DarkSky International announces Nalayini Brito-Davies as president of the Board
Brito-Davies becomes the first non-American to hold this position, bringing a global perspective and diverse skills in governance and operating nonprofits and corporate entities.
Tucson, AZ, January 1, 2025 — DarkSky International is proud to announce the appointment of Nalayini Brito-Davies as president of the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2025. Nalayini, who has served on the DarkSky board for two years, succeeds Tom Reinert in this role. Reinert will remain on the board as a member-at-large.
“Nalayini’s passion for dark sky protection and environmental conservation makes her an exceptional choice as our new board president,” said Ruskin Hartley, executive director of DarkSky International. “With her expertise in finance and economics, coupled with her visionary leadership, Nalayini will guide our efforts to safeguard the night skies that connect and inspire people, cultures, and communities worldwide and promote responsible lighting solutions to achieve that.”
As a citizen of New Zealand with experience in working cross culturally in a numer of countries and with ties to Wales, Nalayini is the first non-American to hold this position. Her leadership represents the interests of international communities dedicated to protecting the night sky, reflecting DarkSky’s commitment to global collaboration in the fight against light pollution.
About Nalayini Brito-Davies
Nalayini holds a Master of Science in Astronomy from Swinburne University in Australia and a Master of Science in Economics with a specialization in finance from the London Business School, University of London. She is a Chartered Accountant with a Financial Studies Diploma in Banking from the Institute of Bankers, U.K.
With a career spanning prominent finance roles, including Vice President at Citibank, Nalayini now serves as Executive Director of Vinstar Consulting, a leading New Zealand-based economic and financial advisory firm with government clients in over 30 countries.
Her contributions to dark sky advocacy are equally impressive. Nalayini was instrumental in establishing Aotea / Great Barrier Island as a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary and co-leads New Zealand’s initiative to become a recognized Dark Sky nation. She co-founded the Aotearoa Astrotourism Academy, which provides nationwide training programs to promote astrotourism and stargazing education while also integrating indigenous astronomy.
Nalayini also serves on the boards of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance and the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ), where she is a Fellow and immediate past president.
“I am honored to take this leading position at DarkSky International, the leader within the rapidly growing dark sky movement,” says Nalayini Brito-Davies. “The conservation of the nighttime environment with associated cultural and historic heritage preservation, coupled with eco-friendly economic development through astrotoursim, makes it an irresistible cause to drive forward to keep ahead of the adverse impact of ever-increasing light pollution”.
About DarkSky International
DarkSky International restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation. Learn more at darksky.org.
