PCS Board Members and Staff



Mr. Moses Uludong, Chairman Mr. Uludong is a lawyer and publisher. He owns and operates Tia Belau, Palau’s first weekly newspaper. He is former governor of the State of Ngchesar and holds a traditional title in the State of Melekeok. Mr. Uludong has served on the PCS Board of Directors since 2001.
Ms. Maura Gordon, Vice Chairman Ms. Gordon is a founding member of PCS and has served on the Board of Directors since its inception. She is a private businesswoman, operating the Palau Internet Café, and a founding member and staff person of Palau Resources Institute, a non-profit corporation working for sustainable development. Ms. Gordon holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii and before moving into private business had a distinguished career in Palau schools as teacher and counselor. She is active in a number of community organizations
Ms. Julita Tellei, Secretary Ms. Tellei is a founding member of PCS and currently serves on the Board of Director. She is a Consultant and part owner of Palau Resource Institute (PRI) a private consulting firm. Ms. Tellei holds a Master degree in Public health and a Bachelor degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii. She is active in a number of community organizations. Ms. Tellei is the Health Human Resource Development Officer for the Ministry of Health under the Government of the Republic of Palau.
Mr. Kaleb Udui, Jr., Treasurer Mr. Udui is President of National Development Bank of Palau. Previously, he was a senior executive with the Bank of Hawaii Palau Branch and formally held senior positions in the Palau Ministry of Administration including the post of National Treasurer. He holds a MBA degree from the University of Hawaii and has served on the PCS Board of Directors since 1997.
Mr. Clarence Kitalong Mr. Kitalong is one of PCS’s newest board members having begun his service in October of 2002. He is a traditional chief, a fisherman, and a biologist who owns and operates The Environment, Inc., a private firm that specializes in biological and environmental impact assessments.
Dr. Stevenson Kuartei Dr. Kuartei is a certified medical doctor, specializing in family practice. He is currently the Director of Palau Bureau of Public Health. Previously he was Director of the Palau Community Health Center and Chief of the Division of Primary and Preventative Health. Dr. Kuartei is active on many medical boards and advisory councils.
Senator Caleb Otto Dr. Caleb Otto was elected as a Senator to the Seventh Olbiil Era Kelulau in November 2004. Senator Otto received his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Washington in 1970 and Masters in Health Administration in 1975. Subsequently Senator Otto worked as a hospital specialist and later became a director of health services. In 1989, Senator Otto received a bachelor degree in medicine and surgery (MBBS) at the Fiji School of Medicine, University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. He was an intern at CWM Hospital in General Medicine at Suva for one year and became a clinical tutor at the Fiji School of Medicine for the next three years. Upon his return home Senator Otto served as chief of medical staff at the Belau National Hospital and then as chief of preventive services overseeing the Public Health Division at the Ministry of Health. He was the director of Public Health before retiring on June 30, 2003. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Education, and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and State Relations.
Ms. Sandra S. Pierantozzi Ms. Pierantozzi is a founding member of PCS and has been a member of the board of directors since its inception. Ms. Pierantozzi has had a distinguished career in public service initially as a civil servant, later as an appointed official (Minister of Administration) and subsequently as an elected official first as Senator and then as Vice-President. She is also a prominent local businesswoman and active in a large number of community organizations.
Dr. Minoru Ueki Dr. Ueki is the founding chairman of PCS, a post he held from 1994-2001. He is a retired medical doctor now active as a private businessman operating a tour agency, diving operation, and restaurant. He is active in a number of professional and community organizations including: OISCA International, OISCA Palau Chapter, Catholic Mission of Palau, Catholic Commission on Justice and Development, PATA Micronesia, Palau Chamber of Commerce, and the Palau Committee on Population and Children. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Palau International Coral Reef Center.
Mr. Victor Uherbelau Mr. Uherbelau is a lawyer who specializes in marine affairs. He has held a number of sernior posts in the Palau Government and has recently completed six years of service as Executive Director of the Pacific Regional Forum Fisheries Agency based in the Solomon Islands. He is currently employed as a legal advisor for the Ministry of Resources and Development. He has served as a member of the PCS Board of Directors since 2001.
Mr. Surangel Whipps, Jr. Mr. Whipps is President and CEO of Surangel and Sons, one of Palau’s largest domestic corporations with interests in wholesale and retail, tourism, and construction. He holds an MBA degree from UCLA. He has been a member of the PCS Board of Directors since 2000 and is active in a large number of other community and regional organizations. He is also the second ranking traditional chief in the state of Ngatpang.

Tiare Holm, Executive Director Ms. Holm comes to PCS with more than 10 years of experience managing conservation programs in Palau and the Pacific Islands region. She has worked with both government and non-governmental organizations at the local, regional and international levels including the Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB), the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and RARE Center for Tropical Conservation. In addition to her current work with PCS, she is a Board Member for EQPB and is also active in various community organizations. Ms. Holm holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Psychology from the University of Hawaii, Manoa.

