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Our People

Executive Leadership Team

Lasse Gustavsson

President and CEO

Lasse has dedicated his career to conservation and sustainable development. His several decades of international executive leadership and management experience included roles at Greenpeace International, WWF Sweden, WWF International and Oceana. His expertise includes regional and global program strategy and management, corporate and government partnership, as well as policy and advocacy work at the highest political levels in the EU, UN and in countries across the globe. Lasse studied at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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Carlos Drews

EVP, Conservation

Carlos is a recipient of the LiverdPress Award for his lifetime conservation achievement. He previously held the position of executive director of the Jane Goodall Institute, and previously served as director of the World Wildlife Fund’s Global Species Programme. Carlos developed a first-of-its-kind toolkit for marine turtle adaptations to climate change; co-authored Costa Rica's annual report on human sustainable development; and orchestrated an advocacy program to successfully influence the UN to establish wildlife crime as a global threat. He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Cambridge University.

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Jennie Moushos

Chief Operating Officer

Jennie has over 25 years’ experience in the finance and insurance industry including as senior vice president, Western Division, for Intact Insurance Company. Jennie co-founded the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade BC Chapter, assisted on the task force that established a General Insurance and Risk Management Program at the BC Institute of Technology, and has been a regular presenter at the annual FCI-CWI Women in Leadership Conference. Jennie has also served on the board of SOS Children’s Villages Canada, Bridges to Community Canada, and The Western Investment Company of Canada.

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Dani Zapotoczny

VP, Global Engagement

Dani is a global engagement expert who has worked with content creators, corporations, non-profits, influencers, media, and foundations to strategically leverage their platforms to create impact. She has played a lead role in public mobilization task forces across multiple UN summits and for the UN Foundation-founded initiatives Girl Up and Giving Tuesday. Dani has a B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University where she is now a Visiting Professor of the Practice of Public Policy teaching a seminar about Innovating for Social Impact.

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Nicole Straughan

VP, Youth & Education

Nicole is a strong believer in the power of experiential learning. Having dedicated her career to advancing ocean literacy she has led school programs, sleepover camps, and facilitated youth mentorship programming. Nicole has been a critical part of the successful Ocean Bridge, Ocean Pathways and Youth to Sea programs as well as playing a lead role in the creation of Ocean Wise’s social justice committee. She is passionate about creating pathways for youth from diverse and varied backgrounds to participate in ocean conservation.

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Directors

Chloe Robinson, PhD

Director, Whales

Scott Bohachyk

Director, Seaforestation

Mike McDermid

Director, Fisheries and Seafood

Patrick Lamontagne

Director, Youth

Jessica Johnston

Director, Human Resources (leave of absence)

Terry Burmas

Director, Finance

Jordon Randall

Director, Information Technology

Nic Schulz

Director, Communications

Andrea MacDonald

HR Specialist (acting Manager)

Ocean Wise Youth Ambassadors

Ocean Wise's people includes the youth ambassadors and alumni from the Ocean Bridge, Ocean Pathways and Youth to Sea program. They are passionate about the environment, leaders in their community and inspiring ocean champions.

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