Nicolas’ expertise combines marine science, economics, finance, and policy; all aimed at protecting marine ecosystems. On the marine side, he has contributed over 50 economic studies, scientific publications, and technical reports on ecosystem services of coral reefs. These have been used globally, to inform and convince policy makers. On the business side, Nicolas’ former positions include experience as an investment director and project developer for multinational companies, and he was also the founder and CEO of a B2B company. His dual skillsets now inform marine conservation, inspiring alternatives, and innovative approaches. Nicolas has completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from ICN (France) and received his PhD in Marine Science from the Universidad de Barcelona (Spain).

Angelique is a Marine Ecologist responsible for coordinating conservation and science programmes for our MPAs. She is an expert in both coral reef science and integrated coastal management, with over 25 years’ global experience. She headed the Marine Research Section for Government in Barbados for over a decade, developing coral reef-related research projects in addition to reef system management protocols compatible with integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) frameworks. She holds a PhD in Marine Biology from the Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University and is a PADI Instructor.

Gary designs and implements sustainable, innovative, and financially viable nature-based programmes in our MPAs. Gary began his ecotourism career as a safari guide in the early 90s, after completing a BSc in Zoology & Botany. Gary was deeply immersed in the industry’s core offering, creating unforgettable interpretative wilderness experiences for visitors. He later transitioned to management and then honed his commercial skills in both B2B and B2C settings, going on to extend his skillset to incorporate broader strategic expertise and delivering comprehensive business performance, via his progression from a pivotal COO role, several CEO postings, and time as a start-up entrepreneur. His career has been based on a conviction that professionally managed, responsible ecotourism is our most effective conservation tool.

Arnaud's expertise combines protection of biodiversity through leading ranger units, management of Protected Areas and their periphery with rural development, decentralisation, and governance enhancement (as a park manager and national director), and also in transboundary contexts. He is familiar with international standards such as those of the IFC/WB for the implementation of biodiversity offset projects for industry. Arnaud has extensive experience in supporting models for the management of protected areas, including the negotiation, establishment, and monitoring of public-private partnership management (11 instances since 2012). At the political dimensions, he has been involved in reforming national strategies and regulations. This multimodal understanding of conservation issues, combined with a network of national and international contacts built through an adaptive and impact-oriented approach, enables him to shape relationships of trust that are necessary for the missions he has been asked for. Arnaud has 17 years of professional experience, the majority in the field of conserving protected areas and managing natural resources in tropical zones. He holds a Master's degree in agricultural and forestry engineering, specializing in natural resources and tropical zone management. Additionally, he possesses complementary certificates in the value chain approach, climate change mitigation, and the REDD+ process applied to natural resource governance.

Joel Bertani is an experienced managing director and business developer with a proven track record of leadership in the aquaculture industry. He holds a Bachelor of Sciences from James Cook University of Townsville and two MBAs, and has extensive experience in developing large-scale aquaculture projects across multiple countries. Over the past fifteen years, he has held key roles across Australia, Indonesia, France, Spain, Madagascar, and more recently Tanzania and the Philippines. His career extends across publicly listed companies, privately-owned enterprises, and producer cooperatives. Joel thrives on addressing complex challenges with a combination of strategic insight, visionary leadership, and disciplined execution. His passion lies in building motivated teams and achieving operational excellence while driving sustainable growth. Joel’s dedication to delivering value to stakeholders is guided by his core values of trust, transparency, and performance. He aspires to create socially responsible enterprises that deliver positive impacts and long-term value.

Debra Burke brings nearly three decades of experience in philanthropic fundraising, major donor development, and board governance across the UK, US, and globally. Her career spans some of the world's most respected social impact organisations, including the Global Fund for Children, City Year, and the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, where she has consistently built and diversified funding pipelines at the six- and seven-figure level. Debra has a strong track record of securing transformational gifts from high-net-worth individuals and institutional funders, and of recruiting and developing high-profile boards that drive both governance and resource mobilisation. She is the co-founder of Upwell Collaborative, a consultancy supporting mission-driven organisations on fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, and organisational capacity. Her work is driven by a conviction that the right funding relationships — built on trust, shared values, and genuine commitment — are what turn bold ideas into lasting impact. After nearly twenty years working internationally from the UK, Debra is now based on Cape Cod and holds dual citizenship of the United States and the United Kingdom.

