A daughter of the Mariana Islands, Sheila Babauta is passionate about uplifting indigenous voices and making a positive contribution to her community. Born and raised on the island of Saipan, she is the daughter of Diego and Dolorina Babauta. Sheila served in public office holding key leadership positions such as Chair of the Natural Resources Committee and Floor Leader for the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.

Her longstanding commitment to service is evident through non-profit organizations such as the Friends of the Marianas Trench, Our Common Wealth 670, Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, and Right to Democracy where she aims to amplify the Marianas voice around decolonization, demilitarization, and environmental justice. She believes that traditional knowledge and indigenous leadership leads to responsible stewardship of our natural resources that contributes to the health and healing of her community.

As an alum of the Obama Leaders Program: Asia Pacific, Young Pacific Leaders Program, Pacific Century Fellows Program-Marianas Chapter, and Pacific Weavers Program, leadership development remains a priority for her. A 2023 Environmental Justice Movement Fellow with the Tishman Design Center at The New School and founder of Community Solutions, a small business focused on community building and engagement, Sheila believes that empowerment and healing at the individual and community level will guide us to a more just and sustainable future.

Sheila was named the 2023 Environmental Champion by the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, and the 2023 Environmentalist of the Year by the Marianas Terrestrial Conservation Conference. She has represented the Mariana Islands at national U.S. conferences and international gatherings in Scotland, Egypt, Palau, Puerto Rico, Greece, Tanzania, U.S. Virgin Islands, Fiji, Aotearoa, and most recently at the 2025 Tiaki Moana Summit in Maohi Nui (French Polynesia).

She is an enthusiast at heart, currently re-reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and tuning into the Super Soul podcast. She enjoys her morning swims at Paupau Beach and envisions transforming an abandoned shopping mall and resort in her village into a cultural resiliency hub.

Franco Santos is a dedicated leader and passionate advocate for the Northern Mariana Islands. Born and raised in Saipan, Franco spent a decade in the tourism industry and worked as a fundraising consultant for various charitable organizations.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Accounting from Northern Marianas College. Franco is also an accomplished golfer, representing the CNMI in the 2015 and 2023 Pacific Games and the 2022 Pacific Mini Games, where he won a Team Bronze medal.

Currently serving as Finance and Operations Director at MANGO, Franco brings his expertise to drive positive change. As a local fisherman and leader at Friends of the Mariana Trench, he’s committed to conserving and protecting the ocean for future generations and the livelihoods of those who depend on it.

Tina Sablan serves as board secretary of the Friends of the Mariana Trench and has long supported FOMT’s work advancing community-led ocean stewardship and youth leadership in the Northern Marianas. As the CNMI’s former Special Assistant for Climate Policy and Planning, she led the development of the Commonwealth’s first climate action plan. She also collaborated with the National Ocean Protection Coalition, FOMT, and local partners on a landscape analysis of ocean conservation in the Marianas. Tina is currently a board member of Tano, Tasi, yan Todu, another Marianas-based conservation nonprofit, and co-chair of the Climate Strong Islands Network, which works to strengthen policy, funding, and visibility for U.S. island communities.

Born and raised on Saipan, Ignacio “Ike” V. Cabrera is a founding member of the Friends of the Mariana Trench and served as the organization’s Chairman from 2008 to 2020. In recognition of his decades of leadership and commitment to environmental stewardship, he was named Chairman Emeritus in 2021. Before retiring from government service, Ike served as Director of the Department of Environmental Quality from 1979 to 2000, where he helped shape key environmental protection policies for the Northern Mariana Islands. In 2001, he founded Cabrera Enterprises Services, which remains active today. Throughout his career, Ike has served on numerous conservation boards, including the Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Pacific Basin Soil and Water Conservation District, and continues to serve as a board member of the Saipan & Northern Islands Soil and Water Conservation District, where he contributes to ongoing watershed management and conservation initiatives. Today, Ike volunteers with Friends of the Mariana Trench in his capacity as an Ocean Elder, sharing his traditional ecological knowledge and lifelong experience to guide projects that blend cultural wisdom with modern conservation practices. When he’s not advising on environmental initiatives, Ike can be found on his farm — continuing his enduring commitment to caring for the land and sea that sustain his community.