DonateOur Team
Chief Executive Officer
Anne (she/her) is a purpose-driven leader with two decades of experience bridging capital and community, turning bold ideas into real impact at the intersection of investing and sustainable development.
Her journey began as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines, where she saw firsthand how deeply social and environmental challenges are intertwined at the community level. That experience sparked a lifelong passion for using market-based solutions to create lasting, positive change.
Anne went on to serve as a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of State, where she helped launch the Global Entrepreneurship Program to support underserved entrepreneurs worldwide. She later joined USAID as an Investment Officer, structuring catalytic capital solutions to address pressing global challenges.
The core of Anne's career has been with the pioneering impact investing firm Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF), a private equity group investing in small businesses in emerging and frontier markets. As SEAF's Global Director of Impact, she built and led the firm's first integrated impact measurement and management system. In her dual role as Deputy Director of SEAF's technical assistance program, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED), she expanded its reach from 5 to 14 countries, equipping hundreds of early and growth-stage entrepreneurs with the resources they needed to scale.
Anne holds a Master's in Public Administration from Cornell University and dual Bachelor's degrees in Global Studies and Art History from UC Santa Barbara.
Grounded in her commitment to equitable economic growth and environmental stewardship, Anne continues to champion initiatives that scale innovative solutions, empower communities and protect our planet. Outside of work, you'll usually find her chasing fresh air with her family: camping, skiing, or hiking, settling into a board game rivalry, or unwinding on the yoga mat.
Head of Investments
Matt Mulrennan (he/him) is a climate and ocean investor who has supported over 150 companies. He has 15 years of interdisciplinary experience in the ocean and climate fields within science, policy, innovation prizes, and investing.
As a serial entrepreneur, Matt is a Co-Founder of Latin American climate tech VC fund, Savia Ventures, and was the CEO of EnVest—a climate and ocean investing membership organization. For six years Matt was the Director of the Ocean Initiative at the XPRIZE Foundation which provided $10M in prizes to 50 ocean health companies and further supported their pilot testing and commercialization.
Matt has also worked as a marine scientist at ocean conservation group Oceana, a lab researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, marketing for a residential energy efficiency software tool, and as a leader on congressional and environmental campaigns.
He has lived in various developing countries, traveled to all seven continents, led four scientific expeditions to Antarctica, was the grand prize winner of the first Con X Tech Prize for conservation technology prototyping, and is a Fellow at the Explorers Club. His work has been featured in various media outlets including the Washington Post, New York Times, National Geographic, TechCrunch, and BBC.
Matt is passionate about reducing diversity gaps in environmental funding, supporting ocean health startups, and creating tangible results for reducing pollution. He holds a Master’s in Marine Biodiversity & Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from Miami University.
Head of Global Community
Chandana (she/her) is an experienced leader in program strategy, development, growth, and implementation. At SOA, she shapes the strategic direction for Global Community Initiatives and leads a talented team who catalyzes and supports a global network of diverse youth focused on ocean solutions.
Prior to joining SOA, Chandana was Associate Director at Acumen Academy where she led an international team to design and deliver globally-reaching online courses, leadership programs, and accelerators. She was also Director of Global Education Programs at National Geographic where she developed a strategic vision, cultivated partnerships, and designed programs for educators, National Geographic Explorers, and high-priority environmental conservation initiatives.
Chandana also held roles in program management, curriculum design, program evaluation, and leading workshops for diverse stakeholders at the University of Illinois and Harvard University.
Her ability to design strategy, drive program expansion, and cultivate partnerships has been instrumental in advancing the mission of these organizations.
Associate Director, Grants & Impact
Taylor brings an expertise in nonprofit development and an abiding dedication to environmental sustainability to his work at SOA. He believes that saving the planet in the next 12 years will require bringing forth a world where young people feel the possibility—and moral responsibility—to create a life aligned with both their values and a thriving ocean.
Taylor graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado with a concentration in environmental and indigenous policy.
He has held positions at National Geographic, Americorps, and land and ethnic conservation NGOs in New York City and San Francisco.