Célia provides Blue Alliance with a mixture of strategic and practical support in finance and accounting. Managing the HR functions as well, she is putting her strong interpersonal skills into practice. Célia has approximately 10 years of experience as a finance or business manager across several industries for small and medium companies in France and abroad. She earned a master’s degree in mathematics and economics and has also developed a keen interest in information systems and BI tools. Throughout her education, she was a high-level swimmer, winning the University French Championship, participating in several international competitions, and swimming at the Olympic trials twice. She now volunteers at her local swimming club as an administration committee member. Célia was raised in Toulon and has developed an awareness of the value of the Mediterranean Sea since she spent all her summer days in the water as a child. She believes in innovative business models that can create positive environmental impacts, which is why she thinks Blue Alliance stands out.

Célia is the Partnership Manager at Blue Alliance. She holds a Master's in Corporate Finance from ESSCA School of Management. After a few years working as head of partnerships and finance for a French foundation, she is convinced that companies need to redirect their investments towards supporting projects that respect the environment and people. That's why she has chosen to focus her professional career on organisations whose projects are designed to meet a collective objective of social and environmental benefit. She believes that one of Blue Alliance's main challenges is to ensure the sustainability of MPAs by diversifying the funding model.

With a background in marine biology and seven years in the ocean conservation non-profit sector, Katherine specializes in communicating scientific and conservation-based topics in a clear and relatable way. Translating science into meaningful messages is her passion and as Blue Alliance’s Communications Manager, she ensures the organisation’s mission reaches a wide audience, inspiring awareness and action for the ocean. In her previous role as Education and Communications Manager at I AM WATER Trust, Katherine developed communication strategies to amplify the organisation’s mission. She collaborated with funders, media, and conservation partners to create campaigns, manage public relations, and maintain consistent messaging across platforms. This experience deepened her skills in strategic communications, audience engagement, and storytelling to drive positive action for the ocean. Her professional journey has given her an in-depth understanding of the ocean conservation landscape, while her academic foundation in marine biology equips her with the scientific knowledge necessary to advocate for meaningful change. Beyond her professional role, Katherine is an avid freediver and underwater photographer, with a particular love for the ocean’s smaller and often overlooked creatures.

For Victor, it is essential to be part of a project that pioneers the way forward—one that proves a new model is possible, where economics and ecology are not at odds but aligned to create lasting solutions. The vision of Blue Alliance resonates deeply with him, as it brings together innovation, sustainability, and tangible impact for the health of our oceans. In his role, he contributes to building strategic partnerships that accelerate the transition toward a thriving blue economy, ensuring marine conservation and sustainable development go hand in hand. Passionate about the ocean and committed to driving positive environmental change, Victor believes it is crucial to work in an organisation that strives for the better health of our planet. He comes from ESSEC and brings a strong international background, having gained valuable experiences abroad that have shaped his vision of sustainability and impact.

Tanja is the Office Manager at Blue Alliance. She studied languages and completed different stages of her education across several countries, nurturing a strong passion for travel, international environments, and building relationships across cultures. With over 20 years of experience supporting teams and leaders in diverse professional settings—including optics, FMCG, and tech innovation—she believes that success should go beyond revenue alone. She is proud to be part of Blue Alliance and to contribute to sustainable goals with a meaningful impact on both the environment and communities.

Yann supports Blue Alliance's financial operations by managing accounts payable and harmonising accounting processes across several entities in the network. He also contributes to the rollout of new accounting tools and standards, strengthening the organisation's transparency and operational efficiency. With a wide and diverse career path with a background combining management, customer relations, and operational coordination across banking and entrepreneurship, Yann brings a structured and pragmatic approach to the service of marine conservation.

Fanny graduated from SKEMA Business School with an MSc in International Business and Finance. During her studies, she spent time in South Africa and Brazil, and those experiences really opened her eyes. Seeing different ways of living, different challenges, and different perspectives made Fanny think a lot about what she wanted her own work to stand for. After a few years working for both big corporations and smaller, very profit‑driven companies, Fanny realised something was missing. She wanted to do something that actually mattered, a job where she could contribute to something positive for the planet and for society, not just chase financial targets.

