Ocean Advisors

Brittany is an environmental policy specialist who has worked for over 15 years to advance international marine conservation priorities. She has worked on marine policy issues for international organizations, including the Minderoo Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Wildlife Conservation Society, Ocean Conservancy, Mission Blue, and The Pew Charitable Trusts. She specializes in and has engaged with a number of different international fora, most notably, United Nations conventions and bodies. She advises companies and stakeholders in the environmental space, including Patagonia, and has served as a guest teacher for Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She has done volunteer work in Latin America, working to protect some of the world’s most pristine areas. Brittany is focused on key ocean actions to address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss and ensuring policies that deliver a sustainable future for our planet, people, and our ocean.

Distinguished Professor Carlos M. Duarte is the Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in Red Sea Ecology at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in Saudi Arabia, Executive Director of the Global Coral R&D Accelerator Platform, and Chief Scientist of Oceans2050. And OceanUS, and E1Series.  Before this he was Research Professor with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Director of the Oceans Institute at The University of Western Australia. He also holds an honorary positions at the Arctic Research Center in Aarhus University, Denmark and the Oceans Institute at The University of Western Australia. Duarte’s research focuses on understanding the effects of global change in marine ecosystems and developing nature-based solutions to global challenges, including climate change, and develop evidence-based strategies to rebuild the abundance of marine life by 2050.  Building on his research showing mangroves, seagrasses and salt-marshes to be globally-relevant carbon sinks, he developed, working with different UN agencies, the concept of Blue Carbon, as a nature-based solution to climate change, which has catalyzed their global conservation and restoration.  For the past years, he has lead efforts to quantify the global role and importance of algal forests.  He has conducted research across all continents and oceans, spanning most of the marine ecosystem types, from inland to near-shore and the deep sea and from microbes to whales, and has a particular focus on the role of seaweed aquaculture as a sustainable solution for multiple challenges. Professor Duarte led the Malaspina 2010 Expedition, including over 700 scientists from 38 institutions from across 18 nations, that sailed the world's oceans to examine the impacts of global change on ocean ecosystems and explore deep-sea biodiversity. Professor Duarte served as President of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography between 2007 and 2010. He has published more than 950 scientific papers a and has been ranked within the top 1% Highly-Cited Scientist by Thompson Reuters in all assessments of this rank, as was ranked as the top marine biologist in the world, and recently, the 12^th most influential climate scientist in the world (Reuters). He has received many honors, including the G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award from the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography in 2001, the National Science Award of Spain (2007), and the I. Vernadsky Medal of the European Geophysical Union. the Prix d’Excellence by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES, 2011), the Carlo Heip award for excellent in Marine Biodiversity (2018), and the Ramon Margalef Ecology Award (2019), and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology (2020).  Duarte received honorary doctorates from the Université de Québec a Montrèal (Canada) in 2010 and Utrecht University (The Netherlands) in 2012, as was appointed, in 2021, to the Spanish Academy of Sciences.  He serves in the Expert Group supporting the High-Level Group, including 12 heads of states, proposing a pathway towards a Sustainable Ocean Economy.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_M._Duarte

Dr. David Gruber is Founder & President of Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), a nonprofit, interdisciplinary scientific and conservation initiative on a mission to listen to and translate the communication of sperm whales. He is also Distinguished Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at the City University of New York, Baruch College. David’s research bridges animal communication, climate science, marine biology, microbiology, molecular ecology and his inventions include technology to help perceive the underwater world from the perspective of marine animals. David’s research led to the discoveries of the first biofluorescent sea turtle, more than 200 species of biofluorescent sea animals and his team identified novel families of fluorescent molecules from eels, sharks and corals. His long-standing collaboration with the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory has enabled the design of the gentlest robots to better understand, interact with life in the deep ocean. David was awarded the 2019 Lagrange Prize in complex systems science for his advancements “focused on the conservation of biodiversity, protection of resources and the safeguarding of ecosystems.” In 2022, he co-curated “Who Speaks for the Oceans?” at the Mishkin Gallery and has collaborated with a variety of artists.

@projectceti

Dr. Emma Camp is a marine biologist and the Team Leader of the Future Reefs Team at UTS. Her research ranges from organism scale molecular signatures to broad scale ecological interactions, and specializes in advancing technical solutions to support innovative scientific capacity to help preserve and re-build “healthy reefs”. Since 2013, Emma has received or been shortlisted for over 30 awards, including the 2023 WINGS Women in Discovery Award, the 2021 Macquarie University Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher; being named a Next Generation Leader by Time Magazine (2020); a L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Fellow (2020), a Max Day Award from the Australian Academy of Science (2019), and a Tall Poppy Science Award from the Australian Institute of Policy & Science (2019). Emma researches and advocates for the world’s marine life under threat from environmental and climate change.

Maureen “Mo” Raymo’s research focuses on the history and causes of climate change in the past, including understanding the consequences of climate change for sea level and ice sheet stability in the future. Her research has been profiled in the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, U.S. News and World Report, Discover Magazine, and elsewhere, and has been the subject of both a PBS Nova and BBC Horizon television documentary. Professor Raymo has spent many months at sea and in the field studying how the Earth works, leading or participating in numerous scientific expeditions. A fellow of the National Academy of Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Geophysical Union, and The Explorer’s Club, in 2014 she became the first woman to be awarded the Wollaston Medal, the Geological Society of London’s most senior medal previously award to Charles Lyell, Louis Agassiz and Charles Darwin. In 2019, she was awarded the AGU and US Navy’s Maurice Ewing Medal “for significant original contributions to the ocean sciences.”

