Board

Andy Mann is an Emmy-nominated Director, 12 time Telly-Award Winner, National Geographic Photographer & marine conservationist whose imagery is helping tell the story of our rapidly changing planet. 

Andy’s career as a photographer and film director has humble roots: a decade documenting the world's best climbers in most remote mountain ranges of the world'. His love for adventure and storytelling led him to National Geographic Magazine and into his true passion of protecting the oceans. In 2013 his work alongside National Geographic Pristine Seas was awarded the Crystal Compass Award from the Royal Geographic Society for the storytelling that led to the designation of the world largest Arctic National Park in Franz Josef Land, Russia. In 2015, Andy directed the first Oceano Azul Foundation expedition to Azores leading to the declaration of 150,000 square kilometers of new Marine Protected Areas in the Azorean Sea. In 2016, Andy helped to launch the non-profit, SeaLegacy, with Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier. In 2017 he co-directed the award-winning National Geographic / SeaLegacy expedition to Antarctica, presenting the final work at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Buenos Aires, Chile. His work in the eastern tropical pacific ocean between 2018-2021 helped to create the world’s very first international marine protected area, resulting in official presidential invitations from Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and Colombia during their signing ceremonies. In 2022, Andy became a co-founder of SeaLegacy. where he leads the organization’s impact media team, creating storytelling assets to campaign and lobby for marine protections around the world. 

Andy is also a public speaker and songwriter, touring nationwide with National Geographic Live and continues to work with students and classrooms around the world to inspire the next generation of ocean ambassadors. 

Having worked on all 7 continents, Andy’s imagery is remarkably memorable, reminding us how the emotion of an image can touch our spirit.

@andy_mann

President Ocean Born Foundation

Carolina is an economist with experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Her background ranges from working at the Inter-American Development Bank on women’s development and microenterprise projects, to Merrill Lynch Investment Banking in London where she was involved in M&A in the energy and power sectors. She has founded four businesses and has volunteered with and supports numerous organizations in Africa, Europe and South America. Carolina is currently President of the Ocean Born Foundation, Vice Chair of the UK Board of Trustees for mothers2mothers and sits on the Advisory Boards of Swedish WOW Foundations and Ocean Beer. Carolina has two Master’s degrees, one in Economics and Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics and one in Development Studies from the London School of Economics. Carolina lives in Madrid with her husband, two daughters and rescue dogs, cats and chickens.

World-renowned conservationist and photographer Cristina "Mitty" Mittermeier believes that stunning visual storytelling is the key to unlocking critical action to help heal our ocean and save our planet. Beginning her career as a marine biologist in her native Mexico, Mitty soon discovered the power of imagery in ocean advocacy work. She went on to become an internationally recognized National Geographic photographer, public speaker, and founder of The International League of Conservation Photographers. In 2014, she co-founded SeaLegacy, a conservation and production organization on a mission to ignite hope and change for our planet through ocean stories.

Mittermeier is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and, along with her partner Paul Nicklen, was named one of National Geographic's Adventurers of the Year in 2018. She is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Smithsonian Conservation Photographer of the Year Award and the Imaging Award for Photographers Who Give Back. In 2021, she received the Seattle Aquarium's Sylvia Earle Medal and Travel + Leisure's Global Vision Award. She was also named one of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action. 

Earlier this year, Mittermeier received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa, from Simon Fraser University.

@mitty

Managing Partner and Founder Thompson Street Capital Partners

James Cooper is the Managing Partner and Founder of Thompson Street Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm that helps transform already exceptional businesses into market leaders. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, TSCP invests globally in the Life Sciences & Healthcare, Software & Technology, and Business & Consumer Services and Products sectors. Jim is also on the board of directors for the International Photography Hall of Fame and is an avid diver and natural photographer.

Jon has photographed on every continent and has a specific focus on fragile and changing ecosystems. His images are routinely used by environmental organizations to highlight the work they are doing at both local and global levels. In addition to his conservation work Jon cofounded a network of schools in Kenya that serve the Maasai community.

Founder, Grounded

Julia Jackson is the Founder of Grounded, a nonprofit dedicated to earth-based climate solutions. After experiencing profound loss due to the degradation of the environment, Julia has committed her life to identifying and amplifying necessary solutions and building a community that can mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis. In addition to Grounded, Julia is a Co-Founder of the Keystone Species Alliance and the Chair of US Allies to Stop Ecocide. Julia is a second-generation vintner of Jackson Family Wines.

Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist who has documented the beauty and the plight of our planet for over twenty-five years. He was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame in 2019 and, in that same year, was appointed to the Order of Canada. He has placed first in the World Press Photo's Nature Stories category four times and was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2012. 

In 2014, Nicklen co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization that propelled ocean conservation onto the world stage through the power of visual storytelling, impact campaigns and the funding of sustainability projects. 

In addition to being one of the world's most acclaimed conservation photographers, Nicklen is a sought-after speaker, author, and National Geographic Fellow and has shared stories from his adventures in several TED Talks. In the past two decades, Nicklen has collaborated with scientists, filmmakers, conservationists and explorers to create awareness and inspire action for global issues like climate change.

In 2020, he received the Arts award from NOGI, the oldest and most prestigious award in the recreational diving world. He is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and has honorary degrees from both the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University.

@paulnicklen

Co-Founder, Good Juju Ink 

President, Kissick Family Foundation

Ryan Kissick is co-founder of Good Juju Ink, an eco-friendly design company, and president of the Kissick Family Foundation, where he oversees a grant portfolio focused predominantly on neurodegenerative diseases and environmental causes. Ryan has extensive experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, having previously worked at Glassdoor, Stanford University, Bain & Company, and Green Dot Public Schools. In addition, Ryan has served in advisory roles at The Nature Conservancy and Peer Health Exchange. 

Ryan received his MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business; in addition, he has a M.S. from Stanford University in Management Science & Engineering and a B.A. from Stanford in Human Biology. 

Ryan is an avid scuba diver and amateur wildlife photographer, and he lives in Oakland, California, with his wife, daughter, and beloved cat.