Arn completed his Accounting Degree at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, followed by postgraduate studies in Accounting, before completing his SAICA articles. He later worked as an Audit Manager, where he developed expertise across a wide range of industries, with a focus on financial reporting, multi-entity consolidations, and complex audit engagements across international business environments. Arn then moved into the private sector as Finance Controller for a property development group, managing the full financial function including budgeting, tax compliance, and financial reporting. These experiences gave him a strong foundation in structured financial management and operational discipline. At Blue Alliance, Arn is excited to bring that experience to an organisation where strong financial systems and accountability can support work that has a real and positive impact on the world.

Daniel is working in collaboration with Blue Alliance as a fishery biologist. From his early scuba diving adventures at the age of 11 to captivating David Attenborough documentaries and family holidays rock-pooling along the Welsh coast, he developed a profound connection with the ocean. This passion drove him to gain a master's degree in Marine Environmental Protection at Bangor University and become a certified Scuba Instructor. Over the last 7 years, Daniel has worked toward implementing and managing one of the largest MPAs in the Atlantic, managing small-scale inshore fisheries in Ascension, and aiding long-term research into large-scale fisheries in the Falkland Islands. His belief in the power of inclusive science and community-based research drives his commitment to making a positive impact alongside the team at Blue Alliance. With a comprehensive knowledge of artisanal, sport, and commercial fisheries, Daniel brings invaluable insight. He has lent his practical skills to numerous projects, including small-scale movements and habitat use of key species within inshore fisheries using acoustic telemetry, large-scale movements of tuna and requiem sharks using satellite tags, and an ambitious first-of-its-kind eDNA project for the South Atlantic. Daniel is dedicated to championing sustainable fishing practices and fostering marine conservation. Safeguarding our oceans for future generations should be paramount.

After completing her masters thesis on pelagic thresher shark ecology with Blue Alliance Philippines, Cass joined Blue Alliance MPA as a Marine Ecologist to gather knowledge on rare marine species, with the idea that we can only protect what we know. Cass has an MSc in Marine Sciences and Conservation from MARRES at Université Côte d'Azur as well as over 12 years of SCUBA diving experience (including 6 years as a CMAS E1 dive instructor and 4 years of scientific diving across The Philippines and Indonesia). Cass is in charge of designing and setting up innovative data collection methods in all Blue Alliance sites to understand the ecology, behaviour and seasonality of locally protected, rare, and commercially targeted species, with the aim of using this knowledge in MPA management and recommendations.

After battling his illness for several years, Roland died in January 2024. During his time with us, as director of Blue Economy, Roland brought his vision, his kindness, and his rigor. He has been a wonderful collaborator and Blue Alliance would not be where it is without him.

Bonifacio is the manager of Blue Alliance, the official entity managing the MPA network on behalf of Local Government Units. He has more than two decades’ experience in managing and implementing community-based environmental conservation projects. Activities encompass marine and terrestrial ecosystems, biodiversity conservation and resource-management initiatives, social enterprise, monitoring and evaluation, participatory social research and technical research. Bonifacio has written over 25 approved project proposals which have attracted funding from international donor-agencies. Bonifacio has worked with programmes linked to World Heritage Site and Community-Management of Protected Areas for Conservation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Major in Political Science from Palawan State University and a MSc in Rural Development from Western Philippines University.

As the MPA coordinator for Blue Alliance in Northeastern Palawan, Russell brings over ten years of experience to our marine conservation efforts in the Philippines. He has worked with various local and international NGOs, has been pivotal in establishing Marine Protected Areas across Northern Palawan, and has played a key role in strategically managing these networks. He also actively participated in MPA management planning processes. Russell has a background in marine biology and expertise in technical assessments and mangrove management. During his leisure time, he enjoys immersing himself in outdoor activities, particularly trail running, and frequently explores the picturesque mountains of Palawan.