Senior Manager, Ocean Leaders Fellowship
Jessica (she/her) is passionate about empowering community leaders and entrepreneurs to build the skills and networks essential for climate resilience. With a diverse background spanning social entrepreneurship, climate policy, community building, impact assessment, and partnership management, she has worked with a wide range of organizations, from government agencies and innovation hubs to startups and nonprofits of all sizes.
Jessica is deeply committed to leveraging policy mediation and participatory design to strengthen the capacity of mission-driven organizations and global movements.At SOA, Jessica designs and leads experiential learning programs that equip the next generation of ocean and climate leaders with the tools they need to create lasting change in international policy forums and locally-led community initiatives.Her previous work has taken her to over 40 countries, collaborating with renowned organizations such as WWF, MIT D-Lab, UNDP, and WEF, driving impact on a global scale.
Senior Manager, Executive Operations
Kelsey (she/her) has been a lifelong advocate for environmental stewardship and sustainability, dedicating her career to supporting initiatives that positively impact the planet and human health. With a degree in Environmental Studies focused on Sustainability and Social Justice, Kelsey brings a deep commitment to conservation, preservation, and advocacy.
Professionally, Kelsey has over eight years of experience specializing in executive operations, providing high-level support to C-suite leaders across industries in biotechnology, investment, leadership advisory, venture capital, and post-secondary education.
She excels at managing complex projects, driving organizational efficacy, providing strategic support, and ensuring operational excellence in dynamic environments.
Outside of SOA, Kelsey dedicates her time to volunteering with local animal welfare and advocacy organizations and enjoys exploring marine ecosystems as an advanced scuba diver.
Program Operations Manager
Jon is a community leader and system architect with expertise in operational processes, technology, and sustainability. He's an extreme generalist with experience designing programs, building supporting technological infrastructure, and facilitating said programs while maintaining and designing additional features and tools as needed.
Jon's career path includes impactful roles at a Big Four accounting firm, spearheading a significant US expansion for an international retailer, and developing an IoT solution to minimize waste in office buildings. This journey inspired Jon to launch his own consulting firm focused on operational efficiency and event management, with a mission to enhance the well-being of life on Earth.
Jon is a skilled leadership coach and an adept digital community organizer. He excels in creating and nurturing digital communities, leveraging his deep understanding of technology and operational systems to foster engagement and drive collective action toward sustainable and holistic well-being.
Jon's approach is guided by the interconnectedness of personal wellness, environmental stewardship, and technological innovation, making him a visionary in integrating these elements to make a tangible impact.
Mentorship Program Manager
Samanta (she/her) is an experienced leader in program management and portfolio growth, with a deep commitment to fostering innovation-driven economic development. At SOA, she leads the Mentorship Program, overseeing the expansion and impact of SOA's global network of mentors.
Before joining SOA, Samanta built a decade-long career in management consulting, specializing in Strategy and Operations within the energy, utilities, cleantech, and environmental industries, followed by leadership roles in the non-profit sector.
Her work has been instrumental in developing ecosystem infrastructure that nurtures innovation and supports sustainable economic growth.
Samanta has a lifelong passion for the ocean and marine life and has been recognized for her contributions to advancing the cleantech industry, receiving accolades in the field of economic development.
Investment & Impact Associate
Alicia is an interdisciplinary climate investor committed to unlocking the ocean's potential to tackle environmental challenges. With over eight years in climate tech, impact investing, gender-lens frameworks, and sustainability consulting, she brings a comprehensive perspective to her role.
