Our Team

Marine Program Director

For over sixteen years, Emily Owen has worked internationally with communities, governments, researchers, and civil society to find collaborative and innovative conservation solutions that support both people and the planet. Prior to joining WildAid in 2022, Emily managed The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Protecting Coastal Wetlands and Coral Reefs project, which helps countries protect coastal ecosystems to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Emily started her career in Chile, where she worked for 10 years on community-based conservation efforts, first in Southern Chile with World Wildlife Fund and then on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) with Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a focus in Conservation Biology from Middlebury College and is a Wild Gift Fellow. Emily enjoys hiking, biking, reading, and scuba diving and lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two sons.

Chief Program Officer

John leads and manages WildAid’s global programs including program strategy, institutional fundraising, and international program management. Since 2013, John has helped expand WildAid demand reduction campaigns in Asia and managed organizational growth with a doubling in staff, funding and budget. He brings valuable expertise from 15 years of leading and managing conservation programs in Southeast Asia and 12 years at Point Blue Conservation Science. John’s entrepreneurial spirit and hands-on attitude have helped launch innovative rural development projects in Thailand with pre-eminent social entrepreneur Mechai Viravaidya, manage a conservation program for the largest protected area in Laos, and establish an award-winning family planning program for the Vietnam Women’s Union. He also researched and edited a guidebook to Thai national parks and a coffee table book on Thai flora and fauna. During one watershed moment in recent Thai political history, John seized the opportunity to write speeches for Thailand’s former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun. He speaks Thai, Lao and proficient Vietnamese.

Chief Operating Officer

In her previous role as WildAid Marine’s Program Director, Meaghan Brosnan worked to make the promise of marine protection real. She has worked for over 15 years to reduce illegal fishing activity around the world, and is an expert in domestic and international fisheries management, compliance, and enforcement. She spent four years at-sea enforcing fisheries law and served as the deputy chief of the Coast Guard’s Living Marine Resources Enforcement program. Meaghan was also the lead manager of the Pew Charitable Trusts’ End Illegal Fishing Campaign. Additionally, she founded Exulans, Inc., a global consultancy providing compliance and enforcement solutions for ocean conservation to governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. In these roles, Meaghan has worked in collaboration with senior government leaders and diverse public and private sector organizations in East Africa, Southeast Asia, the Western and Central Pacific, Central America, and the United States. Meaghan continues to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, leading an incident response team in the San Francisco Bay area.

Ecuador Director

Manuel has worked in biological conservation and coastal resources management for the last 25 years. As WildAid Marine’s Latin America Regional Director, he oversees the implementation of WildAid Marine’s program work throughout Latin America, including existing programs in the Galapagos Marine Reserve and network of coastal Ecuador MPAs, as well as launching new projects in Chile and Cuba. Prior to WildAid Marine, Manuel worked in various Ecuadorian governmental agencies: as the facilitator for the Participatory Management Council for the Galapagos Marine Reserve, General Director of Fisheries, General Director of Aquaculture, and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environment, and he has spent the past 18 years focused on enforcement of MPAs and mangrove concessions. He holds a Master’s degree in Management of Bioaquatic Resources and the Environment, and is certified in sustainable development and coastal management.

Senior Program Advisor

Marcel is an independent consultant advising WildAid Marine on its program expansion efforts, conducting due-diligence, assessment and implementation activities for the program. Previously Marcel was the WildAid Marine Program Director. Having worked in varying capacities both domestically and internationally for the past 15 years, he is seasoned in the design and management of complex humanitarian, development and marine conservation programs. Marcel joined WildAid in 2004 when he directed WildAid’s awareness campaigns in Ecuador, carried out investigative research on the shark fin trade and collaborated on small business initiatives with Galapagueños. He later served as the Deputy Executive Director where he provided financial and administrative oversight of SF Headquarters as WildAid grew from a $2m to $5m annual organization. Prior to joining WildAid, he worked in Nicaragua for five years in reconstruction projects following Hurricane Mitch. He has a BA in International Studies and a MPA in International Management and Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

Senior Enforcement Advisor

Gregg currently serves as Exulans Managing Director to promote sustainability and conservation of fishery resources by providing pragmatic advice and strategic solutions to organizations concerned with ocean sustainability. Marine conservation strategy development and execution is their core skill, with an expertise in the field of fisheries compliance and enforcement. He previously served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 20 years, specializing in fisheries enforcement.

Galápagos Project Manager

Diana has worked as WildAid Marine’s Galapagos Program Manager since 2013, managing projects and partner relationships in the Galapagos National Park. Trained as a biologist, her relationships with the park and extensive knowledge of marine species has helped WildAid Marine successfully implement and fundraise for enforcement work, such as the installation of the new AIS monitoring system, systematic training, community outreach initiatives, fisheries monitoring, and biosecurity program launch.

Coastal Ecuador Project Manager

Roddy has worked as WildAid Marine’s Coastal Ecuador Project Manager since January 2019 and is an expert in the management of coastal and marine protected areas. Trained as a civil engineer and with a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of Pinar del Rio in Cuba, he has over 20 years of experience in MPA management and enforcement. He has previously worked with various international NGOs and was the Environmental Authority for the Province of Manabí in Ecuador, managing protected areas and enforcing environmental laws, as well as most recently worked with Ecuador’s Ministry of the Environment in the creation of Ecuador’s network of 19 coastal MPAs and their management.

Marine Project Manager, Technical Advisor, and Purchasing Agent

As the WildAid Marine Project Manager, Technical Advisor, and Purchasing Agent, Karima Cherif provides the tools and equipment to partners and handles shipping logistics for all surveillance and enforcement gear and vessels. Karima’s background in aerospace, underwater photography and yacht restoration has provided a unique skill set that has become indispensable in her role at WildAid. Karima has worked for WildAid since 2018, focusing initially on Gabon, Coastal Ecuador, and the Galapagos. Now, Karima provides technical support to all of WildAid Marine’s 16 countries by purchasing equipment and developing capacity for surveillance and enforcement using technology such as UAVs, drones, and satellites through the MPAbots Project. Karima has been instrumental in securing contracts and grants and engaging with government agencies. She has been working on the development team of WildAid’s O-FISH (Officer of Fisheries Information Sharing Hub) app since 2019, assisting marine enforcement officers with digitizing vessel boarding operations. She has been an avid open-water swimmer with over 350 miles in San Francisco Bay for the last three years. Karima has enjoyed sailing for 25 years, notable Pacific crossing from Hawaii to Port Angeles and many local races.