Marian is the executive director of the Yayasan Tompotika Biodiversiti Lestari Foundation, the local organisation managing the Tompotika and Banggai MPAs on behalf of the Indonesian Government. Marian has developed management experience in the tourism industry in Indonesia by following her passion for hospitality and nature. She has also been active in the NGO space, having previously worked for the local Liveaboard Association. Her role involved ensuring a harmonious relationship between local government and the Liveaboard Association, as well as enabling conservation projects such as carrying capacity studies. Marian holds a bachelor in law studies from the Netherlands.

Suleiman Kombo Ali (Sele) was born in Pemba, where he received his secondary school education. He joined the Manta Resort in 2009, where he immersed himself in various training exercises related to tourism and hospitality, eventually becoming a service fundi. Sele received additional training from experts hailing from South Africa, Sweden, and Australia. He even had the opportunity to visit Sweden to gain insight into the hospitality industry there. Sele was appointed as the head of all service fundis at Manta Resort and then took on the role of Operation Manager for the hotel, where he served for seven years. His dedication to marine conservation led him to join the Kwanini Foundation, the conservation arm of Manta Resort. In 2023, he joined Blue Alliance. Sele's commitment to professional growth is evident through his additional training in teaching from the Ministry of Education in Zanzibar and security training from the Tanzanian Police force. In his free time, he also works as a Social Police officer, contributing to community safety and well-being.

Hero is a graduate of IPB University, holding a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Marine Science. He is an expert in various aspects of marine conservation, including Marine Protected Area (MPA) management, Sea Turtle Conservation, Inclusive Conservation (ESSF and GEDSI), Community-based Marine Tourism, Fisheries Management, and Aquaculture. Hero’s expertise extends to Government Advocacy, where he actively influences public regulation, planning, and budgeting for sustainable practices. Since 2015, Hero has been a driving force behind the initiation, establishment, and management of 10 MPAs in eastern Indonesia, covering an area exceeding 2 million hectares. Notably, he has taken the lead in leatherback sea turtle conservation projects at the Kei Kecil MPA since 2015 and the Buru MPA since 2016. Beyond his professional endeavours, Hero is a certified Dive Master and displays his love for the ocean through underwater photography. He is known for his adeptness in fostering relationships with government bodies, community leaders, religious institutions, and key partners.

Pierre is an Independent Consultant for Finance and Sustainability. His main clients are large financial institutions, multinational corporations, and entrepreneurial start-ups. He is a Senior Advisor for BNP Paribas’s Corporate Engagement Department, Project Advisor for Deme Group and Senior Advisor to the CEO of innovative nature-based businesses such TerraGrn and Blue Alliance. In addition to these consultancy roles, Pierre has founded and supervised as Executive Chairman, Nomad Plastic Ltd, a social business providing marine services for sustainable coastal tourism, fighting ocean plastic pollution, building resilient ecosystems for marine biodiversity conservation, and developing local coastal community presence in emerging markets. Prior to this, Pierre had more than three decades of experience across the financial services industry, two thirds of which time was spent in the Asia-Pacific region. For over 16 years, he was a Senior Executive Manager for BNP Paribas, most recently serving as Head of Global Markets and Financial Institutions Coverage (Asia-Pacific) from 2015 to 2018. He then acted as Senior Advisor for Sustainable Business in Europe from 2019 to 2021. Pierre’s main achievement has been in leading BNP Paribas to be one of the main international finance players in global markets, with a particular focus on Asia. He also led the creation of one of the first electronic trading systems in the late 1990s and pioneered the development of sustainable blended finance transactions for nature-based projects from 2018 onwards.

Antonio is an expert in Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation with more than 30 years’ experience. He directly supported the development of the national network of Marine Protected Areas in Guinea Bissau, focusing on participatory management and community development. He was also responsible for project coordination of the Banc d’Arguin International Foundation in Mauritania and advisor to the Banc d’Arguin National Park Directorate. Antonio also previously managed a large portfolio of projects focused on biodiversity conservation in West Africa, as manager of the MAVA Foundation.

