Dr. Sherry Lippiatt is a Risk and Finance Communications Specialist with Scoot Science, where she translates ocean science expertise for investors interested in growing the blue economy. Prior to joining Scoot Science, Sherry had an 11-year tenure supporting the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program, where she served as California Regional Coordinator and led the program’s flagship citizen science project. Sherry earned her Ph.D. in Ocean Science from the University of California Santa Cruz and a B.S.

HillyAnn is an ecosystems-based approach management practitioner, an environmental advocate, and a university professor. She is doing research and development work on an ecosystems-based approach to restoration and disaster risk reduction, a multi-sectoral approach to environmental governance, integrated landscape seascape management, and landscape investment finance. Dr. Quiaoit is a marine biologist by training and founded the Macajalar Bay Development Alliance of 14 Local Government Units for baywide integrated coastal management.

Mr. James Sloan is a partner in the commercial Fiji law firm Siwatibau and Sloan - sas.com.fj James qualified as a barrister in the UK in 1999 and was admitted to the High Court of Fiji in 2003. James has a busy environmental practice with a particular emphasis on marine conservation, oceans governance, and the law of the sea. This has included the following highlights:

Simon is a Senior Director in Willis Towers Watson’s Climate and Resilience Hub, leading work in the innovative collection, modeling, and use of hazard and risk data in risk management tools and risk financing instruments to bring greater resilience to sovereigns, other public institutions, and the private sector, as well as at the individual and community level.

As Senior Director of Innovative Finance within Rare’s coastal fisheries program, Fish Forever, Kate leads the Innovative Finance initiatives. In this role, Kate is developing pathways to finance community-led conservation at scale by blending philanthropy, public funding, bilateral/multilateral finance, and private capital.

Karen is Executive Director of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), a multi-sector coalition of governments, finance, insurance companies, and civil society organizations. ORRAA pioneers innovative finance products that drive investment into marine and coastal natural capital, reduce ocean risks and build resilience in coastal communities. She has spoken and written extensively on ocean conservation issues.

Chip established and manages AXA’s Ocean Risk Initiative which works to identify innovative insurance and finance solutions to the impacts and implications of ocean-related risk. He is leading the development of a Coastal Risk Index to integrate coastal ecosystems into insurance risk models; working with partners to develop a mangrove insurance product and a separate Coastal Resilience Bond, as well as identifying insurance pathways to prevent Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Wouter Schalken is a Senior Tourism Development Specialist. Wouter has around 28 years of experience in diverse and multi-faceted interventions in tourism market development and operations. Before joining ADB, Wouter worked for a wide variety of multi- and bilateral development agencies across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Petero Manufolau is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK), the organization responsible for the sustainable development and promotion of tourism in Kiribati. Since taking on the role in June 2019, Petero has helped establish a network of circular economy advocates within the Kiribati tourism sector, guided the establishment of community tourism operators, and lead the development of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework.

Based in Bangkok, Jeff has led sustainable tourism with the Six Senses group since 2016. He holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability and has a background in Environmental Engineering with consulting experience in the USA and his native Canada. His experience includes ecosystem risk management, municipal planning advisory, and elephant conservation. Jeff draws on a decade of experience launching community-based tourism programs; facilitating connections between travelers, indigenous peoples, and the natural world.