What We’re Working On
I spent 27 years at NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary as a marine biologist and educator — developing programs, coordinating workshops on ocean acidification, and watching the science advance year by year. Ocean health solutions were emerging. What wasn’t keeping pace was the capital to scale them. That gap is what led me to found the Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund.
Right now, I’m most excited about the momentum we’re building through Sea Forward across two fronts.
The first is the fund itself. Sea Forward’s Everblue Model pools philanthropic capital from individual donors, DAF holders, and foundations into a globally diversified portfolio of ocean impact funds. We currently support 200+ portfolio companies across 9+ funds, spanning sustainable aquaculture, coral reef restoration, circular economy, climate resilience, and regenerative nature-based solutions.
The second is field-building. Through Women in Ocean Impact webinars, investor immersion trips, our internship program, investor network working groups, conferences, and speaking engagements across the globe, my team and I educate investors on the blue economy’s potential and prove that a thriving ocean and a thriving economy are inextricably connected.
I believe that shifting capital requires shifting mindsets — and that takes education as much as it takes structure.
Impact & Success
The impact I’m seeing gives me real hope. Since 2018, the number of ocean impact funds has grown tenfold, and Sea Forward has been part of the wave. We’ve inspired follow-on investments, helped investors grow their confidence in ocean-focused ventures, and pooled capital to amplify impact.
Our 2024 Insights Report highlights some of that progress. One of our Bren School interns went on to be hired as a research analyst at Swen Blue Ocean too — that’s the ripple effect I’m always looking for — not just what we fund, but who we bring into the field and what they go on to build.
Key Insight
I am often the only woman and the only scientist in a room of traditional investors. I have a unique perspective, as I understand the ocean at an ecological level and can also speak to blended finance, fund structures, and capital deployment.
The power of collaboration and diverse perspectives is the insight that led me to found the Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund, and it’s the lesson I return to again and again in everything we do.
No single donor, foundation, or fund can restore the ocean alone. We need coordination to scale the solutions that already exist.
How Forum for Impact Has Supported Our Work
The Forum for Impact community is a perfect example of this collaborative power — connecting us with aligned leaders, creating space for honest peer exchange, and reinforcing that collective action is always more effective than going it alone.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, we are actively vetting and exploring new investment opportunities to build our portfolio and continue advancing the field through knowledge-sharing.
We are in the process of planning a 2026 California Ocean Summit, which will bring together scientists, investors, policymakers, and community leaders to accelerate collective action for ocean health.
I’d love to connect with anyone in this community looking for ways to protect our blue planet for future generations. The door is open — there’s an ocean of opportunity here, and a community ready to welcome you into it.