands-on involvement in frontline conservation work.
Prior to her role at Double Bay, Nicolette worked in wilderness education and holds a number of marine and environmental certifications. Her global volunteer experience spans sea turtle rehabilitation, coastal ecosystem restoration, and international marine debris removal campaigns.
A certified diver, drone operator, and photographer, Nicolette is passionate about documenting the natural world and is most at home on—or beneath—the water.
She remains deeply grateful to the local community for their continued support and for embracing the Sanctuary’s vision with open arms.
Mike Turner
I have been working in the construction industry for the last 22 years, and in forestry before that.
I have mostly been around and operated heavy equipment.
Within that capacity, I have installed wastewater systems for the last 20 years and have been designing and planning wastewater systems for the last six years.
I am an animal and nature lover, so the opportunity to work with the crew at the sanctuary is fantastic, and I’m loving it.
I live in Chemainus with my wife, Denike, and a horde of small furry animals.
Gonzalo Moya Diez
Originally from Spain, Gonzalo began his career as a race mechanic in Europe before setting off to explore the world. After a year travelling across Canada in a van with a friend, he discovered Double Bay Sanctuary and felt compelled to stay. He first joined as a volunteer, where his skills in mechanics, electricity, welding, and troubleshooting quickly became essential to the Sanctuary’s restoration and development. His hands-on expertise and willingness to learn made him a natural fit for the project and a valued member of the onsite team.
For Gonzalo, the Sanctuary represents more than work. It is a place of connection, discovery, and purpose. “Being here has given me a new understanding of the role all animals and ecosystems play in the balance of nature,” he shares. “Meeting local people, First Nations, researchers, and students has shown me that everyone can contribute to making this world a better place. Nature deserves a second chance.”
World-wide Campaign Coordinators
Vanessa Prigollini
Vanessa is a Psychologist, Speaker, Underwater and Nature Photographer, Marine Educator and Naturalist.
As a Psychologist specialized in Social Emotional Intelligence, Vanessa has always shown a particular interest in understanding orca behaviour due to their complex social structure. But mainly cause they have the most elaborated insular cortex in the world which involves emotions, compassion, empathy, perception, self-awareness, amongst others.
For over 10 years she has used her photography to raise awareness about captivity of cetaceans by giving talks, mainly to schools.
Vanessa created her own Marine Education Program (Kindergarten – Grade 7) which she has taught in schools in Canada and Mexico.
She is the director of MAREA, an NGO focused in marine education.
She works as a Marine Educator and Naturalist with cetaceans in the winter in Mexico and in the summer on the west coast of Canada.
She has collaborated in the protection of marine wildlife with several international organizations.
During the pandemic she wrote, directed and produced her first documentary on orcas, other dolphins and belugas in the wild and in captivity entitled “Contrasts”. This film has won several awards in many International Film Festivals including best short film and has been translated to the languages of the 5 countries with more cetaceans in captivity: Spanish, English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.
Tom Zynski
Tom is a Music Teacher, Singer-Songwriter and Vocal Coach. On the same day he graduated in Music Education in Brazil, Tom flew to Canada to visit the Double Bay Sanctuary and shoot a music video for his first solo single “Seven”. The Folk/Rock song had the video directed by Celso Zanini (Portugal) and included a documentary featuring Michael Reppy explaining the purposes of the Sanctuary to Tom’s fanbase.
Tom was invited by Christine Caruso, the director of the documentary film “Corky”, to arrange and record Vic Sadot’s “Corky’s Song”, the original movie theme song. The ukulele-driven piece was later recorded in Porto Alegre, Brazil and had the production of Renato Osorio (Hibria, Paul Di’Anno) at Dry House studios. In Southern Brazil, Tom teaches contemporary singing at RR44, a multi-cultural place of which he’s a founding associate. As a frontman for the Alternative Metal band “It’s All Red”, the artist played festivals in Brazil and Argentina sharing the stage with bands like Megadeth, Cavalera Conspiracy and Hibria.
During the pandemic, Tom worked as a voice actor and co-writer for the bilingual course of Music Theory, English and Singing “Look Sonata”. He has also been a frequent visitor of the Tamar Project in the island of Florianópolis, an NGO working to protect sea turtles rescued from by-catch which was his first contact with sea animal activism as a kid.
Tom lives in Porto Alegre, Brazil
Lisa Larsson
Lisa is an art teacher, naturalist, forest educator, and freediver.
She has co-worked for many years with several nature organizations in Sweden to promote and preserve intact ecosystems both on land and in the sea.
In the summers she has creative workshops with kids where she explains about whales and play their songs.
Lisa started off as a naturalist in a gray whale lagoon in Mexico. In the 1990’s she joined the research station OrcaLab in BC, as well as the more northern research station BC Whales.
Lisa studied and recorded the calls of the lost orca calf Luna, L-98, in Nootka sound for many months and observed in him the astonishing perseverance, intelligence and mental stamina of even such a young orca like him.
Her goal is to share her insights into the extraordinary world of whales with the world.
Bert Klangpremchitt
A Professional PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer with a solid passion for the underwater world during his 20 past years of experience. Formerly, A Basic Offshore Safety Induction & Emergency Trainer (BOSIET Training). A nature Lover with a specific interest in Thailand’s Underwater Travel, Tropical Marine Life Observations, Thai Marine Education & Eco-Tourism. A contributor to Thailand Marine Life Conservation Projects to support the preservation of Thailand Coral Reefs and Aquatic Reef Lives. An Award-winning underwater photographer regarding of “Environment and Conservations”: Return of Life (Petroleum Authority of Thailand Group), Sea You Tomorrow (Singha Estate), Sustainable Thai Maritime Tourism (Central Group), Best of Thailand “Whale Sharks” Observer (California Academy of Sciences / National Geographic / iNaturalist), Best of LAMAVE “Manta Rays Observer” (Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute, Philippines)