Prior to SOA, Alicia was part of the Investment Team at Rumbo Ventures—sourcing, conducting due diligence, and providing support for over 23 early-stage climate tech companies across Latin America, Europe, and the U.S. She also developed the fund's Impact Framework and contributed to fundraising and ecosystem-building efforts.Alicia has extensive experience managing strategic projects across various sectors, including renewable energy, banking, and retail among others, providing consulting services to implement sustainable business practices. Alicia also held international development roles, working as Deputy Director for Development Effectiveness with AMEXCID and UNDP. Additionally, she co-founded SustenTalent, a platform that promotes green jobs across Mexico and Latin America, which has grown to over 10,000 members.At SOA, Alicia is dedicated to advancing ocean-centric startups by merging innovative technology with traditional conservation methods to create a sustainable marine future. Her focus is on narrowing the gender gap in climate investments and increasing funding accessibility for emerging market founders.Alicia holds a Master of Development Practice, a Certificate in Engineering & Business for Sustainability from UC Berkeley where she was a Fulbright Scholar, and a B.A. in International Relations from ITESM and Yale University.In her free time, Alicia loves exploring the hiking trails of the Bay Area, practicing yoga to unwind, and experimenting with new recipes.
Regional Representatives
Regional Representative for Europe & Lusofonia
Eugénia (she/her) is the Regional Representative for Lusofonia & Europe at Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Over the last fourteen years, she has played an active role in several environmental projects in national and international organizations.
In addition to SOA, Eugenia is an Ambassador for the Blue School Program, and from 2019-2020 she was the Young Atlantic Ambassador for Portugal in the AANChOR Project. Recently, she became the youth representative of the environmental organizations at the Youth Consultive Council (CCJ), where she gives proposals to the Government of Portugal.
In 2022, she was considered Hero of the Sea by Portugal’s President of the Republic Dr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and in 2023 she joined the Reflection Group, The Future has Already Begun, in which she discussed the national and international goals with the President of the Republic and Portuguese youth until the end of the President's mandate.
In 2021, Eugénia provided scientific consultancy in producing the documentary series Rios Urbanos about 12 Portuguese estuaries, which premiered on November 2023 on RTP2.
Eugénia has a degree in Marine Biology from the University of Algarve and is currently earning a Masters in Applied Marine Biology at the University of Aveiro, where her thesis focuses on the implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Regional Representative for Hispanoamérica
Daniel is SOA's Regional Representative for Hispanoamérica and leads many of SOA's campaign efforts against deep-sea mining in his region and beyond. He is a marine biologist, PADI Dive Instructor, member of the Explorers Club, and Peace Boat Ambassador.
Over the last few years, Daniel has led SOA's deep-sea mining campaign in Latin America and assisted in the past six International Seabed Authority meetings, leading successful strategies to influence countries in Latin America to join the call for a moratorium and amplifying the deep-sea mining discussion in his region.
Daniel has also been a delegate for the Our Ocean Conference in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023 and a member of the official Peruvian delegation for the UN Climate Change Conference COP 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, and 28. He was part of the French delegation for the Montreal Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15 CBD) and an Observer at BBNJ and the International Seabed Authority.
Daniel has won many awards for his work in ocean conservation, including the Earth Champion Award by Population Matters, the National Hreljac Medal by the Peruvian Institute for Sustainability and Development (IPSD), and is considered one of the 100 Most Committed Latinos in Climate Action by Forbes Peru.
Regional Representative for Asia
Mary Jane (MJ) grew up in the mountains of Southern Leyte Philippines. Her keen interest in the ocean lead her to graduate with a Bachelors in Marine Biology from the Visayas State University (2015) and earned leadership training at East-West Center Hawaii through the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) in 2018.
As a marine biologist, MJ worked at LAMAVE, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of marine megafauna and the marine environment in the Philippines. Initially, her focus was on the elasmobranch, mainly the life history and reproductive biology of mobula ray fisheries in the Bohol Sea.
Later, MJ went on to lead a team of multicultural researchers studying sea turtle populations at Apo Island Philippines and building the National Turtle Catalog.
While putting effort into the conservation of marine life, MJ noticed the lack of economic opportunities faced by women in the coastal communities. Hence, she founded Tagpi-Tagpi (a Filipino word for patching things together), a circular economy initiative that grows women-led businesses in coastal communities in the Coral Triangle through personal initiative training.
