Ms. Nalayini Brito Davies

Nalayini holds a Master of Science degree in astronomy from Swinburne University in Australia and a Master of Science degree in economics, specializing in finance from London Business School, University of London. She is currently the immediate past president and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) and is a co-founder of the Aotearoa Astrotourism Academy, a non-profit that promotes dark skies and the education of astronomy (integrating indigenous astronomy) through the provision of nationwide immersion training courses for those seeking a solid foundation of knowledge and practical skills to pursue astronomy and astrotourism.

Nalayini is also on the Board of two other charitable entities: the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance, which advocates for the protection and enhancement of the nighttime environment, and RASNZ Lecture Trust in New Zealand, which promotes and extends the public’s knowledge of astronomy and related sciences through public lectures provided by the world’s leading astronomers.

Nalayini is also a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Financial Studies Diploma in Banking from the Institute of Bankers, U.K. She worked at Citibank where she was a Vice President having previously worked for Kuwait Asia Bank and subsequently the Bank of New Zealand. Nalayini is presently Executive Director of Vinstar Consulting, one of New Zealand’s leading economic and financial advisory service providers, which has government clients in 35 countries worldwide.

Nalayini was instrumental in successfully establishing Aotea / Great Barrier Island as a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary. She also co-leads the promotion of New Zealand’s journey to become a dark sky nation and has spoken at Dark Sky conferences and workshops around the world.