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.

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.

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.