Oceana Announces Diana Thomson as New Board Chair

Oceana, the world’s largest ocean conservation organization, announced new leadership for its international Board of Directors. Diana Thomson was elected Chair, succeeding Sam Waterston. Sara Lowell was elected Treasurer, a position previously held by Thomson. Board Members María Eugenia Girón and James (Jim) Sandler were re-elected as Vice Chair and Secretary, respectively. Longtime Board Member Keith Addis remains President of the Board.

“Diana, María, Sara, and Jim are an excellent representation of our international scope, hailing from Canada, Spain, and the United States, respectively. Their leadership and guidance will be key in helping us continue to win science-based policies that protect and restore the world’s oceans,” Oceana CEO James Simon said. “Thank you, Sam, for your dedication over the last four years as Oceana’s Board Chair. We are grateful for your steadfast leadership, which was instrumental in achieving dozens of victories.”

Diana Thomson is Chair of The Nikita Foundation, a Toronto-based charity she co-founded in 2012 with her husband Peter Thomson that fights food insecurity and environmental degradation. Throughout the last 10 years, Thomson and the Nikita Foundation have supported Oceana in Canada to strengthen the country’s fisheries policy, create marine protected areas, and reduce the nation’s production of single-use plastics.

“I am honored to be elected as Chair of Oceana as we tackle the ever-increasing threats to the world’s oceans,” said Thomson. “I strongly support Oceana’s targeted approach to ocean campaigns that make real change for communities around the world, including protecting habitat, marine life, and the human lives that depend on them.”

Sara Lowell joined Oceana’s Board of Directors in 2018 and has since supported the organization’s campaigns to protect ocean habitat and strengthen fisheries policies. Lowell is the Marisla Foundation’s Marine Conservation Program Director and Board Member. At the Foundation, she oversees efforts to create marine protected areas, protect coastal lands, and reduce ocean pollution throughout the Pacific Ocean.

Other Oceana Board Members include Gaz Alazraki, Herbert M. Bedolfe, III, Ted Danson, Nicholas Davis, Patrice Etlin, Maya Gabeira, César Gaviria, Loic Gouzer, Dr. Christina Chemtai Hicks, Jena King, Ben Koerner, Dr. Kristian Parker, Dr. Daniel Pauly, David Rockefeller, Jr., Susan Rockefeller, Lex Sant, Simon Sidamon-Eristoff, Dr. Rashid Sumaila, Elizabeth Wahler, Sam Waterston, Jean Weiss, and Antha Williams.

These announcements follow recent leadership changes that reflect Oceana’s commitment to global representation at all levels of the organization. Changes include expanding the roles of two key country leaders (Senior Vice Presidents Liesbeth van der Meer of Chile and Daniel Olivares of Peru) and transitioning them to the organization’s international headquarters in Washington, DC. In addition, Oceana’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Kathryn Matthews, was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Scientist and will now oversee Oceana’s operations in the Philippines and the organization’s planned expansion to three new countries in Africa and Southeast Asia.

“In just the last year, Oceana and our allies have delivered important policy victories around the world that help to protect local fishing communities, ocean biodiversity, and our climate,” said Simon. “Global victories like these happen because of our incredibly talented international leadership who are best positioned to take us into the future.”

Learn more about Oceana’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee at Oceana.org.

About Oceana:

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 300 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.