International Women's Day Spotlight

At the heart of one such effort is Lily Damayanti. Working with Mars Sustainable Solutions (MSS) for over 18 years, Lily has been instrumental in the growth and development of not just Sheba Hope Grows ™, one of the largest coral restoration programs in the world, but also in the training and support of women in Indonesia and beyond. 

Lily grew up surrounded by the beauty of coral reefs, on a small island called Tomia, in Indonesia. After studying Marine Biology and discovering her love of diving, she joined Mars Sustainable Solutions in 2008. 

Jumping ahead to 2026, Lily heads up MSS operations in Indonesia as the Marine Program Manager. Lily also operates as a MARRS Trainer, rescue diver and leads community and government liaison in the region. 

Last year, Lily facilitated a five-day coral restoration training event alongside fellow MSS Associate, Elena Moore. The event was specifically designed to empower and support women working in marine conservation across Indonesia and beyond. 

Led by Lily and Elena, the MARRS Women Training was held in Makassar and Bontosua Island in Indonesia. The event brought together women working in marine science from across South East Asia, including fellow practitioners from organizations such as  Coral Catch, Coral Triangle Center (CTC), Empower Ocean, JARI Foundation and Bali Blue Harmony. 

Training focused on equipping female ocean leaders with practical and theoretical expertise in the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS) and the broader restoration toolbox. 

Across five days, participants received hands-on experience in reef restoration, alongside connection-building and knowledge sharing - culminating in the successful deployment of 600 Reef Stars, out planting 9,000 coral fragments. 

The training also engaged young, local women from Bontosua Island, who participated in shuttling and snorkelling activities - an inspiring contribution to the week’s focus on inclusive, community-led restoration. 

Since the training, Githa has gone on to construct Reef Stars at her own site in Raja Ampat, Indonesia - showing the immediate, ripple effect of empowering local women in restoration. 

Which is why the program wasn't just about building reef structures; it was about building connections. With women being typically underrepresented in marine science, the training marked a powerful step forward for gender-inclusive conservation.