Louise Heaps

Louise Heaps is WWF’s global lead on sustainable blue economy, with a focus on influencing mainstream finance and policy enablers, as well as addressing the barriers to delivering an inclusive sustainable blue economy at coastal community levels. Louise has worked in ocean conservation and natural resource management for over 25 years, leading ocean policy and field-based programmes in the global north and south, with 5 years in the Pacific Islands region as the Conservation Director of WWF South Pacific. She subsequently led WWF-UK’s domestic and international ocean programme before becoming their Marine Chief Adviser. After completing an MBA at Exeter University in 2016, Louise led the process to develop the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles in partnership with the European Commission, European Investment Bank and the Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit. She is now a member of the UNEP FI steering group for the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative and the Steering Council of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance.