Our People

Dr. André F Raine – Science Director

André is an expert on seabirds, and has carried out research and conservation work for Hawaii’s three endangered seabirds, as well as consulting on seabird projects around the world. His extensive experience includes:

• multi-site seabird monitoring projects using techniques including acoustic monitoring, radar and burrow cameras.
• seabird tracking projects (using satellite tags, data loggers and geolocators).
• seabird surveys (including location of breeding colonies for rare birds) and banding.
• seabird translocation and social attraction to predator proof fence sites.
• consultation and expert advice to scientists and policy makers from US Fish & Wildlife, the State of Hawaii, NGOs and private entities.

Internationally, Andre has been involved in seabird projects in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Malta and the UK.

Beyond seabirds, André has worldwide experience in conservation and biological monitoring, and is highly versed in a variety of survey techniques for passerines, raptors and waterbirds, as well as small mammals, large mammals, reptiles, and insects. As the Conservation Manager for BirdLife Malta, André produced the country’s first Breeding Bird Atlas, spearheaded anti-poaching activities and provided scientific data and expert advice to the European Union and the Maltese Government.

André has a Masters in Conservation (Honors) University College London and a PhD from the University of East Anglia.  He is the lead or co-author of 28 scientific papers, and has written five books on bird and wildlife identification. Andre has a banding permit in the UK, Malta and Hawaiʻi.

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Helen Raine – Executive Director

Helen Raine is an expert in conservation project management. Her most recent projects have included:

• Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture; as Hawaiʻi Wetlands Conservation Co-ordinator, she provides advice and support to encourage the creation, restoration and management of habitat for endangered waterbirds.
• The Kauaʻi Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan (KSHCP); created the Management Plan for a proposed Social Attraction Site for two endangered seabirds within a predator-proof fence and consulted on the main HCP document.
• Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP); volunteered and worked on a wide range of projects including publicity materials, successful grant writing, bird banding, point counts, mosquito monitoring trips and egg harvesting trips for a captive breeding project of highly endangered forest passerines within the Alakaʻi Swamp.

In Europe, Helen managed the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project, Malta’s largest conservation project; partners included the Armed Forces of Malta, HSBC bank, Malta Maritime Authority and international NGOs. Work included:

• The creation and execution of the seabird colony management plan. The plan was used by the Maltese government as a template for other protected seabird colonies in Malta.
• The first major rat eradication project in the Maltese isles to protect endangered seabirds.
• Research included the first use of cutting-edge technology on this species, including GPS data loggers, geolocators and satellite tags. The output of this work was a key report to advise the government on a roadmap to designate Marine SPAs (several of which have since been declared).

Helen is also a writer and journalist, and has published hundreds of articles on a wide range of topics, particularly the environment and travel, including the American Birding Association’s Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaiʻi. She has a MSc in Conservation from University College London.

Hannah Weipert – Technician

Hannah was born and raised in Michigan but has since lived and worked in many states across the country. Attending Texas State University for her B.S. in Wildlife Biology, Hannah immediately realized her love of birds, quickly becoming involved as a technician for avian related studies under a doctoral student.

After college, Hannah worked with seabirds on a small island off the coast of Alaska and the following year came to Kaua‘i to continue conservation for multiple seabird species. Hannah is honored to be a part of ARC’s official first team and carry on with helping to preserve many of the endemic and threatened species that Hawaii has today.

Jason Gregg – Technician

Bobby Brittingham – Technician

Born and raised in Maine, Bobby has become extremely passionate about working to conserve endangered species and graduated from University of Maine Orono with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology in the fall of 2019. He has worked with mammals, amphibians, reptiles, but has a soft spot for seabirds after working among tern and puffin colonies in his home state.

Before ARC, Bobby worked with Save Our Shearwaters on Kaua’i in a rehabilitation setting where he learned about the unique challenges faced by Hawaiian seabirds and other native species to Hawai’i. Bobby is thrilled to have the honor to be a part of ARC’s first team and to continue working towards to conservation of the endangered Hawaiian seabirds that he has come to love.