coherence council
The internal structure of Coherence Lab mirrors the work we do externally to cultivate resilience through diversity. Our team is made up of a group of individuals representing a diverse suite of backgrounds and skillsets.
prajna horn
Co-Founder / Executive Director
Prajna is social change strategist, social entrepreneur, business consultant, and community organizer. In 2015, she co-founded and is the Executive Director of Kaua’i-based Coherence Lab, a non-profit organization advancing whole-systems solutions by uniting Indigenous Wisdom, Earth Systems Science and by bringing people together to act coherently for the good of the whole. Prajna served as a member of the executive leadership team of IMPAQ business consulting for more than 10 years. As an award-winning innovator in launching technology start-ups, Prajna has specialized in magnifying impact in some of the most unlikely places by synthesizing voices and repositioning allies and competitors as collaborative partners. While living in Mt. Shasta, CA in 2008 she began organizing her community around a transformative new way to protect nature by recognizing legal standing for ecosystems. The Rights of Nature, now law in 7 countries and dozens of US communities, is based on Indigenous cosmology and respecting natural law. Prajna is a contributing author to the book, The Rights of Nature: The Case for a Universal Declaration for the Rights of Mother Earth.
Director of Engagement
A social entrepreneur, networker and technologist, Greg’s ability to understand big challenges and dream up creative solutions to meet them is what brought him to Coherence Lab. From starting his own tech company to deep community engagement, Greg has never shied away from the big, underlying challenge standing in the way of helping people flourish. Now that he calls Kauai his home with his wife Prajna, he brings those deep listening and creative problem solving skills to Coherence Lab. His focus is to engage the community in dreaming into the future and putting dreams into action.
jay harman
Council Member
As a naturalist, inventor, and entrepreneur, Jay Harman has taken a hands-on approach to his lifelong fascination with natural fluid systems. In the process, he has grown successful biomimicry companies that design innovative products, ranging from prize-winning watercraft, to a non-invasive technology for measuring blood glucose, to his most recent companies, PAX Scientific and its subsidiaries.
With a goal to show manufacturing industries that more efficient equipment is profitable for both shareholders and the environment, PAX designs devices including fans, mixers, pumps, refrigeration systems, and distillation systems, all based on Jay’s revolutionary understanding of nature’s methods for streamlining fluid flow.
As well as his roles as CEO of PAX Scientific, Inc. and Chairman of the Board for PAX’s subsidiaries companies, Jay is an adjunct professor at Curtin University of Australia and acts as an Invention Ambassador for the AAAS and Lemelson Foundation. He shares his experience and adventures in the natural world and the corporate jungle in his book, The Shark’s Paintbrush, with all proceeds supporting biomimicry education. Jay is also featured in Prince Charles’ documentary, Harmony, and his book of the same title, as well as Elemental, an award-winning documentary profiling three environmental activists around the world. www.thesharkspaintbrush.com
ilarion kuuyux merculieff
Council Member
Unangan (Aleut) | Alaska. Ilarion “Larry” is the Wisdom Weavers of the World project organizer.
Raised in a traditional Unangan (Aleut) way and received his Unangan name Kuuyux at age 4. The name is given to one person in each lifetime amongst his people. Kuuyux means an arm extending out from the body, a carrier of ancient knowledge into modern times, a messenger. Today he is living the legacy of his name.
hilary giovale
Council Member
Hilary is a 9th generation American settler of Scots, Irish, and Scandinavian descent who is committed to healing historical divides. A mother, dancer, writer, filmmaker and philanthropist, she lives rooted in family and community at the base of a mountain sacred to 13 tribes on the land now known as Flagstaff, Arizona. Her work is shaped by her relationships with Indigenous people and worldview.
nina simons
Council Member
Nina Simons is the co-founder of the nonprofit Bioneers since 1990, and founder of their Everywoman’s Leadership program. Previously, in the for-profit sector, she was President of Seeds of Change, a biodiversity organic seed company, and Director of Strategic Marketing for Odwalla, a fresh juice company.
With annual conferences and multi-media platforms, Bioneers identifies, features and connects innovative leaders with solutions to many of the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. She edited the anthology book Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart, and co-hosts Cultivating Women’s Leadership intensives.
She is passionate about redefining leadership, and about igniting and liberating it in greater measure in women of all ages, backgrounds, orientations and disciplines. She also focuses on reclaiming the archetypal feminine to restore equilibrium, healing and greater wholeness to our leadership, systems and humanity.
kenny ausubel
Council Member
Kenny Ausubel is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author, journalist and filmmaker. He is the Founder and CEO of Bioneers, the internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to disseminating breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet. He launched the annual Bioneers Conference in 1990 with his business partner and wife Nina Simons, Bioneers Co-Founder and President.
