Hope Spots Council

National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence Dr. Sylvia A. Earle, called Her Deepness by the New Yorker and the New York Times, Living Legend by the Library of Congress, and first Hero for the Planet by Time Magazine, is an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer with experience as a field research scientist, government official, and director for corporate and non-profit organizations including the Kerr McGee Corporation, Dresser Industries, Oryx Energy, the Aspen Institute, the Conservation Fund, American Rivers, Mote Marine Laboratory, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Rutgers Institute for Marine Science, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and Ocean Futures.

Formerly Chief Scientist of NOAA, Dr. Earle is the Founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc. (DOER), Founder of the Sylvia Earle Alliance (S.E.A.) / Mission Blue, Chair of the Advisory Council of the Harte Research Institute, inspiration for the ocean in Google Earth, leader of the NGS Sustainable Seas Expeditions, and the subject of the 2014 Netflix film, Mission Blue. She has a B.S. degree from Florida State University, M.S. and PhD. from Duke University, 27 honorary degrees and has authored more than 200 scientific, technical and popular publications including 13 books (most recently Blue Hope in 2014), lectured in more than 90 countries, and appeared in hundreds of radio and television productions.

She has led more than 100 expeditions and logged more than 7,000 hours underwater including leading the first team of women aquanauts during the Tektite Project in 1970, participating in ten saturation dives, most recently in July 2012, and setting a record for solo diving in 1,000 meters depth. Her research concerns marine ecosystems with special reference to exploration, conservation and the development and use of new technologies for access and effective operations in the deep sea and other remote environments.

Dan is Emeritus Marine Vice Chair of WCPA, having retired from that position in 2022. During his near two decades of work for WCPA he led the increase of MPA coverage from around 1.3% of the global ocean to the c8% seen today, the creation of the original global 20 – 30% MPA target in the Durban Accord, and the ‘at least 30%’ MPA target at Sydney World Park Congress. The latter, resoundingly supported by IUCN members at Hawaii World Conservation Congress, and adopted for land and freshwater, has now become the central focus for negotiations in the CBD’s post-2020 biodiversity framework. During his tenure, among many significant achievements, he was instrumental in forming the High Seas Alliance, in laying the basis for UNESCO’s Marine World Heritage Programme, and creating such influential phrases as ‘marine and coastal carbon sinks’, ‘ocean risk’, and ‘natural solutions’. Working with his co-editor Professor John Baxter, together they created some of the most downloaded publications for IUCN in recent decades, focused on elevating topics such as ‘ocean warming’ and ‘ocean deoxygenation’ into the global public domain. He also led Commission members in the development of specific marine WCPA guidance on the IUCN Management Categories and created and led the development of IUCN’s MPA Standards.

Rili has worked for over 25 years to improve the management and financial sustainability of marine protected areas and reduce the use of unsustainable fishing practices in Southeast Asia. She is the co-founder and executive director of the Coral Triangle Center (CTC), a learning center of excellence on coastal and marine resources management based in Bali. The programs focus on strengthening local leadership and capacity through an integrated portfolio of Marine Protected Areas learning sites, customized training programs and learning networks, and facilitation of public private partnerships in the Coral Triangle region.

Rili worked for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) from 1995-2011 collaborating closely with communities, governments, NGOs, private sector, bi-and multilateral agencies. Rili led an innovative financing and collaborative management initiative in Komodo National Park with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank. She established TNC’s Coral Triangle Center program in Bali in 2000 and served as TNC’s Country Director for Indonesia from 2004-2008. She was a member of the core team that facilitated the roadmap towards the launch of the Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI- CFF). Rili was appointed the TNC Coral Triangle Program Director in 2009 and focused on government and partner relations in the Asia Pacific region. She worked closely with the Conservancy to launch the CTC as an independent regionally-based nonprofit in 2011. CTC is an official partner to CTI-CFF providing training and connecting local stakeholders across the Coral Triangle region. Rili holds a Master of Science degree in tropical marine ecology from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands and a Master of Science in tropical coastal zone management from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in United Kingdom. She has extensive diving experience in the Netherlands, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asia Pacific.

