Megan Moews-Asher
Founder & Initiative Principal
Marine Ecosystems Strategist & Artist
Visualizing Coastal Climates, Global Futures
Megan Moews-Asher is a visionary strategist merging science, culture, and artistic expression through combined knowledge and expertise in marine ecosystems, fine art, and scientific illustration. For 19 years, Moews-Asher led, managed, and/or participated in high-profile, multi-dimensional international marine science and resource management project portfolios for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR). She coordinated innovative Census of Marine Life (CoML), Census of Coral Reef Ecosystem efforts between the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Smithsonian Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, NOAA, and renowned global taxonomists––leading to the discovery of over 100 new species and records of invertebrates, algae, and microbes in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the development of the Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) which are now deployed worldwide. During the CoML initiative she co-developed highly successful living reef outreach for Hawaii and the Philippines. Moews-Asher further worked closely with diverse international stakeholders of the Coral Triangle Initiative towards balancing human and ecological well-being through good governance for sustainable development in marine ecosystems. Together with leading international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem, and Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, she created and published Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management curricula, trainings, and toolkits for resource managers, stakeholders, and leaders (see eafmlearn.org) in a partnership led by USAID and NOAA; with well over 2,000 people trained, these resources/concepts continue to be utilized in Southeast Asian, Coral Triangle, Latin American and Caribbean countries. As an artist (masherart.com), Moews-Asher designed and created scientific illustrations for NOAA and the National Geographic Society's Pristine Seas program, as well as other fine art and graphic design pieces depicting ocean, nature, global threats/impacts, and other themes. She has received numerous awards/recognitions, both in fine art (e.g., Plein Air Magazine) and from NOAA/JIMAR spanning multiple years/initiatives, for collaboratively leading and delivering impactful marine ecosystem portfolios with substantial, long-term outcomes for diverse global audiences.
Rili Djohani
Executive Director & Co-founder
Coral Triangle Center
Rili Djohani has more than 30 years of experience in advancing marine protected and conserved areas and sustainable fisheries across the Asia-Pacific region. She co-founded the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) in 2010 as an independent foundation dedicated to the Coral Triangle region and currently serves as its Executive Director. Spanning the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste, the region is widely recognized as an epicenter for marine bio-diversity. Under her leadership, CTC has developed an integrated portfolio of marine conservation initiatives encompassing marine protected and conserved area management, capacity building, and regional learning networks throughout the Coral Triangle. Rili established CTC’s Center for Marine Conservation in Bali as a regional learning hub that combines training and meeting facilities with interactive ocean exhibitions blending art and science, culture and technology designed to educate, engage, and inspire the public. She also played a pivotal role in the establishment of the multinational Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF), and co-chaired the CTI-CFF Women Leaders Forum. In addition, she serves as a member of the Mission Blue Hope Spots Council. Prior to founding CTC, she held senior leadership positions at The Nature Conservancy and began her career with WWF. Rili holds a master's degree in Tropical Marine Ecology from Leiden University in the Netherlands and a master's degree in Tropical Coastal Zone Management from Newcastle University upon Tyne in the United Kingdom. Her research has focused on coral reef ecosystems, governance resilience in marine protected and conserved areas, and the traditional marine tenure systems of the Bajau people in Indonesia. In recognition of her leadership and significant contributions to coral reef conservation and sustainable marine management in the Coral Triangle region, Rili has received international awards including the International Coral Reef Society's World Reef Award in 2022.
Peter E.T. Edwards, PhD.
Economist
Conservation Science Division
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Dr. Peter E.T. Edwards has over twenty (25) years of academic training and professional experience in tropical ecology, environmental monitoring, coastal zone management and environmental consultancy. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of the West Indies (Jamaica) in Zoology and Marine Sciences (respectively). He completed his PhD at the University of Delaware, in Marine Studies with a concentration in Marine Policy. His research was focused on the non-market economic valuation of coastal ecosystems using stated preference techniques. Dr. Edwards is currently an Economist working Pew Charitable Trusts' Conservation Science Division. He is working with a team that provides science needs for a variety of environmental projects the Pew is supporting. These research efforts include a broad range of marine and terrestrial environmental science and policy interests and issues. Peter was formerly a consultant/federal contractor with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He was most recently based in the National Ocean Service, and served as the Social Science Coordinator and Natural Resource Economist for the Coral Reef Conservation Program. Prior that period, worked for NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service.as the Natural Resource Economist for the Office of Habitat Conservation. His duties included estimating the local, regional, and national economic impacts and value of the habitat protection and restoration activities of the Habitat Office. He was responsible for leading the effort to monitor the economic impacts of federal expenditures on fifty (50) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) habitat restoration projects which led to a number of peer reviewed publications. Dr. Edwards has also led a number of ecosystem valuation studies in Jamaica for various Organizations.
Molly Timmers, Ph.D.
