July 24, 2025
The Power Beneath the Waves: Meet Oceana’s Staff
BY: Jessica McLean
This month, we’re celebrating Oceana’s birthday— more than 20 years of fighting for our oceans and winning.
With over 325 victories, we’ve helped protect threatened marine life, pushed back against dangerous offshore drilling, taken on plastic pollution, and so much more. None of this would be possible without the passionate and committed team behind the scenes.
From IT and office administrators to our communications experts and policy advocates, every single person at Oceana plays a role in making these victories happen. So, who are the people powering this movement? Dive in and meet some of the extraordinary team members working to save the oceans — one victory at a time.
MEET OCEANA’S STAFF
SUSAN MURRAY – DEPUTY VICE PRESIDENT, U.S. PACIFIC
How long have you worked with Oceana? 22 years
What makes you proud to be part of Oceana’s mission? We achieve tangible in-the-water results that protect the oceans AND the people who depend upon them.
What is your favorite thing about the oceans? The ocean gives people enduring memories. When you ask someone about the ocean, you will likely get an answer about a childhood trip to the beach, or fishing, surfing, sailing, etc. It is an immense, powerful force that feeds the body and soul.
What led you to environmental conservation? I wanted to make a difference in the world and do something that would matter, that would help protect this fragile planet.
What words of wisdom would you share with fellow activists and ocean lovers? Speak up! The oceans need you now more than ever. Call local, regional, and federal decision makers and let them know that you care about healthy oceans.
NATIVIDAD SANCHEZ – COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, EUROPE
How long have you worked with Oceana? 17 years
What achievement are you most proud of since being with Oceana? The expansion of Spain’s National Park of Cabrera in 2019. It was the outcome of relentless efforts by Oceana over a decade of advocacy with policymakers at local and national level, plus fishers and citizens. We secured the second-largest national park in the entire Mediterranean and the most biodiverse one.
What led you to environmental conservation? Love and frustration. I was always astonished by the incredible variety of life forms, how they interact and are able to create beautiful, perfect ecosystems where everything works, and saddened by the quick pace of environmental destruction and the fact that so many people don’t care about what is being lost.
KIM ELMSLIE – SENIOR CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR, CANADA
How long have you worked with Oceana? 10 years
What achievement are you most proud of since being with Oceana? On June 21, 2019, Canada made history by becoming the first G20 nation to ban the import and export of shark fins. Though shark finning itself had been illegal in Canadian waters since 1994, the trade in detached fins had continued and Canada had grown to be the largest importer of shark fins outside of Asia, bringing in over 148,000 kilograms (326,000+ pounds) in 2018 alone.
This legislative achievement closed a critical loophole and stopped Canada’s involvement in a destructive global trade. Shark finning typically involves removing fins (often while the animal is still alive) and discarding the shark’s body at sea, where it slowly bleeds or suffocates. The practice is cruel, wasteful, and a systemic threat to shark populations worldwide. Each year, tens of millions of sharks are killed for fins alone, many of them endangered or slow to reproduce species.
Oceana Canada’s campaign was multifaceted. We launched in April 2017 with the introduction of a private member’s bill. In early 2018, Oceana Canada provided testimony to the Senate Fisheries Committee, urging expansion of the bill to include exports. We supported our case with robust scientific data, grassroots campaign, and engagement of powerful allies. In October 2018, we launched a petition that collected over 312,000 signatures, followed by thousands of emails and calls to Members of Parliament in early 2019 to maintain momentum. This is one of Oceana’s many successes that make me proud.
What is your favorite thing about the oceans? My favorite thing about the ocean is the incredible diversity of life – from the tiniest plankton to the massive whales. It’s a world teeming with beauty, intelligence, and interconnection.
What led you to environmental conservation? Previously, in my career I worked in wildlife conservation and farm animal welfare. However, I was driven to ocean conservation by seeing what we’re losing. Magnificent species are disappearing, coral reefs dying, plastic pollution piling up. I want my life to be about making a meaningful impact and creating lasting solutions.
What words of wisdom would you share with fellow activists and ocean lovers? Fall in love with the ocean, and the life in it. Learn about what is happening under the waves. And fight for it, too. Passion is powerful! And when paired with action, it becomes unstoppable.
BECCA ANTONOPLOS – DATA SYSTEMS MANAGER, UNITED STATES
How long have you been with Oceana? About 10 years.
What makes you proud to be part of Oceana’s mission? The political climate was very different when I started in 2014. I’m proud to have witnessed how Oceana has weathered the journey between now and then and to witness some of the amazing successes we’ve had in that time.
What is your favorite thing about the oceans? The oceans fascinate me and scare me at the same time (in a good way). It still boggles my mind that we only know so much about something that covers about 70% of the earth.
What led you to environmental conservation? I took an Environment Science 101 course during my freshman year at Boston University while I was a BioChem major. We watched a documentary called Oil on Ice that was about drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. That single movie changed the course of my life – it led me to get my degree in Ecology & Conservation Biology and to move to Alaska, where I’ve now lived for 13 years.
What words of wisdom would you share with fellow activists and ocean lovers? Weather the storms – in work, advocacy, and personal life. I like to remind people that the oceans have been here for billions of years, and they will likely still be here for billions of years to come, but all we can control is the right now and the work we do to make things better for future generations.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH OCEANA
Oceana’s campaigns are not only successful because of the people who work on them, but also because of our supporters. Learn more about our campaigns to protect and restore the world’s oceans or sign up to become a Wavemaker and be the first to hear about actions you can take, ocean news, and events in your area.
