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Staff
Tobias Aguirre
Matthew Owens
Mariah Boyle
William Wall
Victoria Galitzine
Elsie Tanadjaja
Meghan Frolli
Brooke Towne
Tobias Aguirre, MPIA, Executive Director
As Executive Director, Tobias sets the conservation vision and organizational strategy for FishWise. His work with retail industry executives, trade associations, and NGO leaders, seeks to build a collaborative approach to conservation that results in effective business and improved environmental performance. To that end, Tobias serves on both the Food Marketing Institute's Sustainable Seafood Working Group Advisory Council and the Steering Committee of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions. He also works to connect California fishermen and ports to investment capital as a Steering Committee member of the California Fisheries Fund. He is a frequent speaker at leading industry events, such as FMI's Sustainability Summit and the International Boston Seafood Show. Tobias holds degrees from Stanford University and UCSD, where he specialized in nonprofit management and business strategy and was named a Schoepflin Fellow for his work on sustainable fisheries.
Matthew Owens, MPIA, Managing Director
Matt directs project management, business development, and internal operations at FishWise. He and his team of Project Managers understand and respond to the needs of existing FishWise member retailers and distributors while developing innovative, customized programs for new business partners. As Managing Director, Matt continues to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of client services, internal procedures, and staff resources. Prior to joining FishWise, Matt worked on marine resource and water quality issues with the consulting firm ICF Jones and Stokes as an Environmental Planner. Additional experience includes managing Tropo Farms, a large-scale tilapia aquaculture facility in Ghana, and assisting with the business development of the El Barril Fishermen's Cooperative in Mexico. This direct involvement with production along with daily supplier interactions through his work at FishWise provides him a strong grasp of the seafood supply chain.Also, Matt holds a master's degree from UCSD in Environmental Economics and Policy with a Marine Resource Emphasis, and graduated with honors. The combination of a solid academic background and hands-on industry experience makes Matt a powerful resource in helping seafood companies create positive change on the water while continuing to perform financially.
Mariah Boyle, M.Sc., Project Director
As Project Director, Mariah manages multiple FishWise partnerships and helps oversee program implementation with new partners. Mariah has developed expertise in seafood traceability procedures and stays current on fishery science by attending government and scientific conferences and reading the latest scientific literature. She works closely with the Project Managers to ensure partner needs are met. Mariah graduated from Florida Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology, completing a research project on the nematode parasite infection rate in batfishes. In 2010 she completed her masters research at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, where she studied the diet of a deep water skate and the trophic relationships of groundfishes caught in bottom trawls along the west coast. Mariah is also an Assistant Specialist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working with Dr. Marc Mangel in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Her knowledge and passion for the ocean have allowed Mariah to work in government, academic, and educational positions. These positions included time at sea monitoring fish stocks off Alaska, California, Washington, and Oregon, and researching artisanal fishing practices to inform community-based marine protected areas in Sierra Leone, Africa. Mariah’s varied research and work experiences have allowed her to develop a well-rounded understanding of fisheries and ocean health.
William Wall, B.Tech. Aquaculture, Business Project Manager
As Business Project Manager, William works alongside Mariah in supporting the Managing Director while providing ongoing support to all current FishWise partners. He makes sure all current members receive materials updates, monthly phone calls and regular audits and aids in consumer outreach through various forms of digital media. In 2007, William graduated from Flinders University in South Australia with a Bachelor of Technology in Aquaculture where he completed a capstone project on the comparative understanding of aquacultured vs. wild seafood amongst local consumers. More recently, William completed the MBT program at UC Berkeley with a concentration in Business Administration and Marketing. Having garnered a passion for marine environments and all that they offer from an early age, he has worked in a number of "hands-on" positions within the seafood supply chain over the last 9 years including jobs related to production, preparation and sales.
Victoria Galitzine, B.Sc., Communications Project Manager
As Communications Project Manager, Victoria’s responsibilities include developing staff training and consumer outreach programs for FishWise partners as well as designing, writing and updating FishWise materials with the latest scientific knowledge. She also works on strategic communications for FishWise and its partners and assists in the development of sustainability assessments for various seafood species. Victoria is a key member of a multi-organizational group focused on increasing consumer demand for sustainable seafood and is actively working to enhance communication within the local ocean conservation community in Santa Cruz. Victoria graduated from the University of Wales, Swansea with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Marine Biology in 2006. Her final year thesis was focused on the changing feeding behavior of sea urchins in subtidal areas of Tenerife, Spain, likely as a response to the over-fishing of their predators. With experience running her university's Conservation Society and being a volunteer with The Clean Oceans Project, she has extensive knowledge of the issues facing the world's oceans and the research skills needed to develop market-based solutions that affect positive change.
