Denpasar, Bali — December 16, 2025 — Yayasan Alam Indonesia Lestari (LINI Foundation) today welcomes Eveline Kurniati as its new Executive Director, succeeding founder and long-time visionary leader Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley, who passed away recently. The appointment marks a profound moment of continuity and renewal for the organization as it advances its mission to protect Indonesia’s marine ecosystems while improving the lives of coastal communities.
Eveline brings more than a decade of experience in marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, research, and environmental governance. She has been closely associated with LINI since 2014 , taking on several roles as Field Officer, Monitoring & Evaluations and Program Manager, where she led multi-year conservation and community development programs across Bali, Sulawesi and Maluku.
Her appointment reflects both her deep institutional knowledge and the Board’s commitment to strengthening LINI’s impact at national and international levels. Eveline also holds a Master of Science in Aquaculture Science and Technology from James Cook University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Atma Jaya Yogyakarta University. Notably, she is a certified ESG auditor and has worked with several international institutions including the World Bank, UNDP, and leading universities.
“Eveline has worked side by side with Gayatri for many years and has played a central role in shaping LINI’s programs and partnerships,” the Board said in a statement. “Her leadership, technical expertise and long-standing relationships with coastal communities position her strongly to carry forward LINI’s vision at a critical time for Indonesia’s marine environment.”
Honoring a Legacy, Building the Future
In her new role, Eveline said she is committed to honoring the legacy of LINI’s founder while strengthening the organization’s relevance in a changing environmental and policy landscape.
“Gayatri believed deeply in connection—between people, science and nature,” she said. “LINI will continue to build those connections to ensure Indonesia’s marine ecosystems are protected and coastal communities can thrive.”
Under Eveline’s leadership, LINI will continue to focus on community-based conservation models that link environmental protection with sustainable livelihoods. Since its establishment in 2008, LINI has been recognized for its work in responsible marine aquarium fisheries, small-scale fisheries improvement, reef restoration and community development.
LINI’s environmental contributions include supporting one of Indonesia’s earliest community-based reef restoration initiatives, which has resulted in the deployment of more than 2,500 artificial reef structures across Bali and thousands more under the Indonesian Coral Reef Garden program. These efforts have restored degraded reef habitats, increased fish abundance, and provided income opportunities for coastal communities, particularly during the COVID-19 period.
The foundation has also played a leading role in improving fisheries management. LINI supported the Banda handline yellowfin tuna fishery in achieving Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification in 2021, demonstrating that small-scale fisheries can meet global sustainability standards. Its ongoing Fisheries Improvement Projects for tuna and octopus continue to address data gaps, ecosystem impacts and local governance challenges.
In marine biodiversity conservation, LINI has been instrumental in protecting the endemic Banggai cardinalfish, contributing to the development of Indonesia’s National Plan of Action and conducting long-term population monitoring across 16 distribution areas. Through its Aquaculture and Training Centre in North Bali, LINI has also pioneered non-profit-led marine aquaculture in Indonesia, providing alternatives to destructive fishing practices while strengthening local skills and incomes.
Beyond conservation, LINI integrates health, education and social empowerment into its programs. Recent initiatives include community-based nutrition and stunting prevention programs that promote the use of locally sourced fish to improve child health outcomes in remote coastal villages.
The Board expressed its confidence that Eveline’s appointment will ensure continuity of leadership while reinforcing LINI’s long-term commitment to integrity, collaboration, and measurable impact in marine conservation across Indonesia.
