About Us

Bryn Sonnett

Rappahannock-Rapidan Conservation Program Manager
[email protected]
(540) 347-2334 ext. 7067

Bryn is native to the Piedmont with roots in Rappahannock County. Growing up in the area solidified her love and appreciation for the outdoors early on and inspired her career in conservation. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Global Environments and Sustainability in 2016.

After several years in Charlottesville, Bryn returned to Rappahannock and accepted a position with Virginia Outdoors Foundation where she worked for the past 7.5 years on public access and private easement acquisitions, amendments, and stewardship of 1,000+ easements throughout the Piedmont. She also served on the Preservation Trust Fund review committee and Baseline Documentation Report Committee, and spent the last two years assisting with VOF’s long-term steward pilot program for mitigation bank easements. Previously, Bryn interned at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and worked for several local small businesses.

Bryn spends much of her spare time camping, hiking and biking around the U.S. with her husband and dog. Some of her favorite areas outside Virginia include Olympic National Park, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Grand Teton National Park, the Florida Keys, Redwood National Park and New Hampshire’s White Mountains. 

Malvika Shrimali

Communications Specialist
540-347-2334 x7022
[email protected]

Prior to joining PEC as a Communications Specialist, Malvika Shrimali had the pleasure of working on diverse projects and learning about the many, many parts that make up the whole of our global ecosystem. As a science communicator, Malvika’s goal is to equip those most affected with meaningful scientific information to make the best decisions for their communities.

Malvika’s passion for conservation was kick-started by the Netflix docu-series “Our Planet” in 2020. Over the course of their undergraduate education, they became a loud advocate for community-centered science and environmental justice. Their advocacy involves creating written and visual art that centers the environment and climate change. 

They graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2024 with degrees in Hispanic Studies and Environmental Science. In their free time, they play piano, learn about geochemistry, volunteer with their local wildlife conservancy and are always, always writing.