Kenny is a writer, filmmaker and media professional. Since 2004, he has served as executive producer and co-writer of the award-winning international radio series The Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature. He acted as a central advisor to Leonardo DiCaprio's feature documentary, The 11th Hour, and appears in the film.
He has written four books and edited several volumes of the Bioneers anthology book series. His most recent book Dreaming the Future: Reimagining Civilization in the Age of Nature (Chelsea Green 2012) won the Nautilus Grand Gold prize in the Ecology-Environment category. He writes for the Huffington Post.
Kenny co-founded the national company Seeds of Change in 1989 and served as CEO until 1994 to restore “backyard biodiversity” into the food web through marketing organic, biodiverse heirloom seeds to gardeners.
His critically acclaimed feature documentary film Hoxsey: How Healing Becomes a Crime and related reportage were named for the Best Censored Stories award for investigative journalism. The film played in movie theaters and aired on HBO and international TV, and enjoyed a special screening for member of Congress at the Kennedy Center, reported on NPR. He later published the acclaimed book “When Healing Becomes a Crime.”
Apart from his ongoing work with Bioneers, Kenny is currently developing several film projects.
osprey orielle lake
Council Member
Osprey Orielle Lake is the Founder and Executive Director of Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network, International (WECAN). She works nationally and internationally with grassroots, Indigenous and business leaders, policy-makers and scientists to promote climate justice, resilient communities, and a just transition to a clean energy future.
Osprey is Co-chair of International Advocacy for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and the visionary behind the International Women's Earth and Climate Summit, which brought together 100 women leaders from around the world to draft and implement a Women's Climate Action Agenda.
She teaches international climate trainings and directs WECAN’s advocacy work in areas such as Women for Forests, Rights of Nature and UN Forums. She has served on the board of the Praxis Peace Institute and on the Steering Committee for The UN Women’s Major Group for the Rio+20 Earth Summit.
Awards include the National Women’s History Project Honoree, Taking The Lead To Save Our Planet, and the Woman Of The Year Outstanding Achievement Award from the California Federation Of Business And Professional Women.
Osprey is the author of the award-winning book, “Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature.”
patricia ellsberg
Board Member; Co-founder Kaiāulu.earth
Patricia is a social change activist, public speaker, meditation teacher and spiritual mentor. In their first year of marriage in 1971, she helped her husband, Daniel Ellsberg, release to the press the Pentagon Papers, a top secret history of US involvement in Vietnam, which helped end the Vietnam War.
A central theme of her life has been bridging spiritual experience with social activism. For years Patricia had her own nationally syndicated interview radio program called New Voices. She has spoken widely on peace, environmental and women’s issues and has served on numerous Boards of peace and environmental organizations.
She currently is leading tele-seminars on personal and social transformation and is working closely with her sister, Barbara Marx Hubbard, to bring greater synergy and collaboration between social innovators worldwide.
mark dubois
Council Member
Mark Dubois, a student of rivers since his teens, has advocated for our precious waters & Earth ever since. His present passionate quest is for an invitation/a new story for our Great Global Emergence reminding humanity the magnitude of who we truly are, our interconnectedness, and our opportunity at this historic time. He organized with The Pachamama Alliance’s global awakening work (’07-’11) and co-founded the International Rivers Network (’84), Friends of the River (’74) and the Environmental Traveling Companions (’72). Presently he is the International Emissary for the Earth Day 50 Challenge.
At ServiceSpace, Lesson River: www.awakin.org/calls/153/mark-dubois/
kumu cecelia puna dawson
Board Chair, Co-founder, Kaiāulu.earth
Puna is a shining community figure and is pivotal in supporting numerous programs, events and organizations that celebrate diversity and Hawaiian cultural values. From seed exchanges to surf meets and festivals to sacred ceremonies, Puna brings a gift of ancient Hawaiian wisdom and a family lineage that traces back through many island generations.
As one of the founders of Kanuikapono Charter School, in Anahola, Puna delights in her work with the keiki (children) and kumu (teachers). Puna has been involved in spearheading numerous community organizations, and is the former president of both the Canoe Association and the Mokihana and Emmalani Festivals. She was also a founding member of Leadership Kaua‘i and the Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance (KPAA) − to name just a few.
Puna Kalama embodies a pure, Hawaiian essence and delights in sharing her ancient lineage while infusing the message of aloha from her heart to humanity.
drai turner
Graphic Designer
I BELIEVE in family, walks on the beach, home-made food, a good book and love.
I BELIEVE in accountability, integrity, eyes wide open and big hearts.
I BELIEVE in supporting business that's MAKING A DIFFERENCE and walking lightly on the Earth. "There are hundreds of ways to bend and kiss the Earth."
I BELIEVE in the holistic model of People. Planet. Profit.