Following a double training in veterinary medicine (Toulouse, 1989) and applied economics (ESSEC, 1991), Eric worked in the sustainable development sector (livestock) in the Caribbean (1991-1995) and then in West Africa from 1996 to 1999. After completing a PhD (2004) on tropical reef fisheries in the western Pacific, from 2005 to 2012 he was the coordinator of an international programme focusing on the sustainable management of coral reefs in the Pacific (CRISP), funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). Scientific advisor to the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia from 2012 to 2016, he is now a Professor in Marine Biology at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, based at the CRIOBE USR3278 EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, in Moorea (French Polynesia). A specialist in the behavioural ecology of large marine predators, Eric is renowned as an expert in shark conservation and shark risk management.

Anne has over 25 years of combined advisory experience as an investment banker, a lawyer and a guarantor leading the origination strategy, structuring and restructuring (when needed) the financing of infrastructure and impact investments across emerging markets and developing economies. Anne is currently a consultant and specialise in providing innovative financial solutions mobilizing private sector capital to increase the supply of sustainable and impactful investment opportunities that can transform communities and drive positive changes to the environment in developing countries.

With the release of Despicable Me 4, director and producer Chris Renaud has become one of the most successful animated feature directors of all time. As a founding member of the core creative team at Illumination/Universal Animation Studios, Chris has established himself as one of the most prolific and inspired talents in the world of animation, with a hand in creating almost all of the studio’s animated box office hits, including Despicable Me, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and both Dr. Suess films, The Lorax and The Grinch. Along with Pierre Coffin and Eric Guillon, he also co-created the iconic yellow Minion characters featured in the Despicable Me films and the global smash Minions. As both a director and producer, his films have generated almost $8 billion at the worldwide box office. His first directing project came at Blue Sky Studios, where Chris conceived, wrote, storyboarded, and directed the animated short No Time For Nuts (2006), which featured the popular Ice Age character Scrat. The film wound up scoring an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Film, Animated, and won Renaud an Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject. He has been twice nominated for both an Academy Award and a BAFTA award in the animation categories. Renaud began his career in the world of comic books, working for Marvel and DC Comics as both an artist and writer in the mid 90s. His notable projects included illustrating Marvel’s Starfleet Academy based on the Star Trek universe and pitching the original story concept that evolved into Batman: Cataclysm which depicted a devastating earthquake hitting Gotham City. This yearlong tale across all Batman-related comics resulted in increased sales, and elements of this groundbreaking storyline still echo in contemporary cinematic versions of the legendary character. Renaud has a lifelong passion for wildlife conservation and currently serves on the National Geographic Society’s Hubbard Council and the Advisory Board for their Impact Storytelling Lab. In the latter role, he acted as an Executive Producer on their upcoming documentary film project about the Samburu region of Kenya and efforts in the area to mitigate human/animal conflict. He has also worked as an Executive Producer supporting the work of Academy Award winning documentarian and conservationist Louie Psihoyos at the Oceanic Preservation Society. In addition, he personally supports many smaller NGOs working in the sub-Saharan African ecosystem throughout eastern and southern Africa.

Environmental engineer and finance executive with extensive experience in fintech and various venture backed startups. Currently focused on climate positive impact investing with an emphasis on ocean and reef conservation initiatives. Began career as a water resources engineer assisting large municipalities with long-term water supply planning while mitigating negative downstream environmental impacts. Post receiving MBA with highest honours, pivoted into corporate finance covering multiple industries over 15+ years: biotech, fintech, digital health and a leading blockchain protocol. Primary focus was strategy, executive level deal support, quarterly financial Board reporting and capital raises for both high-growth startups and multinational enterprises. Focused on pricing, and product portfolio integration at Genentech during its acquisition by Roche. While at Visa supported regional mobile payment partnerships across Africa and Southeast Asia and led pricing analysis for global mobile payment initiatives (ApplePay, GooglePay). At Omada Health led core financial planning, pricing scenarios and venture fundraising efforts. As CFO of the Solana Foundation created tax strategy and grant structures that led to rapid developer growth on the protocol. Recently created and leads the Halo Foundation focused on ocean and reef conservation globally.