Kristina Gjerde is high seas policy advisor for the IUCN Global Marine Program. Since late 2008, she has also been working with Census scientists and others to establish the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative. She lives in Poland with her husband and son, but she enjoys every opportunity to dive into the ocean that is so much a part of her life.

Marine Biologist from the EcolePratique de Hautes Etudes (EPHE) in Paris, with a Masters in Life and Earth Sciences Studies in Perpignan (France). Professional diver, with over 5,000 immersions in open waters. Sandra Bessudo is a professional strongly committed with the conservation of marine biodiversity and the protection of the environment. She was High Presidential Counselor for Environmental Management, Biodiversity, Water and Climate Changeto the President of Colombia until January 2012, when she took on the General Direction of the Colombian Presidential Agency of International Cooperation, APC-Colombia, government entity in charge of managing and technically coordinating all public and private non – refundable international cooperation received and granted by the country.

Since November 2014 Sandra Bessudo is the Director of the Malpelo and Other Marine Ecosystems Foundation, she is an active promoter in the establishment of the Malpelo Island Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, positioning the Sanctuary as an international model for marine conservation, recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a “Particular Sensitive Sea Area” and also declared a World Heritage Site under UNESCO. She has led several research projects on sharks using acoustic and satellite telemetry, and worked in the National Natural Parks Unit of the Ministry of Environment of Colombia. Hostess of the The Razor´s Edge, a cultural programme in National Television, she also collaborated with Ocensarecording underwater footage and serving as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Expolisboa 98. Having served as Coordinator of the Workshops and Conference Cycles in Colombia for the International Year of the Oceans, she has also worked as a Diving instructor and Master Diver. Sandra Bessudo has independently produced dozens of publications, videos and specialized documentaries. Among her awards, she was recognized with the Medal for Distinguished Services rendered to the General Maritime Direction, a distinction awarded by the Colombian Navy, the 2011 Biosphere Awareness Award granted by the Mayors of Cadiz (Spain) and Mariquita (Colombia) and the Environmental Civil Order Merit “Thomas van der Hammen” Grand Gold Cross Degree, awarded in the Colombian Congress by the Council of Environmental NGOs, along with many other recognitions that she has received in Colombia and abroad.

Dr. Lance Morgan is a marine biologist and president of Marine Conservation Institute. Lance received his Master’s in Marine Science from San Francisco State University and PhD in Ecology from the University of California-Davis (1997). As a graduate student he participated in missions at the Aquarius underwater habitat in the Florida Keys. He has explored the ocean as a SCUBA diver, aquanaut and submersible pilot. He led the identification of Marine Priority Conservation Areas from Baja California to the Bering Sea for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (2005), and has authored reports on the impacts of fishing methods on marine life as well as scientific papers on marine protected areas. In 2010 he traveled to the remote Johnston Atoll in the Central Pacific to help establish the first field camp at this new marine protected area. He currently chairs the Board for the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, holds the conservation seat for Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council and holds a research faculty appointment at Bodega Marine Laboratory. He provides strategic leadership for Marine Conservation Institutes largest initiatives – the Global Ocean Refuge System and MPAtlas.org

Dr. Sebastian Troëng is Senior Vice President for the Americas Field Division at Conservation International, based in Bogotá, Colombia. The Division covers 10 countries in Latin America and its team of 120 staff delivers conservation outcomes so people can thrive. Dr. Troëng holds a Masters degree in marine environmental protection from the University of Wales and a Doctoral degree in animal zoology from Lund University, Sweden. He has worked on conservation and development issues for over 20 years, including in Latin America, Asia, Pacific Islands, Europe and USA. Sebastian has published extensively on conservation and the economic benefits of ecosystems. In 2010, Sebastian was named a “40-under-40 International Development Leader” in Washington DC. He enjoys being over and under water to observe submarine vistas, diverse and abundant ocean life, and engage with the human communities who depend on healthy ecosystems.

