I am a marine conservation scientist working at the interface of science, policy, and practice. My work centers on tackling conservation challenges where evidence, governance, and real-world constraints intersect, and on ensuring that scientific knowledge meaningfully informs decisions, regulations, and practical action.

I work with governments, intergovernmental bodies, and conservation organizations to support applied research, policy processes, and implementation, particularly in settings where data are limited, uncertainty is high, and decisions must be made despite competing priorities. In these contexts, I value clarity, pragmatism, and collaboration, and support partners in moving forward with approaches that are both scientifically robust and workable in practice.
Over the past two decades, my work has spanned fisheries, trade, and biodiversity conservation, with a particular focus on sharks and rays. This has taken me from landing sites and markets to international policy tables, combining field-based research with engagement in global policy processes and direct support for implementation by agencies responsible for fisheries management and wildlife trade regulation.
I am motivated by a deep respect for the complexity of marine systems, and by a concern that many species and ecosystems are being lost before they are fully understood or valued. I am driven by the belief that improving how knowledge is generated, shared, and applied, thoughtfully and collaboratively, can make a lasting difference.

Selected roles and recognition include:

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    • Deputy Chair | IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)
    • Chair | IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group
    • Co-Chair | IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Committee
    • Appointed Scientific Councillor for Fish | Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
    • Advisory Committee member | CMS Sharks Memorandum of Understanding
    • Founder | Elasmo Project
    • Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation (2019)

I speak five languages fluently and have worked across many regions worldwide. Extensive travel beyond my professional work has shaped my sensitivity to cultural and political contexts, and continues to inform how I approach collaboration, capacity building, and conservation practice.

Outside of formal roles, I value time in the field and being outdoors, learning directly from the people and places I encounter, and using photography as a way to observe and document how people live, work, and interact with their environments.

EVIDENCE FROM THE GROUND

Much of my work is grounded in field-based research at landing sites, markets, and ports, particularly in data-poor regions. Working directly with fishers, traders, and local authorities provides critical insight into fisheries dynamics, trade pathways, and enforcement challenges.

This field perspective helps ensure that conservation recommendations and policy advice are informed by how systems actually function on the ground.

Supporting implementation

I work with fisheries and wildlife authorities to support the practical implementation of conservation and fisheries commitments. This includes developing guidance, tools, and capacity-building that help agencies apply regulations consistently and confidently.
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Since 2013, I have supported customs, fisheries, and enforcement agencies in identifying sharks and rays and their traded products, with a focus on CITES-listed species. This work helps strengthen compliance, reporting, and enforcement by addressing one of the most persistent technical challenges faced by implementing authorities.

INTERNATIONAL POLICY

I work within international scientific and policy processes to help ensure that conservation decisions are grounded in the best available evidence while remaining practical to implement. By contributing scientific analysis and on-the-ground perspectives, I support discussions that shape policies across diverse national contexts and capacities.
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My role in these settings is often to help navigate complexity — translating technical information into options that can be understood, debated, and acted upon by governments operating across diverse political, ecological, and capacity contexts.

SOCIALS

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