Maximiliano Bello is an international ocean policy expert who has worked in the environmental arena for over two decades to advance marine conservation priorities. He has worked for international non-governmental organizations including Minderoo Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Oceana, World Wildlife Fund, the Blue Whale Center, Mission Blue and Island Conservation and advises institutions and companies including, Patagonia. Bello has worked with a wide array of international fora including the United Nations and UN conventions and bodies serving as the COP25 Presidential Committee Ocean Representative in 2019. Additionally, Bello has worked directly with governments in Latin America and around the world to establish marine protected areas. Of note, Bello was instrumental in securing protections for over 2 million squared kms of countries’ territorial waters. Bello serves on the board of MIGRAMAR and has advanced degrees and diplomas in natural resources management and economics.

@max_bello

Octavio Aburto is a Full Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), a professional photographer associate with the International League of Conservation Photographers, and a National Geographic Explorer. 

Octavio obtained his PhD at the Center of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at SIO, and was awarded the Jean Fort Award by the University of California, San Diego, for his significant contribution to an issue of public concern through his doctoral research. He is a Katerhyn Fuller Fellow, WWF-Science Program in 2010, was awarded the Conservation of Nature prize by the Mexican Ministry of the Environment – CONANP in 2014, received a Hellman Fellowship, for a Junior Faculty Research Project in 2015, and is part of the PEW Marine Fellows since 2019. His research and photographs have focused on marine reserves and commercially exploited marine species and their fisheries in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the U.S. His photographs have been part of several conservation projects worldwide and have won international photography contests.

@octavioaburto

Ralph Chami is an Assistant Director at the IMF. He is currently on sabbatical from the IMF  working on tackling the two risks to humanity – climate change and biodiversity loss. He has  developed a model for valuing natural capital, including blue and green nature as well as flora  and fauna, and a framework for developing the natural capital markets for ecosystem services.  He has co-founded two entities working on bringing this new paradigm to life – Rebalance Earth  and Blue Green Future that are engaged in realizing the value of the natural world to our well being and integrating it into our economic system. He has co-authored a number of peer 

reviewed publications that value the carbon sequestration service of keystone species such as  the Great Whales and Elephants. His work on valuing natural capital has been featured at  TED2022, TEDEx2022 Fiesole, UN, and in National Geographic, Financial Times, Washington Post,  WEF, among others. He provides thought leadership and engages with stakeholders across  sectors – governmental, financial, private sector, NGOs – communicating this new vision. His  approach has been widely heralded, and he is in great demand as a speaker and visionary at this  critical time of transition.  

During his 24-year career at the IMF, he has been known as an expert on fragile states and low and middle-income countries(LMICs); and also as innovative thinker for his research and training.  He has served in some of the most fragile and troubled regions, showing his dedication to helping  those most in need, and receiving the IMF 2014 Operational Excellence Award for his field work  on fragile and LMICs. He oversaw surveillance for 32 countries in MENA and Central Asia, and  program work in Egypt, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen, and was Mission Chief  for Libya and Somalia. His book on “Macroeconomic Policy in Fragile State,” was recently  published by Oxford University Press.  

He also served as Assistant Director in the Institute for Capacity Development (ICD), in the  Financial Policies Division. During his time in ICD, he oversaw the development and  implementation of the internal economics training program for all IMF economists as well as the  revamping of the Institute’s external training program for officials from member countries. 

Prior to joining the IMF, he was on the faculty of finance at the Mendoza School of Business,  University of Notre Dame, IN, USA. Ralph has PhD in Economics from the Johns Hopkins  University, MBA from University of Kansas, and BS from the American University of Beirut. His  areas of expertise also include banking, financial markets, remittances and migration, climate  change and natural capital. He is a semi-professional musician.

Robert Irwin is one of the most influential young conservationists of our time. His affinity and passion for nature goes hand in hand with his award winning photography skills. Robert is determined to carry on his legendary Dad, Steve Irwin’s, mission and legacy, which is to save wildlife and wild places. Robert’s global reach has allowed him to continue to educate others on important matters such as the devastating effects of climate change and deforestation. Robert and the Irwin family have helped to set up countless conservation and research programs across the globe to help protect wildlife. They also own and operate approximately 500,000 acres of conservation land set aside as refuges for native flora and fauna in Robert’s home country of Australia.

The unparalleled ecological significance of the ocean is so deeply intrinsic to our survival and the future of our world. The importance of oceanic conservation has reached an all-time high due to the enormous environmental challenges that the sea faces. Sea Legacy are leading the way in creating action and inspiring positive change for our ocean and our planet.

Robert Irwin

@australiazoo

Sian Sutherland is Co-founder of A Plastic Planet, one of the most recognized and respected organizations dedicated to tackling the plastic crisis and igniting social change.

Passionate about creating brands, campaigns, and businesses with purpose, Sian has earned numerous awards, including Female Marketer of the Year, CEW Achiever Award, Entrepreneur of the Year, and British Inventor of the Year. As a serial entrepreneur, Sian boasts a diverse background spanning advertising, skincare, Michelin Star restaurants, film production, and brand creation design agencies.

In 2017, Sian co-founded A Plastic Planet with Frederikke Magnussen, employing a pro-business, pro-solutions, and pro-science approach to establish an organization committed to making a positive impact on the plastic crisis-- aiming to "turn off the plastic tap." In 2023, A Plastic Planet launched PlasticFree, the global innovation platform empowering creatives to rethink plastic-free designs and systems.

Sian has also been involved in the UN Global Plastics Treaty, bringing the Plastic Health Council of scientists to the negotiators to ensure human health impact is fully considered by all member states. This ensures that the human health impact is thoroughly considered by all member states in their discussions.

Sian Sutherland's remarkable journey reflects her dedication to creating meaningful change in the fight against plastic pollution, and her ongoing contributions continue to drive innovation and awareness on a global scale.

@aplasticplanet