Julie Esty – Founding Director
Julie founded the Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue (ABSAR) in 1997, after an unsuccessful search for two young Antiguans who were lost at sea,
Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, ABSAR raised over US$500,000 in hurricane relief funds from donors around the world. Julie was responsible for allocating the funds to various projects in Barbuda and Dominica.
With university degrees in both Aeronautical Science and Marine Science and a pilot’s license, Julie has returned to her passion for marine conservation.
Julie is an Antiguan resident and is still actively involved with ABSAR’s helicopter and underwater search teams.
She was instrumental in pushing for the ban of toxic sunscreens in Antigua and Barbuda and leads many of our ABOT projects.
Tim Woodward – Founding Director
Tim attended The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before serving with 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards in Germany, Cyprus and Africa. He learned to dive in the army and led expeditions to Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Tim left the army in 1989 and spent 25 years working globally for international banks in the commodity derivatives business.
In 2014 he became founding CEO of The Country Food Trust, a charity which produced and distributed 2.5 million meals to those in food poverty in the UK during his tenure.
In 2022 Tim was awarded an MBE by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his charitable work.
Tim and his wife Hazel, work as marine conservation volunteers in the Caribbean for a variety of projects mainly related to reef conservation and restoration.
Eloise Green – Director
Eloise was born on the Nature Isle of Dominica so from an early age was exposed to mother nature and its abundant flora and fauna.
After graduating from college in Dominica, Eloise pursued a career in Hospitality Management from the Philoxenia Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus before doing an Executive Diploma in Business Management with the University of the West Indies.
Eloise worked with the Barbados Tourism Authority for two years in marketing before relocating to Antigua where she resides today. Today she is part owner of Anchor Concierge and Super Yacht Services, one of Antigua’s premier Yacht Concierge Agencies.
Eloise supports marine and ecological projects as she sees how vital our marine and natural habitats are to preserve the natural Flora and Fauna of the islands.
Louis Evans – Director
Louis started diving when he was just 8 and completed his PADI Divemaster training with the late John Charlesworth of Aquanaut Diving Centre in Antigua.
Louis studied Marine Biology & Oceanography at the University of Plymouth (UK), before becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and working all around the world as a dive instructor.
He currently manages Dive Carib, an Antiguan scuba diving training facility with his business partner Leigh Cunningham.
Louis supports marine-related projects and causes such as the National Parks Authority, Elkhorn Marine Conservancy, ABSAR, and more recently ABOT.
He is eager to garner awareness for important local environmental issues, as well as imparting his knowledge on to the enthusiastic youths of Antigua and Barbuda.
Blake Rose – Director
Blake was born and brought up in Africa and North America and this led to a fascination for wildlife, adventure, travel and the hospitality industry with early stints crewing on a yacht, working in safari lodges, and numerous ski seasons before he co-founded Scott Dunn World.
He spent the next 25 years helping build the UKs preeminent tailor-made luxury travel brand before selling to PE in late 2014. He is a non-exec for F&P Travel, a small specialist travel business and a director of Salamander Voyages, a private gullet charter business in Turkey.
With a lifelong interest in conservation and a passion for our seas, he hopes to bring some insight into the travel industry and how this can be moulded as force for good, rather than exploitation.