Arthur Tuda is the Executive Director of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA – www.wiomsa.org). In his current job, Arthur’s goal is to improve the quality and prominence of marine science in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. Arthur has vast experience in coastal and marine resource management and has previously worked for the Government institution managing marine protected areas (MPAs) in Kenya as the Assistant Director overseeing MPAs in Kenya. Arthur is a certified Marine Protected Area Professional (MPA-Pro) who has received global recognition as a conservation leader. He has contributed immensely to marine conservation work in the WIO region with a particular focus on improving the management effectiveness of MPAs through developing tools that promote compliance, building MPA workers competencies, training and mentoring young scientists and managers. Arthur has also been instrumental in building a strong regional MPA network that brings together MPA managers and communities from across the WIO.

Arthur has also worked and published on fisheries management, marine spatial planning, marine ecosystem services, community-based marine conservation and ocean governance. In parallel with his research and MPA management activities, Arthur has also contributed to community awareness of science through training local community leaders in the management of community conserved areas. He uses his science and management background to develop practical tools that support community engagement in marine conservation. He has contributed to the development of different tools and guidelines for both MPAs and community conserved areas e.g. Guidelines for establishing community-managed areas and tools for improving adaptive management that has been used in Kenya and Tanzania. He is passionate about community engagement and firmly believes that scientists should actively engage with local communities to share and extend their knowledge of the marine environment.

Felipe is a marine biologist from Chile, with more than 20 years of experience in scientific research, education and marine conservation public policy. He is currently Vice Chair for the Marine theme at WCPA-IUCN. In Chile he is the National Coordinator of the Marine Protected Areas of the Ministry of Environment, a MPA system that covers more than 43% of the Chilean oceans. He has extensive experience in marine protected areas, leading the designation, planning and implementation processes of MPAs. In 2017 he organized the 4th International Marine Protected Areas Congress IMPAC4 in La Serena, Chile and today coordinates the CPPS Southeast Pacific MPA working group. In 2019 he coordinated the marine theme of IUCN´s 3rd Latin American and Caribbean Protected Areas Congress III CAPLAC in Lima, Perú. Felipe is a marine biologist from the University of Valparaiso, Master in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island and PhD in Marine Biology from the University of Maine.

Kathy is a marine biologist and currently works for New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, responding to incursions of invasive alien marine species. Previously, she lead the MPA program with the New Zealand Department of Conservation for nearly twenty years before taking up a two-year position in 2006 with the Wildlife Conservation Society, where she lead a large ecosystem-based management and MPA project in Fiji.

Kathy is one of IUCN’s ocean experts and has contributed to numerous global marine conservation initiatives, including World Heritage nominations. She has been the Deputy Vice-Chair (NZ) for WCPA’s Oceania Region since 2011 and contributes regularly to the region’s newsletters.

She is a member of the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society Council and leads the MPA Portfolio, established to advise the Council on current and emerging MPA issues.

The ocean is in her blood. She is a keen yachtswoman, racing regularly in the Wellington Harbour and has made several open water sailing trips, including to Minerva Reef and the Vava’u Islands, Tonga. Snorkelling and SCUBA diving are her other favourite water sports.

Dr. Ameer Abdulla is senior advisor to the IUCN Global Marine and Polar Program on marine biodiversity and conservation science. Ameer is also the program lead on coral reef ecosystems. He is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, the IUCN Climate Change and Coral Reefs Working Group, is a Senior Fellow with the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science at the University of Queensland, Australia and is a Verified Conservation Area auditor. He has been a Senior Fellow of the UNEP World Conservation and Monitoring Center, a council member of the Australian Marine Science Association, a council member of the Australian Coral Reef Society, and a member of the Mediterranean Blue Carbon Advisory Committee.

Ameer holds a PhD in Coral Reef Science and a MSc in Marine Impact Assessment, Monitoring, and Management from James Cook University, Australia. He has over 20 years of experience in tropical marine ecology, conservation, and management in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Great Barrier Reef, Mediterranean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. He is particularly interested in developing and harnessing multi-disciplinary marine science for conservation planning and ecosystem-based management of marine biodiversity.

