BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION (BLUE) - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Government Affairs Adviser
has been advising Blue on government engagement since 2017. Adrian is a former adviser to a number of MPs and Lords, was Managing Director of sustainability consultancy Sancroft, is a co-founder of the Conservative Environment Network and chairs the Great Blue Ocean coalition of NGOs.
Job Titles:
- Ocean and Climate Policy Officer
Aisling joins Blue Marine after 4 years working on domestic marine policy within Defra. She has worked on the Benyon HPMA Review and as Private Secretary to the Environment Secretary to increase her knowledge of Whitehall and UK policy making. A keen scuba diver, she is keen to protect our ocean while mitigating climate change.
Alea is a science communicator who worked for the Maldives Underwater Initiative, Marine Conservation Institute, and the International Ocean Film Festival. She majored in the Science in Society Program at Wesleyan University and has conducted research in Australia and Hawaii. She is passionate about environmental storytelling and the intersectionality between public health and marine conservation.
AMBRA MESSINA Italian Projects Communications Manager Ambra is working as communications lead for Blue Marine's Italian projects. She is also collaborating with the Sicily Environment Fund as communications manager and she has been Director of the Aeolian Islands Preservation Foundation. She has recently collaborated with the Italian National Research Council's Institute of Atmospheric Pollution (CNR-IIA).
Job Titles:
- Operations and Risk Adviser
Andrew joined Blue Marine in 2017 after 30 years working in business. A Biology graduate from the University of Birmingham, he was a trustee of the Hertfordshire Wildlife Trust for nine years. As an experienced Seasearch observer, he loves to dive, film and understand marine life around the UK and beyond.
Job Titles:
- DEAN
- Greece Projects Manager
Prior to joining Blue Marine, Angela spent 16 years campaigning for the oceans and other environmental issues with Greenpeace in Greece and Europe. Angela is a Biology graduate and has a long experience in fighting for the establishment of marine protected areas and the adoption of progressive policies for sustainable fisheries.
Job Titles:
- Senior Education and Outreach Officer
Anna joined Blue Marine in 2022 after working as an environmental educator in Scotland and Ireland. She lives by the sea in Edinburgh, where she moved to study for an MSc in Marine Systems and Policies. Anna hopes to inspire all ages to protect the ocean by bringing exciting and accessible marine education to as many people as possible.
Appin Williamson Research and Impact Advisor Appin became Blue Marine's Research and Impact Advisor in 2022 after working as Jersey Project Manager. Previously, Appin worked at the Environment Agency in the UK and for a marine environmental consultancy in Perth, Western Australia. She graduated from the University of Southampton with a Bachelor's degree in Oceanography and a Research Master's degree in Ocean Science.
Celine Herweijer Trustee Celine is a Partner at PwC UK and PwC's Global Innovation and Sustainability Leader. She is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and Member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Councils. She is a NASA Fellow, a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at Grantham Research Institute, and has a PhD in Computer Modelling and Earth Sciences.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Senior Advisor
Charles made his name as an author and environmental journalist writing principally for The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph for which he was Environment Editor for 22 years. His book The End of The Line and the award-winning documentary film that it inspired raised overfishing as a global problem.
Chris is a new media entrepreneur and marine conservationist, who founded leading brand communications agency Adjust Your Set. He is happiest by the sea, and co-founded Blue Marine after the success of the award-winning documentary film The End of the Line, for which he was Executive Producer, and he is now a Founding Partner of Ocean 14 Capital.
Job Titles:
- CFO
- Chief Executive Officer
Clare Brook joined Blue Marine as CFO in 2014 and then became CEO in March 2015. Prior to that she was a pioneer of environmental investing, managing sustainable investment funds at Jupiter, NPI and Henderson. She established the sustainable investment division of Aviva in 2000 and co-founded WHEB Asset Management in 2008.
Job Titles:
- Oceans and Climate Director
Dan started working for Blue Marine after freediving in the Orkney Islands and realising the extraordinary marine biodiversity (and absence of it) in our waters. With fifteen years of business experience, he supports Blue Marine project development and overall organisational growth, while also directing projects focused on the high seas and national marine parks.
Dave, an ACCA qualified accountant, started his career in the commercial sector, working across various different roles within finance and leading a CSR team. Attentions first turned towards the ocean during a diving and surfing trip to Central America. Now a full convert, Dave works to preserve and protect our blue world.
Arlo Brady is CEO of freuds, Chief Executive of The Brewery, founder of Juracan Rum Co and Special Advisor to the Chairman of the Board at Mars, Incorporated. With more than 20 years' global consultancy experience, he specialises in corporate positioning, messaging and issues management.
