Speakers & Session Leaders
Global Opening
Lynne Peoples
Author, Journalist, & Statistician
United States
Lynne Peeples is an author, speaker, statistician, and journalist covering science, health, and the environment. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times, TIME, Scientific American, Nature, The Atlantic, and other publications. Peeples herself has appeared on various podcasts, as well as local, national, and international television and radio, including MSNBC, NPR’s Fresh Air, BBC News, CBC Radio One, and ABC Radio Australia. Before becoming a journalist, she crunched numbers as a biostatistician for HIV clinical trials and environmental health studies. Peeples is a recipient of an MIT Knight Science Journalism fellowship and an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation book grant. She also holds master’s degrees in biostatistics from the Harvard School of Public Health and in science journalism from New York University. She lives in Seattle.
DarkSky Board President
New Zealand
Nalayini is the current board chair of DarkSky International. She holds master’s degrees in astronomy from Swinburne University and in economics and finance from the University of London. A Chartered Accountant, she is Executive Director of Vinstar Consulting, providing economic and financial advice to governments in 35 countries. Nalayini is the immediate past president and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, co-founder of the Aotearoa Astrotourism Academy, and serves on the boards of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance and the RASNZ Lecture Trust. She was instrumental in certifying Aotea / Great Barrier Island as a Dark Sky Sanctuary and actively promotes New Zealand’s vision to become a dark sky nation.
Ruskin Hartley
DarkSky CEO & Executive Director
United States
Ruskin leads DarkSky’s efforts to expand equitable access to dark skies and quality lighting through its award-winning programs. He works closely with volunteer leaders, partners, and donors to build support for DarkSky’s mission around the world. Before joining DarkSky, Ruskin directed conservation programs focused on protecting land, water, and ocean resources. He previously served as executive director of Save the Redwoods League, president and CEO of Heal the Bay in Los Angeles, and vice president of resource development at Fair Trade USA. Originally from the United Kingdom, Ruskin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree from the University of East Anglia. In his free time, he enjoys hiking with his wife and kids and cooking outdoors under the stars.
Voice Actor & DarkSky Advocate
United States
(Coming Soon)
DarkSky Engagement Manager
United States
Chris is the Engagement Associate at DarkSky International, bringing extensive experience in marketing, project management, and program development. Based in Minnesota, he is passionate about preserving natural nightscapes so future generations can enjoy the wonder of the Milky Way. With a background in digital and global marketing, Chris excels at creating campaigns that engage diverse audiences and align with DarkSky’s mission. He manages events, supports program growth, and strengthens DarkSky’s digital presence through strategic planning and community engagement. His dedication to environmental conservation and ability to build impactful systems make him a key contributor to the organization’s success.
DarkSky Engagement Associate
United States
Callie graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and a certificate in Environment and Sustainability. Her passion for the relationship between humans, animals, and nature has guided her work with environmental nonprofits including Save Barton Creek Association, Environment Texas, Tracy Aviary, and now DarkSky International. Growing up in brightly lit Las Vegas made it difficult to connect with nature, but after moving to San Antonio, she discovered the beauty of dark skies and the importance of protecting them. This experience sparked a deep commitment to wildlife conservation, dark sky advocacy, and exploring the outdoors through hiking, camping, and kayaking.
Global Opening & Keynote | DarkSky Staff | View session overviews →
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