WASHINGTON – Ocean Conservancy will draw attention to the ocean’s role in addressing climate change through two New York City Climate Week events that will feature government ministers, celebrities and ocean experts. At the same time, the organization’s delegation of climate advocates will participate in myriad meetings and events with countries, companies and civil society to galvanize increased ambition on ocean climate solutions. 

At the “Blue NDC Challenge Accepted” event on September 22, featuring COP30 CEO Ana Toni along with representatives from the governments of France and Brazil (Brazil is hosting COP30 in November), Ocean Conservancy and its partners will underline the urgent need of governments to adopt “blue” solutions to the climate catastrophe—from phasing out offshore oil and gas to ramping up renewable ocean energy to transitioning the global shipping industry to clean energy. Shipping alone is responsible for one billion tons of carbon emissions annually. Already, eight countries have joined the Blue NDC Challenge, and more will be announced during NYC Climate Week.  

On September 24, actor John Slattery of Mad Men fame will join Ocean Conservancy experts, board members and partners in the events and entertainment industry to showcase the organization’s new Protect Where We Play initiative, which aims to leverage the reach of athletes, artists and events to mobilize millions of fans in support of ocean conservation. Slattery will be Protect Where We Play’s newest “Team Ocean Captain” and the first actor to join. Participants will get a first look at the trailer of a new documentary, from GroundTruth Productions and executive produced by Ocean Conservancy, called Kuleana, which examines the plastic pollution crisis’ impact on Hawaiʻi through the lens of sport.  

“The ocean creates and regulates climate on our blue planet, and so is central to New York Climate Week,” said Dr. Fatima Candace Vahsling, vice president of Ocean Conservancy’s climate program and a former White House climate official. “As we head toward COP30 in Brazil, the world must rally behind ocean protection and ocean solutions to address the climate crisis and ensure that we can continue to enjoy life as we know it.” 

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OCEAN CONSERVANCY EXPERT BIOS

Janis Searles Jones is CEO of Ocean Conservancy, a global nonprofit that unites science, people and policy to protect the ocean, today and for generations to come. She is an influential and widely respected environmental lawyer and negotiator, with deep expertise in ocean and coastal law, Alaska and the Arctic. Jones is a frequent speaker on the biggest challenges of our underwater world and coastal communities—from climate change to threatened species to plastic pollution—and the need for durable, evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and a thriving planet. She is based in Ocean Conservancy’s Portland, Oregon, office.

Jenna DiPaolo Colley joined Ocean Conservancy in 2024 as Chief Brand and Communications Officer. In her new role, Jenna brings a passion for the environment, climate solutions and human rights. Previously, she was Chief Communications Officer at Greenpeace USA, focusing on environmental justice, and led communications at the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) for a decade. Jenna has worked extensively with Indigenous communities, including the Baka in Cameroon, the Igorot in the Philippines, and the Guajajara in Brazil. She is a member of the Club of Rome’s Planetary Emergency Partnership, the Forbes Communications Council, and a board member of TINTA. Jenna holds an M.A. in International Affairs – Human Rights from George Washington University, a DEFL from Université de Tours and a B.A. from Bucknell University.

Dr. Fatima Candace Vahlsing is Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President for Climate, where she leads a team of policy experts and scientists working at the intersection of climate change and the ocean. Prior to joining the organization, Dr. Vahlsing served for more than fifteen years in senior government climate positions at the international, federal, and state level, including in four different  White House offices for two Presidents, as a diplomat at a national security agency, in the U.S. Senate, on a Presidential transition team, and in the State of California. She is an expert at developing strategies, legislation and policy to advance ambitious and achievable climate solutions through science and innovation, economics, and health. Dr. Vahlsing holds a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences, a Masters in Global Environmental Health, and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley. She is based in Washington, D.C. 

Nicholas Mallos is Vice President of Conservation, Ocean Plastics at Ocean Conservancy, where he oversees the organization’s global portfolio of work on ocean plastic pollution including the International Coastal Cleanup®, U.S. and international plastics policy, and scientific research. Since joining Ocean Conservancy in 2010, he’s conducted research around the world on all aspects of (ocean) plastic pollution from the North Pacific Gyre to the remote coastlines of Alaska, the Philippines and Saint Helena. Nick has testified before the U.S. Senate on the sources and impacts of ocean plastics, and routinely participates in international policy discussions at UNEP, APEC and other global forums. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Marine Debris Foundation and The Recycling Partnership, and holds degrees from Dickinson College and Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. He is based in Portland, Oregon.

‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak is Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of Arctic & Northern Waters, for Arctic Conservation. Prior to this position, ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak was Senior Director of the Alaska Native Policy Center with First Alaskans Institute, where she sought to promote the self-determination of Alaska Native peoples. ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak also formerly served as Director of Native Relations and fish/game staffer for Governor Bill Walker and Lt. Governor Byron Mallott. She worked in the Alaska Legislature with Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon and Senator Albert Kookesh and served as Government Affairs Liaison for The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and as a Technical Assistant Specialist for Intertribal Agriculture Council and Program Assistant in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Office of Tribal Relations. ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak received her master’s degree from University of Alaska Fairbanks, focusing her thesis on fisheries development in rural Alaska. ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak is from Prince of Wales Island and currently lives in Dzántik’i Héeni (Juneau) on Lingít Aaní. She is of Haida, Tlingit and Ahtna Athabascan descent and belongs to the Káat nay-st/Yahkw Jáanaas (Shark House/Middle Town People) Clan. 

Anna-Marie Laura is the Senior Director of Climate Policy at Ocean Conservancy. In this role, she manages the organization’s domestic and international ocean climate priorities, from advancing responsible offshore wind to ensuring the ocean is included in Nationally Determined Contributions. Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, Anna-Marine was the Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Rare, an international conservation and development non-profit, and served as an Ocean and Coastal Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, working closely with many stakeholders to advance U.S. domestic ocean policy priorities. She was a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow in 2010, has a Coastal Environmental Management degree from Duke University, and received a BSc in Marine Science from University of South Carolina. Anna-Marie is based in Washington, D.C.

Shamini Selvaratnam is Ocean Conservancy’s Director of International Climate and Clean Energy. She is an expert at building organizational capital in multi-stakeholder environments. Her work at Ocean Conservancy focuses on advancing ocean-based clean energy and climate solutions by connecting with high-level officials, stakeholders and private sector partners to collaborate on solutions to accelerate the clean energy and low-carbon transition. She is an experienced strategist with a global outlook and expertise in energy and climate policy, multilateral engagement, strategic partnerships and international development. Prior to her time at Ocean Conservancy, Shamini worked at the World Bank, and UNDP. Shamini holds a Masters of Science in climate change and development from SOAS, University of London and a Bachelor’s degree in sociology and communications from York University. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Amanda Carter is Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Climate Science. Prior to her time at Ocean Conservancy, Amanda was the Deputy Director for Ocean Policy at the White House Council on Environmental Quality during the Biden-Harris Administration, co-leading the National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy as well as implementation of the Ocean Climate Action Plan and the interagency Ocean Policy Committee. She previously worked at the National Science Foundation as a government and legislative affairs specialist and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as both a Sea Grant Knauss Fellow and congressional affairs specialist. Amanda holds a Ph.D. in marine biology and M.S. in oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and an M.S. and B.S. in biology from UC San Diego. She was awarded the EPA Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship to support her research on coral reef ecology and has published peer-reviewed research on coral reef ecosystem response to climate change and invasive species. Amanda has returned to San Diego, California, after spending close to a decade in Washington, D.C. 

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  
Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.