The European Seagrass Restoration Alliance’s legal structure is that of an Association 1901, one of most common ‘not-for-profit’ structures in France.
Practically what this means is that whilst the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance Association 1901 can have commercial activities (e.g. selling Workshop registrations), the members of ESRA cannot make any profit from these activities.
An Association is an agreement whereby two or more persons permanently pool their knowledge or activity for a purpose other than to share profits.
The European Seagrass Restoration Alliance therefore represents the creation of an Association for a common purpose, one that goes beyond the interests of the founders. Our vision to create a community that can come together on a long-term basis, and to provide a platform for the European seagrass restoration community to collaborate and engage in knowledge exchange.
Dr Nicolas Mayot
Présidente de l’association
After undertaking a PhD on Posidonia oceanica at the Unité mixte de recherche (UMR) 6540 Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) in Marseille, Dr Nicolas Mayot joined GIPREB. At GIPREB Nicolas was charged with working to improve the water quality in the Étang de Berre, a Mediterranean coastal lagoon. In this role he engages with a variety of stakeholders including the community who live around the lagoon as well as politicians and scientists. In 2024, with water quality much improved in the lagoon, GIPREB initiated Projet ReHAB, an active restoration programme to recover 1500ha of seagrass in the Étang de Berre.
Dr Richard ‘RJ’ Lilley
Trésorière de l’association
Dr. Richard Lilley is better known to the seagrass community as ‘RJ’. A cofounder and previous CEO of Project Seagrass, RJ joined The Govers Lab at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in January 2024 where he currently helps to facilitate the work of The Seagrass Consortium, a consortia he co-founded in November 2022. RJ believes the most direct path to real change is through building community momentum, and direct-action agendas which have a commitment to long-term change. RJ has been closely involved with the Coastal Communities Network, Scotland for many years. These experiences, combined with observing the success of the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance inspired him to cofound the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance with his wife Sarah Lilley in August 2024.
Sarah ‘SJ’ Lilley
Secrétaire de l’association
Sarah Lilley started her career with Clink Clink, and Event Management Agency in Bristol, England before moving into the third sector as an Area Marketing Manager for Cancer Research UK in 2014. SJ remained in the third sector, but shifted her focus into the international development space. Working first for Mercy Corps before joining Save The Children UK in 2018. In August 2024 SJ cofounded the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance with her husband Richard Lilley in August 2024.