David has worked in marine management for over 20 years. His experience includes running environmental campaigns on the beaches of Australia, researching marine plastic pollution in the Pacific, leading on policy advice at a pivotal time for the UK's marine legislation, and working on the world's largest offshore renewable energy programme.
Job Titles:
- Senior Italy Projects Manager
Giulia Bernardi is a marine biologist coordinating Blue Marine's Italian projects. She works on the improvement of Italian marine protection plans and on the encouragement of responsible small-scale fishing practices. She is an SSI scuba instructor and she has a PhD from the University Parthenope of Naples.
After starting diving at 14, Jude has always had a passion for the life in our oceans. Working for 20 years in the UK overseas territories and globally on commercial fisheries, sustainable aquaculture and marine protected area management she is now working on Blue Marine's international projects.
Juliette has a lifelong commitment to environmental protection and the sea, with a cross-border career across corporates, institutions and other organisations. She also has an extensive interdisciplinary legal research portfolio, always seeking to associate public and private, academia and practice. She is trilingual English, French, and Italian, and can't do without her daily swim.
Job Titles:
- Restoration Scientific Officer
Luke studied marine biology at the University of Portsmouth for seven years, specialising in marine habitat restoration. With a passion for oyster reefs he has been involved with the Solent Oyster Restoration Project since its inception in 2015. Luke is now involved with restoration at project, UK and European levels.
Job Titles:
- Chief Legal Affairs Adviser
Tom is Blue Marine's Chief Legal Affairs Adviser and is a former commercial property lawyer, working in the marine charity sector. He is a former trustee of a commercial port and has helped to establish various NGOs. Tom is also an Associate Professor at the University of the West of England.
Emily was previously Head of Business Development at cleantech start-up bio-bean, the first UK company to industrialise the recycling of waste coffee grounds into biofuels, having joined the company at its inception. Emily studied Biological Sciences at Oxford University, specialising in species conservation and marine ecology.
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Communications Officer
Emma is an environmental science communicator and diver with a background in the creative arts where she explored communicating environmental and marine issues through tactile and immersive artworks. She has a master's in Science Communication and is passionate about amplifying local voices and conservation successes through digital media and campaigns.
Job Titles:
- Solent Oyster Restoration Project Officer
Eric has been based in the Solent since starting his studies in 2015 at the University of Portsmouth, where he was looking into biodiversity associated with native oysters. Prior to joining Blue, he worked on nature-based nutrient remediation solutions. He is driven to improve his local coastline through key habitat restoration.
Job Titles:
- Senior International Project Manager
Fiona Joined Blue in 2023, bringing 15+ years of experience in delivering collaborative and innovative ocean science, conservation, and policy initiatives around the world. Fiona holds an MSc in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation and is passionate about creating systemic change to ensure the future of our ocean. As Blue's Senior International Project Manager, Fiona is currently focusing on working with local partners to restore and protect marine biodiversity in the Caribbean region.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Management Accountant
Flo joined Blue Marine in May 2023 after working for an accounting practice. Her love for the ocean was first sparked by a snorkelling trip in the Red Sea, and ever since has since had a special interest in sharks. Flo is keen to carry on her ACCA accounting studies and help in the field of ocean conservation.
Freddie joined Blue Marine in May 2021 as an intern working on our Jersey Project. After a succesful six months Freddie now works full-time as the Jersey Project Officer. Before joining Blue Marine, Freddie graduated from the University of Liverpool, where he studied Ocean Sciences. Freddie now aims to continue building his career in marine conservation.
Job Titles:
- Convex Programme Manager
- Marine Scientist
Gabriella is a marine scientist having studied in Hawaii, Plymouth and Cadiz. Specialising in shark ecology and marine microbiological ecosystems, she also served as scientist onboard the Tara Oceans Expedition. With over twenty years' experience in environmental conservation and public engagement in science, she joined Blue Marine to manage the Convex Seascape Survey, having followed the blue carbon transition for over a decade.
Job Titles:
- Convex Seascape Survey Grant Manager
Gail is working on Blue Marine's biggest project yet; researching how sustainable ocean use can preserve seabed carbon stores. She joined after more than four years managing protected areas in the outer islands of Seychelles, and a year as a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Sussex, where she had previously graduated with an MRes in Conservation Biology.
Geo Aldana Ocean Awards Reasearcher Geo has worked in not-for-profit organisations for the last 11 years on various topics ranging from marine conservation at Oceana to social entrepreneurship at Ashoka. She led the Communications team at Oceana in Mexico where she designed the Communications strategy for several campaigns.
George produced the documentary film The End of The Line which alerted the world to the crisis in our oceans and which won the 2011 Puma Creative Impact Award. Determined to keep the momentum for change going, he co-founded Blue Marine. He is a Founding Partner of Ocean 14 Capital, an Impact investment fund for the Oceans.