Dr. Claudio Campagna is a conservation researcher with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Adjunct Professor at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCSC. He has an MD from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a PhD in Biology from UCSC. He has been a field conservationists and scientist working in coastal Patagonia since the 1980. Recognizing the urgent need to promote conservation using creative communication tools, Claudio publishes widely in both the scientific and popular literature, and has served on several national, regional and international marine conservation committees and specialist groups. He funded the Forum of NGOs for the conservation of the Patagonian Sea, and has been serving in the Steering Committees of several conservation organizations, such as the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN, where he is also served as co-Chair of the Marine Subcommittee.

Dr. Mohamed Eltayeb leads the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Team in the Emirate of Dubai, UAE. His team consists of Wildlife Specialists, Officers, PA Managers and Rangers He manages a variety of projects and oversees the implementation of different marine ecological monitoring programs.
Mohamed holds a B.Sc. in Biological Oceanography an M.Sc. in Geography of Third World Development and a Ph.D. in Zoology. He has extensive strategic and senior management experience in areas of conservation of natural resources, environment and development, protected areas management and marine and coastal science. His focus has been on wetland and biodiversity conservation, related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements such as: CBD, Ramsar, CMS, UNESCO WH and others. His experience has spanned over several countries in Africa and Asia.

Sabine Jessen is the National Director of the Oceans Program for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. She also serves as the Marine Conservation Director for the British Columbia Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Sabine has been involved with CPAWS since 1991 when she began four years of volunteer work, prior to becoming the first Executive Director of the BC chapter. Sabine is passionate about protecting ocean ecosystems.

Sabine holds a Masters Degree in Geography from the University of Waterloo, specializing in coastal zone management and environmental regulation. She has served as an Advisor to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, BC Parks, the British Columbia Commission on Resources and Environment, and the Economic Council of Canada. Sabine has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Resource and Environmental Management Program at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and in 2009, she began her PhD studies in the Department of Geography at SFU focused on an international comparative study on the establishment of MPAs and MPA networks in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Her contribution to coastal zone management in Canada was recognized in 2008 with the H.B. Nicholls award from the Coastal Zone Canada Association. She was awarded the Stan Rowe Home Place Graduate Award by the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA) 2010, a Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions PhD fellowship in 2011, and an Australian Endeavour Research Fellowship in 2012.

In addition to her love of the ocean, Sabine is an avid photographer and bird watcher, which she combines with her pursuit of outdoor activities in wild places around the world.

William Kostka was born and raised on the island of Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). In 1998, he helped founded and became the first Board Chairman and Executive Director of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei, the leading local conservation NGO in the nation. In 2002, Mr. Kostka also co-founded and currently serves as Executive Director of the Micronesia Conservation Trust, a charitable and irrevocable corporation organized to support biodiversity conservation and related sustainable development for the people of Micronesia by providing long term sustained funding and capacity building support. He sits on several notable boards/councils including the Pacific Islands Forum’s Specialists Subcommittee on Regionalism, the Counsel on the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative, the Pacific Advisory Panel of the Global Green-grants Fund and several others. In 2006, Kostka became a Pew Marine Fellow and used his fellowship grant to help launch and further the implementation of the Micronesia Challenge Initiative, a common commitment by the countries and territories of Micronesia to a comprehensive system of resilient protected areas networks. This commitment will see at least 30% of the nearshore marine and 20% of the forest resources across Micronesia under effective conservation by 2020. Recently, Mr. Kostka has helped to launch the Bill Raynor Micronesia Challenge Scholarship Program.

David Obura is a Director of CORDIO East Africa, a knowledge organization supporting sustainable management and conservation of coral reef and marine systems in Eastern Africa/the Western Indian Ocean. CORDIO takes research to management and policy, builds capacity, and works with stakeholders, managers and policy makers. My primary research is on coral reef resilience, in particular to climate change, and the biogeography of Indian Ocean corals, and have worked extensively in coral reef monitoring. This work provides a platform for contributing to regional scale marine management: in the Northern Mozambique Channel to design and promote an Integrated Ocean Management approach that delivers on Blue Economy development principles, and for the Western Indian Ocean through building resources and capacity for integrated/marine spatial planning. Coral reefs are iconic and among the best-studied marine ecosystems globally, yet local to global pressures are decimating them rapidly. I am working on ways to bring this knowledge into practical frameworks to respond to local needs and national and intergovernmental goals, as expressed in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.