FOR.MATS
The Parrotfish Collective is a group of conservation professionals and wildlife enthusiasts that work as conservation communicators. Using a multitude of interdisciplinary skills, they develop engaging educational content that bridges the gap between conservationists on the frontlines and the public. Through their work they re-communicate science in visually engaging and creative ways. Their mission is to inspire and empower communities with knowledge, thereby raising the eco-literacy rates of the public. Their aim is that this activity will provide the impetus to achieve long-lasting behavioral change. Through their work, they hope to create an informed public that can be mobilized towards environmental protection.
Vinod Malwatte
Vinod is a Colombo born conservationist, currently working as the Executive Director of the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF) - a not-for-profit organization that provides small and medium scale grants for locally based conservation organizations. He has worked in several roles within the conservation community, operating as the project coordinator for the Rewilding for Tourism (RFT) project under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA); as the co-founding project manager for Waste Less Arugam Bay (WLAB); and as project manager for the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO), Sri Lanka.
Vinod has a masters degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Environment with a focus in community engagement and sustainability planning management and an undergraduate degree in Geography and Anthropology from Macalester College, USA.
In addition to his work with the LEF and the Parrotfish Collective, Vinod is currently Co-Chair of the Mangrove Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods (MCSL) Forum which comprises of several local conservation organizations working to conserve mangrove ecosystems, is a Trustee of the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO), Sri Lanka and is on the judging panel for the Best Sustainability Projects awarded by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) at their annual Corporate Citizen Awards.
Vinod lives on the east coast of Sri Lanka, enjoying surfing, jungle adventures and helping his partner to work on their artisanal tea company.
As a co-founder, Vinod is one of two visionaries behind the Parrotfish Collective. On the daily he works on the conceptualization of projects and related materials, coordination of community engagement projects and science writing.
Mika Tennekoon is a Colombo born visual artist, illustrator, graphic designer and mum based in the south and east coast of Sri lanka. Since completing her HND in Visual communication and Graphic design in 2007, she has been traveling, exploring, creating and exhibiting artwork both locally and internationally. In 2016 Mika completed her Masters in Fine arts in Shantiniketan India, along with a diploma in Printmaking - moving back to Sri lanka after a decade of living and working in England, Vietnam and India.
Mika works with multiple mediums such as painting, installation and collage. Her work explores such themes as our complex relationship with nature and the environment, our connection to the divine feminine, and identity. She’s most content wherever there’s sun, surf, nature and art to be explored.
At the Parrotfish Collective, Mika is the Design Lead, working on the conceptualization of design elements for their projects, developing the collective's visual guidelines and providing the final approvals on all things design related.