As Ocean Conservancy’s Chief Operating Officer, Chiko Scozzafava leads our efforts to develop and implement an integrated operational strategy.

Chiko has a strong background in public service, technology and nonprofit management, and most recently served as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief Internal Audit Officer at PPFA. She has significant expertise in risk management, operations, IT, finance, strategic planning and talent development. Chiko has led organizational transformations, improved operational efficiency, and expanded impact across varied initiatives. Prior to PPFA she served as the Head of Protective Services at Twitter and as a U.S. Secret Service Agent.

Chiko is passionate about sustainability and human-centered design, and she is particularly focused on creating lasting, positive change through innovation that benefits both people and the planet.  She is a continuous learner, having recently completed the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) certification. She has also completed the Terra.do Learning for Action Climate Fellowship, the Climatebase Fellowship and the OnePointFive Climate Sustainability Academy. Outside of her professional life, whether through surfing or simply spending time by the water, she finds clarity, peace and inspiration in the natural world. The ocean, for Chiko, is not just a passion; it’s a calling. It’s a reminder of the vital need to protect and preserve the environments that sustain us and a reflection of her belief that, in life as in work, we must always be mindful of the currents that connect us all.

Chiko moved to Hawaii as a young adult where she earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and later pursued both an MBA and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Chiko’s favorite sea animal is the Hawaiian green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas or honu), which represents resilience, wisdom, guidance and safety—values that resonate with her both personally and professionally.