I BELIEVE in being the 'right hand' to my clients, enabling them to focus their energy on their mission, while supporting them gracefully behind the scenes.
I BELIEVE in Coherence.
www.bearwomyn.wix.com/wildredheaddesign
michael de fauw
Council Member
Founder and CEO of Conscious Web Design, Michael De Fauw facilitates Web Development that is grounded in both technical precision and energetic clarity. Allowing the eye of spirit to see and and guide in spiritual healing and also with technology.
duane elgin
Council Member
Duane is an internationally recognized author, speaker, and educator regarding our time of planetary transition. His books include: The Living Universe, Voluntary Simplicity, Promise Ahead and Awakening Earth. With Joseph Campbell and other scholars, he co-authored Changing Images of Man. He has contributed to numerous studies of the long-range future since the early 1970s—first while working as a senior social scientist in Washington, D.C. on a Presidential Commission on the American Future, and then with the futures group in the think-tank, SRI International. Duane received the Peace Prize of Japan, the Goi Award, in Tokyo in 2006 in recognition of his contribution to a global “vision, consciousness, and lifestyle” that fosters a “more sustainable and spiritual culture.” He is the co-founder of three non-profit and non-partisan organizations working for media accountability and citizen empowerment. He is currently the Executive Director of a project bringing together more than a dozen "Great Transition Stories" that offer new narratives for understanding our time of profound global change. Duane received an MBA from the Wharton Business School MBA and an MA in economic history from the University of Pennsylvania. His professional website is: www.GreatTransitionStories.org His personal website is: www.DuaneElgin.com
lynne twist
Council Member
Lynne is the founder of the Soul of Money Institute and author of the best-selling, book The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life.
Over the past 40 years Lynne has worked with over 100,000 people in 50 countries. Her clients include: Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, the International Unity Church, Charles Schwab, United Way, The National Black theater of Harlem, Harvard University and others.
She has spoken for the United Nations Beijing Women’s Conference, State of the World Forum, Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Governor’s Conference on California Women, among others.
A recognized global visionary, she has served as an advisor to the Desmond Tutu Foundation, and The Nobel Women’s Initiative. Lynne is the recipient of the prestigious "Woman of Distinction" award from the United Nations.
ashley cline
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Ashley has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years; she has extensive experience as a professional fundraiser and in nonprofit management. Ashley has worked at Global Exchange, an international human rights organization, since 2004. Serving as Interim Executive Director (2015-2016), Ashley closely collaborated with the Board of Directors to execute a 2 million dollar budget, support a staff of eight, and carryout daily operations, fundraising and communications. Ashley continues to serve as Global Exchange’s Development Director, raising over 1 million annually to support the operations and projects of Global Exchange. Ashley is responsible for developing and executing the annual fundraising plan, overseeing donor cultivation, grant writing, and organizing small and large donor events. Ashley also works closely with Global Exchange’s leadership on organizational strategic planning and execution. Prior to her work with Global Exchange, Ashley worked in Kenya and Somalia as Associate Director of Horn Relief (now Adeso), a 2002 Goldman Prize winner.
damien patton
Council Member
Damien is the Founder and CEO of Banjo, the ‘crystal ball’ technology that shows what’s happening anywhere in the world in real time. Under Damien’s leadership, Banjo’s patented artificial intelligence was named The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and called the fasted executing start-up by Wired Magazine.
Damien’s passion for problem solving is the hallmark of everything he does and has put his talents to use in some vastly varied disciplines. He served in Desert Storm, spent 7 years in NASCAR and was the chief mechanic of one of the top teams, and even dusted for prints as a crime scene investigator.
Damien graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance from UNCG, was awarded the dean’s medal and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma. He earned a Certificate in Management and Leadership from MIT Sloan School of Management.
damien patton
Council Member
Damien is the Founder and CEO of Banjo, the ‘crystal ball’ technology that shows what’s happening anywhere in the world in real time. Under Damien’s leadership, Banjo’s patented artificial intelligence was named The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and called the fasted executing start-up by Wired Magazine.
Damien’s passion for problem solving is the hallmark of everything he does and has put his talents to use in some vastly varied disciplines. He served in Desert Storm, spent 7 years in NASCAR and was the chief mechanic of one of the top teams, and even dusted for prints as a crime scene investigator.
