Kelsey-Anne LeBlanc serves as Individual Philanthropy Officer, Northeast and Midwest where she works directly with donors, helping them achieve their philanthropic goals while understanding the motivations behind their giving and bonding over a shared love for our ocean and its conservation.

With a background in human rights and social justice, Kelsey-Anne brings a wealth of experience and a compassionate, holistic approach to her role at Ocean Conservancy. Kelsey-Anne’s history with handling sensitive matters, addressing diverse and complex topics, and directly engaging with individuals from various backgrounds has allowed her to develop a profound understanding of the bigger picture. Her work in the social justice sector has nurtured her ability to approach her current role with a high degree of sensitivity, promoting innovative, inclusive solutions and considering the diverse perspectives of donors who support Ocean Conservancy for a variety of reasons.

Kelsey-Anne graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where she studied International Affairs, Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies. Her connection to the sea traces back to her upbringing just north of Boston, where she spent summers in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Wells, Maine, fostering a profound love for the ocean. Her very first field trip in second grade took her to Nahant Beach to explore tidepools, sparking a lifelong fascination with the marine world. Having grown up along the coast, Kelsey-Anne has countless memories by the sea and her work at Ocean Conservancy is motivated by a desire to ensure that our ocean and beaches remain as healthy as possible so future generations can create lifelong memories by the sea, too.

Outside of Ocean Conservancy, Kelsey-Anne enjoys exploring the vibrant DMV area, spending time with her nieces and nephews, rooting on her favorite sports team as a diehard Boston sports fan and, of course, soaking up as much time at the beach as possible.

Favorite ocean animal: Lobsters! Did you know there is a 15+ year waitlist to become a lobster man/woman in the state of Maine? Learn more about these amazing creatures here!