My journey as an ocean guardian started from a place of deep connection to water. As a toddler, I played in and explored tide pools, streams and rivers connected to the sea, and swam over vibrant and bustling coral reefs, full of life. The ocean connects us all to mother nature and to each other, whether we realize it or not. It’s my own connection to the ocean (I was raised in/on/around five oceans on five continents), and all I’ve learned from experiencing and studying it, that largely defines who I am and why I am on a mission to improve Ocean Health and Human Health.

 

Growing up in Indonesia and the Middle East, I also experienced the devastating inequality of climate catastrophes like flooding, drought, and extreme weather events. As a student in international schools, I met people from many backgrounds, races, religions, sexual identities, socio-economic classes, and educational histories forming a compassionate global worldview . As I grew up, immersing myself in various contrasting cultures -from the slums of Nairobi to the financial elite of Asia- I realized we all shared one thing in common: mother nature.