SCS – Team
Max-Olivier Bourcoud
SCS founder & president
Passionate about marine biology and ocean conservation, Max-Olivier Bourcoud is the founder and current president of the Swiss Cetacean Society - SCS.
For over ten years, he was a Whaling Protection Consultant for Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan at the Animal Welfare Department of the Bellerive Foundation in Geneva.
In addition to his active commitment to ecology in Switzerland, he regularly participates in numerous environmental missions, whether marine or terrestrial, on different islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, Florida, France and England.
Max-Olivier Bourcoud is also responsible for the environment and sustainable development aspect of international equine events organized by Equissima in Lausanne.
In the field of education, Max-Olivier Bourcoud is a post-compulsory specialist teacher, which brings him to teach ecology and sustainable development in a vocational school. He is also a didactician in Education with regards to the environment and sustainable development, as well as a pedagogical accompanist for teachers in training in French-speaking Switzerland.
Dr. Alexandre de Titta
Vice-President, Scientific specialist
SCS Guide
PhD in Biotechnologies, Alexandre is passionate about photography, ornithology and marine life. He is active in several ornithology associations in Switzerland, collaborator and bander for the Swiss Ornithological Station. He participated in several expeditions of cetacean censuses in the Mediterranean before becoming a SCS guide, then coordinator of the guides.
Dr. Christine Vincenzetti
Fundraising officer
PhD in Biology, Christine has been committed for more than twenty years to the protection of marine species. Former SCS Guide, Christine has carried out her master’s degree on Mediterranean cetaceans, before completing her PhD in the medical field. Rich of ten years career in the pharmaceutical field, Christine brings her experience in project management to SCS.
Dr. Lida Kypriotou
Scientific collaborator & Monk seals project coordinator
PhD in molecular biology, Lida is passionate about marine environment, biodiversity, photography and travel. For the past ten years, she has devoted a great deal of her free time volunteering for the welfare of children and animals. She is currently the SCS Coordinator of the Project Marine Mammals of the Ionian Sea, in collaboration with the Tethys Research Institute.
Laura Galbiati
Green turtles project coordinator
SCS Guide
Student in psychology, for many years, Laura has been passionate about nature and particularly the marine environment which led her to study biology at UNIL. Laura took part in a trip to the Ligurian Sea three years ago as well as several conferences on cetaceans. She also coordinates the project on the protection of green turtles in the Comoros Islands.
Isabelle Quinche
Administrator
With a bachelor's degree in Business Economics and a former top athlete in synchronized swimming, Isabelle feels at home, underwater, or even better. This is why it is important to her to preserve the wonderful underwater world and all its inhabitants. Isabelle assists the SCS on an administrative level.
Mélanie Jotterand
Website and Social Media Coordinator
Active for 10 years in marketing and with a degree in tourism management, Mélanie has a particular interest for travel, nature and diving. Within the SCS, she is in charge of the website and social media together with Oriane and Ivan.
Pierre-André Barras
Accountant
As an accountant of the SCS, Pierre-André oversees the registration processes and accounting operations relative to SCS’s offshore programs.
Charlotte Bellot
Executive Director, Education & Awareness Coordinator
Graduated in Biology since 2018 with a specialization in marine biology, Charlotte participated in a research project on humpback whales in the Atlantic Ocean which aimed to estimate the physical condition of individuals using aerial images collected via drone. Since 2017, she has been working on a regular basis with the SCS, in particular for forums, cetology courses, scientific expertise, interviews, helping to run the SCS stands at events, as well as fundraising & scientific data collection for the India project. Her SCS Guide training is ongoing.
Ivan Martin
Co-manager of the project Indian Coasts Conservation & fundraiser
SCS Guide
With a Master degree in tourism and animals rights, Ivan has specialized in marine wildlife tourism through several expeditions and courses including South Africa, India and the Mediterranean Sea. As a strong animal advocate, he is interested in ways to reconcile species conservation and eco-tourism. He is also a SCS Guide and manages the Indian Coasts Conservation project in collaboration with Terra Conscious.
Melissa Bill
Events & Volunteer Coordinator & Vaquita project coordinator
SCS Guide
With a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from EPFL, Melissa has always been fascinated by dolphins and wanted to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. She left as an assistant guide on an expedition to the Hyères Islands in 2015, to complete her 3-month internship at the SCS offices. She is currently managing the volunteers and coordinates the Vaquita project.
Nicole Demarta
Mangroves project coordinator
Specialized in sustainability, and fascinated by the different ways of interacting with the world, Nicole became interested in ethology, animal behavior, languages and cultures at an early age. Her passion for nature and its beauty, her search for a life of harmony between man and his environment and a career in the field of energy make her understand the importance of a sustainable world. Sensitive to biodiversity and habitat preservation, Nicole is the coordinator of the Mangroves project.
Oriane Rütsche
Social Media Coordinator
Student at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Oriane is in charge of social media with Ivan and Melanie. Passionate about travel, foreign languages, cultures and the environment, Oriane aspires to work abroad in an international organization.
Imen Amraoui
Newsletter Coordinator
Graduated in Communication from MarKom, Imen contributes to the SCS in particular through the newsletter and communication with the eco-volunteers and SCS-members.
Our captains
Christian Gras
Capitain
owner of Ichthus
Experienced high sea navigator, Christian is Professor of Plastic Art, Painter and Sculptor.
Gilbert Troncy
Capitain
Owner of Pat
Experienced high sea navigator, Gilbert used to live on his boat for many years. He is a teacher in a vocational technical school.
Gilles Martin
Captain
Owner of Merrespect
Professor of Physics-Chemistry and confirmed sailor, Gilles is the owner of Merrespect, transoceanic catamaran Lagoon 47 of 14m10. He puts his skills and spare time at the disposal of marine mammals through SCS. His thirty years of experience allow him to share his passion with the greatest number of the other members of the SCS in the respect of the ecology and the marine environment.