My background includes the socioeconomics of coastal and island communities, shallow water and deep-sea coral research, and marine conservation education, policy and advocacy. I hold a Master’s Degree in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science.

At GRID-Arendal, I work to advance the concept of blue carbon through national demonstrations and in international treaties. This includes the development and management of the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project and the Global Environment Facility’s Blue Forests Project, on behalf of the UN Environment, and representation at international climate change negotiations (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)). I am also involved in several other projects including activities related to marine litter.  

Prior to working with GRID-Arendal, I focused on marine environmental policy including advocacy on US legislation, with topics including climate change and ocean acidification, the management of tropical and deep sea corals, Hawaiian Monk Seal conservation, marine protected areas, addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and appropriations for NOAA and other federal agencies. "Additionally, I advanced blue carbon policy with the executive and legislative branches of the US government, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and in the UNFCCC

I serve as a policy advisor to The Ocean Foundation, have served on the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, and created and managed Blue Climate Coalition.