Job Titles:
- Events and Sponsorship Manager
Hamish spent his childhood surfing on the north coast of Scotland and has always been passionate about nature and its role in the world. After spending 25 years in the performing arts sector, he is now using his experience for Blue Marine's flagship annual charity event, London to Monaco.
Hannah's interest in ocean conservation was inspired by a year living in Copenhagen a city renowned for its commitment to the SDGs. Hannah holds an MA in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh and wants to use her psychological expertise to encourage partnerships that prioritise and are fully committed to ocean health.
Job Titles:
- Marine Scientist
- Projects Researcher
Jake is a marine scientist who works in the Maldives project team focusing on various sustainable fisheries initiatives. Before joining Blue Marine in 2021, he studied the impacts of climate change upon coral reef fish populations in Australia. Jake holds an MSc in Marine Systems and Policies from the University of Edinburgh.
James joined Blue Marine in April 2022 after spending four months in Indonesia, surfing and volunteering with community-led mangrove restoration. James has previous experience in environmental and social consultancy and corporate sustainability, with a focus on natural climate solutions, where he became fascinated by the diverse benefits of blue carbon projects.
Jasmine Finbow Policy Intern A Marine Biology graduate from the University of St. Andrews, Jasmine has always been passionate about exploring and protecting the ocean. Jasmine has previously worked in seal rehabilitation and taught scuba diving in Tenerife, Cyprus and the UK. Jasmine is passionate about tackling overfishing and is enjoying working on fisheries policy.
Job Titles:
- Senior Restoration Manager
Jenny manages various marine restoration projects across the UK. She was inspired by the ocean during her early childhood years in the Caribbean. Graduating with an MRes in Marine Biology, she went on to work in Government. Jenny's experience ranges from fisheries policy, marine protected areas advice, and marine management.
Job Titles:
- Head of Blue Marine 's Investigations Unit
- Head of Investigations
As Head of Blue Marine's Investigations Unit, Jess works to research, expose and combat harmful and unsustainable fishing practices. Jess's current focus is on the mismanagement of tuna stocks by RFMOs, as well as on the UK Government's role in supporting potentially catastrophic deep-sea mining. She has a master's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Cape Town and is a dual British-South African national.
Jo spent 12 years as a journalist and editor at the Guardian and Trinity Mirror, leading digital innovation and global storytelling. Working from her coastal home in Cornwall she has delivered some of Blue Marine's most successful campaigns including #BackTheBlueBelt, #LocalFishForDinner and #FishForTomorrow.
Joe was a Marine Ranger for the Berwickshire Marine Reserve before joining Blue Marine at the beginning of 2019 as the Berwickshire Project Officer. Prior to this Joe worked on coral reef projects in the Gulf of Thailand. He has an MSc from Heriot Watt University in Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment.
Job Titles:
- Senior UK Marine Policy Manager
Primarily focused on domestic fisheries and marine conservation policy, Jonny leads Blue Marine's work on improving fisheries management and marine policy. Prior to this Jonny led on the Pew Trusts UK fisheries work and brings significant experience of domestic, European and international fisheries management and conservation policy.
Jordan is a SCUBA diving instructor and marine scientist dedicated to the sustainable development of the blue economy. She is interested in promoting the value of the ocean as a climate solution and engaging with multi-level stakeholders. Jordan has worked on reef restoration projects in Seychelles and on communications for sustainable aquaculture development in Sweden.
KAIJA BARISA Senior Blue Economist Kaija joined Blue Marine in 2021 after completing her MSc in Environmental Economics and Policy at Imperial College London. Passionate about the marine environment, she wrote her thesis on the impacts of socioeconomics on coastal ecosystem valuation. Kaija is passionate about exploring innovative financing mechanisms to help protect the ocean.
Growing up in Jersey, Kathryn has always had a deep connection to the sea, and working in Mauritius as a conservation biologist further fortified her passion for marine and island conservation. Prior to this, she spent five years as a bird keeper at Jersey Zoo, after graduating from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Biological Sciences.
Job Titles:
- Solent Restoration Project Manager
Louise spent her childhood beachcombing along the Pembrokeshire coast. Since studying Marine Biology at the University of Liverpool she has worked on conservation projects in the UK and overseas. Louise has lived on the shores of the Solent for more than a decade and is passionate about restoring its intricate marine habitats.
Lynne is an ACCA qualified accountant with a passion for being underwater. Witnessing first-hand the effects of overfishing and pollution on marine life drew her from the corporate environment to the marine environment and as the Finance Director of Blue Marine, she helps protect our oceans through her love of spreadsheets.