Asap Bukurrou, Senior Marine Conservation Officer Mr. Bukurrou has a wealth of experience in aquaculture and marine fisheries management and monitoring. He worked at the Palau Bureau of Marine Resources for 4 years as an aquaculture and fisheries technician where he conducted resource assessments, fish spawning aggregation surveys, and was trained as a long-line fisheries observer. He also received four months of intensive aquarium operations training in Japan, and worked as the Senior Aquarist at the Palau International Coral Reef Center.
Valentino Kloulchad, Marine Community Conservation Assistant Mr. Kloulchad is responsible for monitoring and enforcement of the Ebiil Conservation Area in Ngarchelong. He is a certified PADI diver, has been trained in fish and invertebrate underwater visual census techniques and has extensive knowledge of fish and fish behavior from many years experience as a commercial fisherman. Mr. Kloulchad is also a graduate of the Palau Police Academy.
Bernadette T. Keldermanns, Community Visioning Coordinator Ms. Keldermanns comes to PCS with over thirty years of experience in teaching and curriculum development. She retired from the Ministry of Education in 2000 from her last position as Environmental Curriculum Coordinator for all the schools of Palau. In her spare time, she is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Guam.
Foober Obichang Skebong, Community Conservation Coordinator Mr. Skebong is currently president of a youth organization called Ngarcholtitech Club and a president of BMS alumni class of 78. He holds several certificates in relation to communities and conservation. Mr. Skebong’s work at PCS focuses on communities in Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang and Aimeliik states to identify priority terrestrial areas for inclusion in the Protected Areas Network, and to initiate action to designate these sites as protected areas.
Collin Joseph, Community Conservation Coordinator Ms. Joseph is a resident of Melekeok State, home of the new and forthcoming Capitol of Palau and home to the Ngardok Nature Reserve. Mr. Joseph is a member of the Reserve Board for the Nature Reserve and has extensive experience with community-based management of natural resources.
Gillian Johanes, Community Specialist Mr. Johanes is a resident and traditional title-holder in the state of Airai. He has thirty years of experience in community development including youth affairs, social work, and land management. He was the first Palauan US Peace Corps Representative in Palau. At PCS, he has spearheaded the Ngerikiil Watershed Initiative in Airai state where he works closely with state and traditional leaders to protect Palau’s primary source of drinking water.
Yalap P. Yalap, Environmental Education Officer Mr. Yalap holds a diploma in environmental education from the University of Kent (England). He came to PCS in 2000 following a lengthy career in business and tourism. As former Executive Director of Belau Tourism Association, Mr. Yalap is very familiar with environmental issues affecting Palau and very experienced as a trainer and human resource planner. His most recent project has been the award winning “Uel a Sechelid” (Turtles Are Our Friends) education and awareness campaign.
Elizabeth Matthews, Senior Research Officer Ms. Matthews has a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the City University of New York (US) and a Master’s degree in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University (US). She is a doctoral candidate in Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island. Her previous work in Palau includes a study of women’s fishing activities and interviews of resource users for the Palau Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA). She has worked at PCS since 2001, and has designed and conducted resource monitoring surveys, baseline biological assessments, local ecological knowledge studies and resource use studies. She has also written many successful grant proposals for the marine and terrestrial conservation programs.
Anuradha (Anu) Gupta, Senior Terrestrial Officer Ms. Gupta has a joint Bachelor’s degree in Biology and English from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (US) and a Master of Science degree in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University (US). Prior to joining the PCS staff, Ms. Gupta served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer with the Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board. Ms. Gupta’s focus at PCS is on terrestrial and watershed conservation through Birdlife International’s IBAs Project.
Scott Kiefer, Marine Conservation and Education Assistant Mr. Kiefer has a Bachelor’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Scientific Illustration, both from the University of Michigan (US). He has worked in Palau as a S.C.U.B.A dive instructor, naturalist kayak guide and served an internship with the Coral Reef Research Foundation. Currently, he is involved with the artistic design and creation of educational/promotional material, assisting with the management and monitoring of marine resources and the development of tourism management activities.
Godines Ngiltii, Operations Manager Mr. Ngiltii is a licensed boat operator and outboard mechanic. He is responsible for maintenance and operations of PCS equipment, boats and vehicles.
Mingrang Kloulechad, Administration and Finance Officer Ms. Kloulechad has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Guam. Prior to PCS, Ms. Kloulechad served as a Math tutor to Student Support Service in the University of Guam. Ms. Kloulechad is responsible for all accounting and administration of PCS.
Amand Alexander, Office Manager Ms. Alexander is responsible for administrative and secretarial support for the Executive Director and general support for the PCS staff. She is currently a senior at California State University in Pomona (US) and is completing her Bachelor’s degree in Finance Real Estate and Law from California Polytechnic University (US).
Dee-Marie T. Rubasch, Development Officer Ms. Rubasch is a Development Officer to PCS. She is responsible for fundraising and membership both on and off island. She attended University of Reno, where she is planning to get her bachelor’s degree on line in Business Management and Accounting. Prior to joining PCS, Ms. Rubasch worked at the Office of the Special Prosecutor as an Executive Secretary for two years.
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