Elsie Tanadjaja, M.Sc., Project Manager
As Project Manager, Elsie works closely with Mariah and William to provide support to the Managing Director and current business partners. Elsie also manages FishWise databases, provides reports about ongoing projects, and assists with outreach. Elsie graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and a minor in Asian American Studies from University of California Santa Barbara where she discovered her passion for the marine world and immersed herself in marine research. Her studies continued at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories where she earned her Masters of Science, and she is now working on publishing her thesis in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Elsie studied the potential effect of acidified ocean on the sand production of rhodoliths – free-living calcium carbonated seaweeds – and rhodolith bed habitat that supports invertebrates and fishes. Having grown up in Indonesia and with research and environmental conservation experiences across the United States, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Mexico, Elsie integrates a multi-cultural perspective into her knowledge and understanding of human and ocean interactions.
Meghan Frolli, M.Sc., Project Manager
As Project Manager, Meghan provides support to the Managing Director and other Program Managers to facilitate the successful implementation and ongoing support of the FishWise program for new and current business partners. Meghan holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a Masters of Science degree in Coastal and Watershed Science and Policy from CSU Monterey Bay. During her graduate work Meghan participated in a study observing the impact and recovery of the seafloor to trawl fishing gear in Morro Bay, CA. Meghan has held employment as a marine science educator and aquarist, as a biologist for the State of California conducting recreational fishing surveys and for the State of Oregon as a Natural Resource Specialist monitoring rockfish populations in Southern Oregon Marine Reserves. Through her education and employment history Meghan has a well-informed understanding of the marine environment, environmental policy and fishing industry allowing her to notably contribute to providing innovative market-based tools to the seafood industry.
Brooke Towne, B.A., Office Manager
As Office Manager, Brooke provides administrative support to the Executive Director and other staff to facilitate the ongoing success of FishWise. She is a management professional in the sustainability arena with the ability to create procedural systems from the ground up. Prior to FishWise, Brooke managed an independently owned natural food store in Aptos, CA, overseeing all operations. Also, Brooke has held positions in customer service at Netscape Inc., and human resources at SugarCRM in Silicon Valley, and beyond. She is a key contributor to FishWise’s ability to adeptly manage client needs, as she can rapidly identify and resolve challenges of all kinds by delivering practical and focused solutions.
Tobias Aguirre |
Matthew Owens |
Mariah Boyle |
William Wall |
Victoria Galitzine |
Elsie Tanadjaja |
Meghan Frolli |
Brooke Towne |
Tobias Aguirre, MPIA, Executive Director
As Executive Director, Tobias sets the conservation vision and organizational strategy for FishWise. His work with retail industry executives, trade associations, and NGO leaders, seeks to build a collaborative approach to conservation that results in effective business and improved environmental performance. To that end, Tobias serves on both the Food Marketing Institute's Sustainable Seafood Working Group Advisory Council and the Steering Committee of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions. He also works to connect California fishermen and ports to investment capital as a Steering Committee member of the California Fisheries Fund. He is a frequent speaker at leading industry events, such as FMI's Sustainability Summit and the International Boston Seafood Show. Tobias holds degrees from Stanford University and UCSD, where he specialized in nonprofit management and business strategy and was named a Schoepflin Fellow for his work on sustainable fisheries.
Matthew Owens, MPIA, Managing Director
Matt directs project management, business development, and internal operations at FishWise. He and his team of Project Managers understand and respond to the needs of existing FishWise member retailers and distributors while developing innovative, customized programs for new business partners. As Managing Director, Matt continues to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of client services, internal procedures, and staff resources. Prior to joining FishWise, Matt worked on marine resource and water quality issues with the consulting firm ICF Jones and Stokes as an Environmental Planner. Additional experience includes managing Tropo Farms, a large-scale tilapia aquaculture facility in Ghana, and assisting with the business development of the El Barril Fishermen's Cooperative in Mexico. This direct involvement with production along with daily supplier interactions through his work at FishWise provides him a strong grasp of the seafood supply chain.Also, Matt holds a master's degree from UCSD in Environmental Economics and Policy with a Marine Resource Emphasis, and graduated with honors. The combination of a solid academic background and hands-on industry experience makes Matt a powerful resource in helping seafood companies create positive change on the water while continuing to perform financially.