Job Titles:
- Senior Climate Project Manager
Maddie joined Blue Marine in May 2022 after working in sustainable land use development in Gabon focusing on conservation and terrestrial carbon markets. Maddie holds an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford. She is passionate about innovative ocean-based climate solutions that will help us tackle climate change.
Marina has worked in the charity and arts sectors since leaving Edinburgh University where she studied French and Portuguese. She worked for four years at arts festivals in Florence and London, and came across Blue Marine through her previous role at Big Give. Forever fascinated by the ocean, a stand out memory that cemented Marina's love for the sea was swimming at night in magical bioluminescent algae off the Costa Verde in Brazil.
Job Titles:
- Restoration Project Manager
Matt is a marine biologist and conservationist specialising in shellfish. Matt holds an MSCi from Southampton University, where he studied the spread of Pacific Oysters in the Solent. Having previously worked on a large offshore mussel farm, Matt joined Blue Marine in 2018 to coordinate the Essex Native Oyster Restoration Initiative.
Job Titles:
- Member of the JOIN
- Roaming Expert
Olivia joined Blue Marine after completing a marine conservation internship in Thailand, where her passion for the oceans really took off. Before this, she worked at a safari park for over three years, and has been involved in many various conservation projects, including working at an orangutan rehabilitation centre in Borneo.
Priyal is a lawyer qualified in English, French and Mauritian law. She is an alumna of the Sorbonne law school and the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford. She previously worked as legal consultant for the UN. Having grown up on the island of Mauritius, she is passionate about the ocean.
Job Titles:
- Head of Projects
- Head of International Projects
Rory Moore, Head of International Projects said: "There is a worrying lack of impactful marine protection in the Mediterranean so most fish populations continue to decline and habitats like coral reefs and seagrass beds continue to be destroyed. Blue Marine's approach in Italy is geographically broad but is focused on the creation of effective MPAs, building local conservation capacity and restoring threatened marine life. This promotes healthy oceans that are resilient to climate change and are managed pragmatically, so the Mediterranean can be enjoyed sustainably by the people who depend on it most."
Halfway across the Pacific in an old sailboat, Rory came across an unregistered fishing vessel hauling tonnes of illegally caught bluefin tuna from the ocean. He sailed right home to help Blue Marine to reverse the crisis of overfishing. He is a Plymouth graduate with a love for underwater photography and surfing.
Job Titles:
- Solent Seascape Project Coordinator
Rosalie is a marine ecologist and passionate about all things ocean-related, particularly community-engaged restoration. Prior to joining Blue Marine, she spent three years working in coral reef research and ocean outreach at the University of Oxford Seascape Ecology Lab, and as a Programme Co-ordinator for the United Nations Global Compact Network UK.
Job Titles:
- Senior UK Projects Manager
Sam has led marine conservation initiatives in the UK for over 20 years. Her experience includes strategic leadership of the Marine Conservation Society's programmes on sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas and plastic pollution, encompassing policy, citizen science and high-profile public campaigns. She has an MSc in Marine Science from the University of California.
Sara-Jane used her experience in events management, design and marketing to set up a company in Indonesia helping to support domestic and international brands across the Asia Pacific region. Back in the UK, where she was brought up close to the Channel, she has brought her expertise and affinity with the sea to Blue Marine.
Job Titles:
- Field Project Manager for Blue Marine 's Maldives
- Maldives Project Manager
Shaha is the field project Manager for Blue Marine's Maldives project, based in Laamu Atoll. Prior to joining BLUE in 2016, she worked with UN Agencies for eight years in various project management roles. She is a keen scuba diver who is driven by her passion to conserve the beautiful marine life of her country.
Sofia co-founded Omnia Strategy LLP, a law firm, where her projects included human rights consultancy and the implementation of UN protocol for the protection of biodiversity. She joined BLUE in 2017. In September 2019 Sofia began her Masters in Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge. She is married to the musician James Blunt and has two sons.
Sofia joined Blue Marine in 2021 after finishing her MSc in Environmental Sustainability at UCL. Previously, Sofia worked at eXXpedition, an organization researching oceanic microplastic pollution. Having grown up in El Salvador and next to the Pacific, Sofia had a fascination with marine biodiversity and from a young age aspired to dedicate her career to its preservation.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research and Projects Manager
Sophie joined Blue Marine in 2018, previously working for the Environmental Protection Authority and as a graduate consultant and ecologist. Sophie is passionate about establishing effective conservation models and inspiring the public about Blue Marine's mission. She holds an MSc in Climate Change from King's College London.
Zarieu Rashid Project Accountant Zarieu is a part-qualified accountant with four years of experience in charity accounting. Currently completing the ACCA qualification, she is driven to work with impactful organisations that create a positive change. She values being able to support Blue Marine's many ground-breaking projects.