Since its pilot in February 2020, MJ has trained 3 coastal communities and upcycled more than 4,000 pieces of jeans and clothes through Tagpi-Tagpi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MJ received grants to provide more work opportunities for women, notably from the East-West Center and Sustainable Ocean Alliance.
MJ is passionate about organic gardening, women empowerment, mentoring youth leaders, and mindfulness. Her family already accepted that she has developed gills with her craziness about life under the sea.
Regional Representative for Africa
Based in Cameroon, Forbi coordinates the actions and activities of SOA Hubs in Africa. His passion for the environment began with a love of the natural world and evolved into an elaborate network of beliefs about the importance of environmental protection and of reversing some of the harm that we humans had done to the Earth.
Forbi has led several community projects and is a plastic pollution activist. He is popularly known as the 'plastic man' due to his efforts to raise awareness on the issue of plastic pollution.
He acknowledges that youth can bring remarkable change to their community if they are given the opportunity and can work together. It is his aim to share his passion with others in his community and in the continent of Africa.
Forbi has been featured in Global Citizen and is the recipient of the 2021 Diana Award for his leadership in conservation.
Key Contributors
Founder
Daniela (she/her) is the Founder of Sustainable Ocean Alliance. She is an award-winning social entrepreneur, thought leader, and internationally sought-after speaker on the entrepreneurial mindset, ocean innovation, technology, youth empowerment, and sustainability.
At the age of 19, Daniela founded Sustainable Ocean Alliance as a college-room idea at Georgetown University.
Daniela has been recognized for her work by former U.S. Secretary John Kerry, U.S. President Bill Clinton, and E.U. Commissioner Karmenu Vella. She is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and a member of Friends of Ocean Action—a select group of leaders working to fast-track solutions to ocean challenges.
She was awarded the 2020 Rising Star Visionary Award by the Silicon Valley Forum and named a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur. Other awards and recognitions include Glamour Magazine's College Women of the Year, Zula's Top 5 Ocean Heroes of 2016, the Peter Benchley Ocean Award, and the Bustle Upstart Award. Daniela is a contributor to National Geographic and Sustainable Brands, and has been interviewed by Voice of America, New York City TV, and Ocean Radio.
She has served as a keynote speaker at The Economist World Ocean Summit, the Global Climate Summit, The Global Convening of Mayors, The United Nations, U.S. Capitol Hill Ocean Week, Collision Conference, Sustainable Brands Conference, WE Day, and The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.
Mary Tran
Key Contributor
Mary brings nearly 20 years of dynamic and global experience in corporate finance and operations, primarily at investment management firms and start-ups. Her professional journey is defined by a passionately curious and entrepreneurial approach, thriving in ambiguous and fast-paced environments—a trait that has led her to senior positions across the U.S. and developing markets in Asia.
At the core of her expertise is a proven track record of creative problem-solving and driving tangible results through financial and operational optimization. Her career began in high-stakes environments, specifically investment banking (M&A and leveraged finance) at Jefferies in San Francisco, followed by private equity investment execution (LBO and emerging market growth-capital) with firms like Industrial Growth Partners, Vietnam Investments Group, and VinaCapital Group in San Francisco and Vietnam. More recently, Mary held leadership roles overseeing strategy, operations, product development, and portfolio management for investment firms, specializing in private equity, multi-asset management, and private credit, including at VinaCapital Group and Mission Driven Finance in Vietnam and San Diego.
Mary's strong operational foundation extends far beyond corporate finance, highlighted by her hands-on experience in various start-up environments: from leading the data strategy and operations for a healthcare data intelligence start-up in southern California and establishing the first light manufacturing operation in China for a private equity firm's portfolio company, to launching her own supplemental education start-up in Vietnam.
Mary holds a B.S. in Business Administration and B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. In her spare time, she's an avid gardener with aspirations of becoming a Master Gardener, an amateur artist who loves arts and crafts with her daughter, and an adventurous global traveler and hiker.
Board of Directors
David Brekke
Partner, Goodwin Law
Dave is a Partner at the San Francisco office of Goodwin Law, where his practice focuses on corporate formations, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, and corporate governance.