Director of Marine Science Innovation & Integration
National Geographic Society’s Pristine Seas
Dr. Molly Timmers is the Director of Marine Science Innovation and Integration for National Geographic Society’s flagship conservation program, Pristine Seas, where she leads program advancements in oceanomics and guides the dissemination and digestibility of Pristine Seas’ research into educational programs and communities. For over two decades, Dr. Timmers has surveyed marine environments spending more than 5000 hours underwater and over 2000 days at sea on research vessels using both traditional survey and cutting-edge molecular techniques to better understand the biodiversity and distribution of marine organisms. She has worked with communities, governments, and educators from the tropics to the Arctic in over 20 countries. Dr. Timmers holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Zoology, an M.S. in Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, and a B.A. in Biology from Hamilton College.
Russell “Rusty” E. Brainard, PhD.
Interdisciplinary Ocean & Climate Scientist (NOAA-retired)
Dr. Rusty Brainard has 44 yrs of experience as a marine scientist/oceanographer leading applied research in marine ecosystems, biodiversity, oceanography, fisheries, and climate change to inform ecosystem-based management and conservation. Dr. Brainard served NOAA in various leadership capacities for 38+ yrs, including 21 yrs as a NOAA Corps Officer and 17 yrs as founding Chief of the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, where he led interdisciplinary scientists in conducting habitat mapping, assessment, monitoring, and applied research to support management/conservation of coral reef ecosystems across the Pacific Islands. He served as the Chief of NOAA’s Climate Monitoring Observatory at South Pole, Antarctica and Commanding Officer aboard NOAA research vessels conducting fisheries/protected species research across the Pacific. He served as technical lead for an ecosystem approach to fisheries management for the 6-country Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security; technical advisor for the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project; co-PI for CoML Census of Coral Reef Ecosystems; advisor for Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network, Global Ocean Observing System, UN Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; advisor to White House Council on Environmental Quality, and US House & Senate Committees; member of Ocean Visions Marine Circular Bioeconomy Task Force; and World Bank advisor for the Maldives Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Technology exploring solutions for climate resilience and adaptation. He further served as Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer for Red Sea Global, towards ensuring environmental sustainability in regenerative development projects along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabiaand as VP of Ocean, Climate and Fisheries Sciences for @Orchard LLC supporting NOAA. Dr. Brainard founded R Ocean LLC to contribute to meaningful positive impacts for people and planet. He holds a BS in Marine Science from Texas A&M and MS/PhD in Oceanography/ Phys. Ocean. from the US Naval Postgraduate School. Rusty has co-authored >160 scientific publications (>8000 citations). His career has been dedicated to advancing science-driven solutions that protect biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and support sustainable ocean stewardship worldwide.
Janna (Shackeroff) Theisen, PhD.
Professor & Collegiate Faculty of Environmental Management
University of Maryland’s Global Campus
Dr. Janna Theisen is a Professor & Collegiate Faculty of Environmental Management with the University of Maryland’s Global Campus where she focuses on building a new generation of environmental managers. Dr. Theisen engaged in and advised graduate students on flood risk communication and preparedness. For over 2 decades, Dr. Theisen served as an environmental manager working to improve the health and well-being of watersheds, oceans, coasts, and fisheries - and the people who depend upon them. An interdisciplinary scientist and manager, she focuses on strengthening environmental and ocean governance by better connecting local people's voices, ecological knowledge, and perspectives into policy and practice and in managing oceans and coasts as holistic systems from local to regional levels. Her work in capacity development surrounding regional ocean governance initiatives and in the policy and practice of coral reef management, ecosystem approaches to fisheries management, and climate change adaptation cascaded across the U.S. and nearly 50 countries and multilateral regions globally. Dr. Theisen was instrumental in leading efforts in the U.S. Coral Triangle Initiative Support Program (US-CTI) and capacity development on local to regional ocean governance. Dr. Theisen holds a Ph.D. from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and a B.A. In Earth and Environmental Sciences from Wesleyan University.
Ted Moews
Fine Artist, Historian & Architectural Designer
Ted Moews Art & Design
Ted Moews is a renowned fine artist, an expert in a vast array of mediums (e.g., watercolor, acrylic, pen & ink,sculpting, wrought iron design, pottery, a range of tribal art forms, jewelry, stained glass, and wood carving), and a designer/architect of log and timber frame homes, who incorporates diverse cultures, history, and natural ecosystems into much of his work. Practicing for over 62 years (though built his first cabin at age 12 and sold art at age 6), he taught a broad spectrum of art mediums at Riverside Polytechnic, Riverside City College, and University of California San Bernardino, and was awarded the honor of “Art Instructor of the Year for Southern California,” along with numerous other art and exhibition awards. Of note, Mr. Moews worked with Tlingit tribal elders in Yakutat, Alaska to teach and re-establish traditional art within the Tlingit tribe via a National Endowment Grant and created art pieces/designed and built log cabins for Icons--Ralph Lauren, Neil Young, Darryl Hannah, and (currently) Terry Kiser. In addition to his artwork, he further incorporated history and culture into museum, cabin, and ghost town restorations. He has been featured in over 50 magazines for articles he wrote, artwork, and architectural design. Mr. Moews holds a BFA from the University of Denver and MA from the University of California Los Angeles.