Marina specialises in natural solutions for greenhouse gas (GHG) sequestration and storage, climate change, results-based funding, and Payments for Ecosystems Services schemes. Since 2003, she has gained significant experience in project design, management, and monitoring, notably in the scope of sustainable landscape projects in terrestrial and marine areas, and through working with international donors, research institutions and private stakeholders. She has developed, certified, and managed over 15 carbon sequestration projects, and over 40 social and environmental sustainability projects worldwide. In addition, she has developed participatory methodologies for social engagement, impact evaluation and strategic planning. Marina is a Brazilian forestry engineer from the University of São Paulo with a master’s degree in Sustainable Development and International Relations from the Graduate Institute in Geneva.

Nicolas is an underwater filmmaker who collaborates with Blue Alliance for the development of Virtual Reality (VR) visual communications solutions. Nicolas has worked on many underwater film and TV productions, combining his passions for the sea, computer graphics and video editing technology. Nicolas has created over 70 nature productions covering a wide variety of subjects. He is the co-founder of Oceanica Productions, a specialist underwater audio-visual production house. He also created GEOM, an organisation developing multimedia educational tools for children to promote awareness of the fragility of the marine world. Nicolas trained as a diver with COMEX, a deep-sea engineering enterprise.

Aurélie is a senior portfolio management leader with more than 14 years’ experience in finance (banking and asset management), with a focus on fixed income and credit in developed and emerging markets. She also has a passion for impact and sustainable investing. Aurélie has expertise in structuring new investment products, creating innovative business models (including blended finance and portfolio management functions). She has managed global portfolios of private debt, plus USD 2 billion in the impact investing space (Financial Inclusion, Sustainable Agriculture, Climate and Water) for 5 years to 2020. Aurélie is a passionate diver and a PADI instructor. She holds a Business School Diploma, a master’s in applied Finance from Macquarie University in Sydney, and the CFA designation. She has also completed the Business Sustainability Management Programme from the Cambridge Institute.

Serge is a coral reef scientist who collaborates with Blue Alliance in the development of marine conservation planning. Over the past 20 years, he has published more than 200 papers in international journals mainly dealing with the population genetics of coral reef fishes as well as papers on ecology, ecology of marine protected areas and recruitment of marine fishes. ISI Essential Science Indicators (ESI) analysed research into coral reef ecosystems in the past decade (1995-2005) and ranked his work at #19 in the world out of 5,060 authors (see http://esi-topics.com/coralreef). His views have major implications for conservation planning.

Thomas is a shark and wildlife tourism expert who collaborates with Blue Alliance on the development of sustainable tourism activities and revenue-generating mechanisms. Thomas’ experience comes from both scientific research and the ocean tourism industry. He has created several sustainable tourism projects benefiting both nature and people, completed his PhD on sharks, and participated in several scientific missions, mainly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In Fiji, Thomas designed and managed a shark diving and conservation project that led to the development of a local MPA along with other benefits for communities. His work focuses on revealing, empowering, or rebuilding coral reef ecosystems, as well as designing sustainable tourism strategies and businesses. His latest projects are turnkey solutions designed to boost the tourism economy, scientific research, and ecosystem health. Thomas is also a diving and freediving instructor, as well as being an award-winning underwater photographer.

Hery is a marine conservation practitioner with a focus on integrating sustainable fisheries governance and coastal community empowerment. A graduate of the Faculty of Fisheries at Diponegoro University, Hery specializes in bridging local community needs with government policies to develop inclusive and applicable conservation models. Hery has a strong track record in small-scale fisheries management and marine conservation area monitoring, with an emphasis on strengthening the capacity of coastal communities in the Maluku region, including the Koon, Mdona Hiera, Romang, Damer, and Babar Islands Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Since 2021, Hery has been actively involved in accelerating conservation area management in Southwest Maluku through strategic mapping and advocacy activities involving law enforcement officials, local government, religious leaders, and local communities. Technically, Hery has mastered ecosystem-based capture fisheries and aquaculture management (EAFM & EAA) approaches, as well as the identification of important fish spawning sites (SPAGs) for snapper and grouper species. Beyond his technical expertise, he is also active as a diver and photographer, utilizing visual narratives to document marine conservation issues. Through his visual works, Hery communicates the realities on the ground as well as the success of coastal communities in preserving marine biodiversity.