Damien graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance from UNCG, was awarded the dean’s medal and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma. He earned a Certificate in Management and Leadership from MIT Sloan School of Management.
bear bubnis
JAM Facilitator
Bear was born on the north shore of Kauai in Wainiha. Sponsored by one of the top surfing corporations at the age of 8 he began competitive surfing. From 8 to 18 he spent his life traveling around the world competing professionally. He then fell in love with martial arts and began to compete in MMA or mixed martial arts. After owning and operating Kaua`i Adventure Fitness, he wanted to give back to the community, in particular supporting the children of the community. He then started a non-profit organization called Na Keiki o Halele`a for children that's goal was to give the same path that freed him of his struggles, allowing them to connect with themselves and their purpose. He spent the last year and a half running the organization which inspired him to build an international platform to serve children throughout the world.
jason jay
Council Member
Jason Jay is a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Director of the Sustainability Initiative at MIT Sloan. His research focuses on how people navigate the tensions between personal, business, and social goals in sustainability efforts. His first book is Breaking Through Gridlock: The Power of Conversation in a Polarized World and he has published articles in the Academy of Management Journal and California Management Review. He teaches courses on strategy, innovation, and leadership for sustainable business at MIT, and engages students and alumni in hands-on projects with leading companies and organizations. Prior to MIT, Jason was a management consultant for Dialogos International, where he consulted on leadership development and organizational change for major international corporations and NGO's including BP and the World Bank. Jason holds a Ph.D. in Organization Studies from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and an AB and M.Ed from Harvard University. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts.
shannon biggs
Board Secretary
Shannon Biggs is the co-founder and Executive Director of Movement Rights, advancing legal rights for communities, indigenous peoples and ecosystems. Working in California and with Native American tribes and allies nationally, Shannon assists communities to ban harmful projects by passing binding laws that assert the rights of communities and nature over corporate projects. Internationally she is a recognized leader of the rights of nature/Mother Earth movement, a co-founder of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, and the co-author/editor of two books including “The Rights of Nature, Making the Case for the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Nature.” Though Movement Rights she also leads trainings on community rights and rights of ecosystems nationally. Previously she was a senior staffer at Global Exchange and the International Forum on Globalization. She holds a Masters degree from the London School of Economics (LSE) in Economics — the Politics of Empire.
rene henery, PhD
Council Member
Dr. Rene Henery is an Ecologist and Eco-geographer who comes to Coherence Lab through a joint position he holds with the University of Nevada, Reno Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis Laboratory and Trout Unlimited, America’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization. His work is dedicated to exploring diversity and connectivity as pathways to recovery of water dependent living systems in the US and abroad. Rene supports Coherence Lab in several capacities including providing guidance on the design of scientific research to inform Coherence Lab objectives as well as stakeholder engagement processes that honor diversity. Rene, additionally, provides supervision and mentorship for Coherence Lab Science and Geospatial Analysis interns.
cynthia lazaroff
Director of Biosphere Stewardship & Education
Cynthia Lazaroff is Co-Founder of the Kaua’i Circle of Sustainability Initiative. For over fifteen years, she served as Executive Vice President and Board Member of Biosphere Foundation where she directed an international campaign to preserve coral reefs, the endangered “rainforests of the sea,” and created biosphere stewardship educational programs for students from around the world.
Over the past thirty-five years, Cynthia has worked in the field of Russian-American citizen diplomacy. Since 2014 she has addressed the annual All-Russia Forum on Strategic Planning in Cities and Regions with a focus on building bridges of collaboration to advance place-based sustainability initiatives and meet the common challenge of climate change. In 1983, at the height of Cold War tensions, Cynthia co-founded the US-USSR Youth Exchange Program and pioneered exchanges in the fields of art, literature, theater, education, film, sports, wilderness adventures, urban leadership and environmental service. She is one of nine Americans profiled in the book Citizen Diplomats: Pathfinders in Soviet-American Relations and How You Can Join Them. Cynthia has developed and produced many Russian-related film and television projects including the award-winning documentary, The Challenge of the Caucasus, featuring the first joint ascent of Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak (18,481 feet), by Soviet and American youth whom she co-led to the summit. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University.
Cynthia lives with Bruce Allyn and their family in the village of Anahola on the East shore of Kaua’i, where they are developing First Light, a 5-acre off-the-grid organic orchard, vegetable and Ayurvedic medicinal plant garden and intentional community.
casey camp horinek
Council Member
Native Rights Activist, Environmentalist, Actor
Indigenous Environmental Network (Ponca/USA)
Casey Camp Hornick is an elder and sits on the tribal council for the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma USA. Like her brother, the late Carter Camp, who was a leader in the American Indian Movement, Casey has been an outspoken activist for her people and for Mother Earth. “We are averaging one death per week in a community of 600 to 800 people. All of these are from cancers and from unknown autoimmune diseases that create these same things in our bodies that our Mother the Earth is feeling at this moment.” She has won an Emmy and will continue to work on future film projects while travelling to speak on concerns of Indian communities throughout the hemisphere. She & brother Dwain also have fought in support of the Ponca people to address the pollution of the White Eagle area by the Carbon Black Corporation. Camp also founded the Coyote Creek Environmental Center on family land near Marland.