Meet our Sea Smart team

Our staff

Executive Director & Founder

I have had the most amazing life as a marine biologist, working all around the world studying endangered marine animals in some of the most beautiful, remote places in the world. You can imagine, I have really experienced first-hand the threats our oceans are facing. But at the same time, I realized that there is something each of us can do to help. I started up Sea Smart to share my knowledge and passion for our oceans and to inspire and empower people to love and protect our oceans.
The oceans are incredibly amazing, powerful, and majestic. But at the same time, the oceans are vulnerable and in danger. Life on this planet cannot exist without our oceans. I want to help people foster love, curiosity, and connection with our oceans...because you only protect what you love. Kids are incredibly open, creative, and powerful change makers. I am truly convinced that kids will be the ones who will champion the cause to protect our environment. All we have to do is spark their love for nature and help them foster a connection with the environment.
There are so many incredibly simple, easy actions we can take to help our oceans. One of the best ways is to reduce our single-use plastics! I always carry around a water bottle and reusable container with cutlery.

Managing Director

My area of expertise is team building! Throughout my career, I have focused my energy on creating positive team dynamics. I believe that the impact an organization can have is dependent on the amount of communication that happens between team members. When you have a solid team, anything is possible!
As an educator by trade, I have seen the positive effect kids can have on this planet. Youth education that is fun and interactive is so important for creating future change. Kids are excited, interested, and eager about making the world a better place. When taught young, they can be leaders that WE, the OCEAN, the FOREST, and the EARTH all need.
Leave things alone! The ocean is a complex ecosystem, everything has a purpose and a function. When we take things from the ocean, we might be damaging the ecosystem and harming surrounding biodiversity. When at the beach, it’s best to leave your surroundings exactly as they are. Don’t take home the sea shells, leave the crabs alone, watch your step when swimming, and don’t catch the jellyfish! Most importantly, clean up after yourself and leave the area exactly as you found it.

Development Coordinator

I bring a lifelong passion for the ocean, alongside a diverse background of skills ranging from project management to impact measurement, to art and design. I am excited to use these skills to help Sea Smart understand and increase their impact.
I have always felt at home in the water. Growing up in BC, I was lucky to spend summers in and around water; camping, swimming, kayaking, water skiing, and most recently scuba diving. These activities gave me a passion and fascination with marine life, which quickly translated into a desire to use my career to help protect it. I developed this passion from a young age, and have first hand experience of how youth education can create lifelong ocean advocates.
Do your best to use less freshwater (shorter showers, turn off the tap while washing your hands/dishes), to help reduce the amount of wastewater runoff that ends up in our oceans! Related to that, choose natural cleaning and hygiene products, to prevent toxins from getting into the waterways.

Program Coordinator

Tackling issues that impact our oceans requires creative thinking, proper communication about the risks of environmental degradation, and collaborative efforts. In my experience working in wildlife conservation and environmental education, I have grown comfortable having these complex conversations with children and adults, and I enjoy working to inspire hope in youth to take climate action.
Growing up on a small island in the Puget Sound, I was raised to be curious about the oceans and forests surrounding my home. This led me to explore the natural world and eventually study the environment in university. Fostering an appreciation for the environment helps encourage folks to be environmental stewards of their own backyards. Inspiring children and adults to connect with the natural world is the first step towards creating impact at the individual and community levels.
Plastic pollution is one of the largest threats faced by our oceans, this is exacerbated by the manufacturing of cheaply made goods, from clothes, to technology, food containers, you name it! One of the most revolutionary acts we can take as ocean stewards is not only to buy less things, but to take better care of what we already have. Repairing my own clothes is one way I have tried to ensure that my belongings can have a longer lifecycle, and stay out of a landfill.

Operations Coordinator

I have been fortunate enough to study, volunteer and work with several organizations that are dedicated to environmental education and conservation work. It inspired me to go to school and complete a diploma at BCIT in resource management. I am happy about contributing to Sea Smart and supporting their mission to achieve their goals.
Growing up in Vancouver, I have always loved to be near the water and have always had a passion for the creatures within. Learning all that I could about fish, whales and seals, I started to understand that even small changes can lead to big impacts for our oceans. I hope to help inspire kids and those who are kids at heart to make meaningful and lasting change that the ocean needs to continue thriving.
It is really simple to make your own effective household cleaning products (and cheaper too). Take some time to research how to make your own all purpose cleaner, laundry soap or dish soap. They are just as powerful and better for the environment overall.

Chief Entertainment Officer (CEO)

I work hard to make sure the Sea Smart team is feeling joyful. I help them relax and even let them throw a ball for me. I’m also always ready to break up the workday by reminding the team to go outside and take a walk. Sometimes it can be hard to leave the office when there’s so much work to do but, I believe that everyone has time to take a minute to get some fresh air.
It's important to protect the ocean so we can all continue to play in the waves, nap on the beach, and walk along the shore!
I go through a lot of snacks. So I try to keep my snacks in a reusable silicone ziplock bag. My snack bags are airtight, easy to open and close, and are perfect for dry snacks. They’re more durable and ocean-friendly compared to single-use sandwich bags!

Chief Relaxation Officer (CRO)

I take my job seriously and help the Sea Smart team relax by giving lots of cuddles and kisses. It's hard work but I let them give me lots of belly rubs to help them relax further.
Our oceans are so amazing and there's always so much fun stuff to sniff and explore! I like sniffing the kelp but I really don't like it when I find garbage on the beaches.
My fur mom scoops up my poop into a bucket to reduce using plastic bags to pick up my poop. It's amazing how many plastic bags fur parents go through each day so the bucket trick is great!

Chief Fun Officer (CFO)

I am an expert lap dog, and give the best cuddles and kisses!
I love going for walks along the beach, chasing and barking at the waves! It’s important that we keep our beaches clean so all the puppies and humans can enjoy them!
Buy your food and treats in bulk bags so it lasts longer, and there’s less plastic!