David is the co-chair of Goodwin's climate technologies practice, and focuses on advising founders and investors at all stages as they bring technologies that improve our world to the market, to scale and to profitability.
Jade Floyd
EVP of Communications & Public Affairs, Global Strategy Group
Jade Floyd works with philanthropies, investment firms and corporate leaders crafting strategic communications campaigns and impact driven storytelling. Her clients have included institutions like the Kauffman Foundation, Subaru, Helmsley Trust, Las Vegas Raiders, Blue Meridian Partners, Cerberus, Enterprise Community Partners, Sustainable Ocean Alliance and more.
Previously, Jade was Vice President of Communications at the Case Foundation and Revolution Venture Capital, a D.C. based venture capital firm with $2.5 billion assets under management. During her nearly ten-year tenure there she led executive positioning, expanded new media opportunities for grantees, portfolio companies and executives; developed strategic partnerships with leading publications and media outlets; and sourced, staffed and curated hundreds of events aimed to promote their work to revolutionizing philanthropy and unleashing entrepreneurship in communities across the globe. She has secured thousands of media stories in outlets like the New York Times, Fortune, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Forbes, Tech Crunch, CNBC and more.She spent five years at CLS Strategies, a strategic international public affairs firm in Washington D.C. where her clients included the Champagne Bureau, Center for Wine Origins, American Dental Association, Genworth Financial Long Term Care and Mortgage Insurance divisions, USA Maritime Coalition and the Project for U.S. Food Aid and Security Coalition.Jade is an adjunct professor at George Washington University where she teaches on Social Impact Communications. She currently, and has previously, served on the board and in advisory roles to Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communication at Shepherd University, the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs National Council, Sitar Arts Center, Spur Local DC, FRESHFARM Markets, the Communications Network, the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association, DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative, Black Girl Ventures, Project Create and more.Jade is a recipient of the Washington Business Journal “40 Under 40” and Huffington Post “IGNITEGood Millennial Impact Challenge Award”. She is a frequent speaker on social impact communications and seasoned moderator taking the stage at the Next Narrative Summit, Shorty Awards, SXSW, Trending Broadway, the Communications Network, the Cause and Influence Summit, Net Impact, the Millennial Impact Conference and more.
Kim Kolt
Founder & President, For Good Ventures
Kim Kolt is the Founder & President of For Good Ventures, a family office investment strategy backing disruptive, exceptional technologies benefiting humanity and the environment.
Prior to For Good Ventures, Kim worked at Goldman Sachs in their Technology, Media and Telecom Investment Banking Groups in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and Deutsche Bank Mergers & Acquisitions Group in NYC. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and received her MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Kim has held designations including USGBC LEED, CCIM, and Series 79 license.
Kim is also a board member of Turntide Technologies, Legends of Learning, and the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. She is an advisor to impact-focused companies, funds and nonprofits. Kim is a partner at Gratitude Railroad, member of Astia Angels, Nexus, X-Prize, Penn Venture Labs Judge, and a Summit Fellow.
Eva Zlotnicka
Operating Partner, Pana LCE
Eva Zlotnicka currently serves as Board Director of Unifi, Inc (a fiber innovator and manufacturer), as an Operating Partner at Pana LCE (a growth equity investment platform), and as a Venture Partner at Bay Bridge Ventures (a climate tech venture capital firm). She is also a co-founder of Women Investing for a Sustainable Economy (WISE). Her prior career is distinguished by founding Inclusive Capital Partners, an investment firm partnered with companies enabling environmental and social solutions, which emerged from her pioneering work as a Founder and Managing Director of the ValueAct Spring Fund and Head of Stewardship at ValueAct Capital. Earlier, Ms. Zlotnicka led Global Sustainability & ESG Equity Research efforts in the US for both Morgan Stanley and UBS Investment Bank. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Environmental Science (MESc) from Yale University, alongside dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics from the Wharton School and in Computer Science and Engineering from University of Pennsylvania.