Mariah Boyle, M.Sc., Project Director
As Project Director, Mariah manages multiple FishWise partnerships and helps oversee program implementation with new partners. Mariah has developed expertise in seafood traceability procedures and stays current on fishery science by attending government and scientific conferences and reading the latest scientific literature. She works closely with the Project Managers to ensure partner needs are met. Mariah graduated from Florida Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology, completing a research project on the nematode parasite infection rate in batfishes. In 2010 she completed her masters research at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, where she studied the diet of a deep water skate and the trophic relationships of groundfishes caught in bottom trawls along the west coast. Mariah is also an Assistant Specialist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working with Dr. Marc Mangel in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Her knowledge and passion for the ocean have allowed Mariah to work in government, academic, and educational positions. These positions included time at sea monitoring fish stocks off Alaska, California, Washington, and Oregon, and researching artisanal fishing practices to inform community-based marine protected areas in Sierra Leone, Africa. Mariah’s varied research and work experiences have allowed her to develop a well-rounded understanding of fisheries and ocean health.
William Wall, B.Tech. Aquaculture, Business Project Manager
As Business Project Manager, William works alongside Mariah in supporting the Managing Director while providing ongoing support to all current FishWise partners. He makes sure all current members receive materials updates, monthly phone calls and regular audits and aids in consumer outreach through various forms of digital media. In 2007, William graduated from Flinders University in South Australia with a Bachelor of Technology in Aquaculture where he completed a capstone project on the comparative understanding of aquacultured vs. wild seafood amongst local consumers. More recently, William completed the MBT program at UC Berkeley with a concentration in Business Administration and Marketing. Having garnered a passion for marine environments and all that they offer from an early age, he has worked in a number of "hands-on" positions within the seafood supply chain over the last 9 years including jobs related to production, preparation and sales.
Victoria Galitzine, B.Sc., Communications Project Manager
As Communications Project Manager, Victoria’s responsibilities include developing staff training and consumer outreach programs for FishWise partners as well as designing, writing and updating FishWise materials with the latest scientific knowledge. She also works on strategic communications for FishWise and its partners and assists in the development of sustainability assessments for various seafood species. Victoria is a key member of a multi-organizational group focused on increasing consumer demand for sustainable seafood and is actively working to enhance communication within the local ocean conservation community in Santa Cruz. Victoria graduated from the University of Wales, Swansea with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Marine Biology in 2006. Her final year thesis was focused on the changing feeding behavior of sea urchins in subtidal areas of Tenerife, Spain, likely as a response to the over-fishing of their predators. With experience running her university's Conservation Society and being a volunteer with The Clean Oceans Project, she has extensive knowledge of the issues facing the world's oceans and the research skills needed to develop market-based solutions that affect positive change.
Elsie Tanadjaja, M.Sc., Project Manager
As Project Manager, Elsie works closely with Mariah and William to provide support to the Managing Director and current business partners. Elsie also manages FishWise databases, provides reports about ongoing projects, and assists with outreach. Elsie graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and a minor in Asian American Studies from University of California Santa Barbara where she discovered her passion for the marine world and immersed herself in marine research. Her studies continued at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories where she earned her Masters of Science, and she is now working on publishing her thesis in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Elsie studied the potential effect of acidified ocean on the sand production of rhodoliths – free-living calcium carbonated seaweeds – and rhodolith bed habitat that supports invertebrates and fishes. Having grown up in Indonesia and with research and environmental conservation experiences across the United States, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Mexico, Elsie integrates a multi-cultural perspective into her knowledge and understanding of human and ocean interactions.
Meghan Frolli, M.Sc., Project Manager
As Project Manager, Meghan provides support to the Managing Director and other Program Managers to facilitate the successful implementation and ongoing support of the FishWise program for new and current business partners. Meghan holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a Masters of Science degree in Coastal and Watershed Science and Policy from CSU Monterey Bay. During her graduate work Meghan participated in a study observing the impact and recovery of the seafloor to trawl fishing gear in Morro Bay, CA. Meghan has held employment as a marine science educator and aquarist, as a biologist for the State of California conducting recreational fishing surveys and for the State of Oregon as a Natural Resource Specialist monitoring rockfish populations in Southern Oregon Marine Reserves. Through her education and employment history Meghan has a well-informed understanding of the marine environment, environmental policy and fishing industry allowing her to notably contribute to providing innovative market-based tools to the seafood industry.
Brooke Towne, B.A., Office Manager
As Office Manager, Brooke provides administrative support to the Executive Director and other staff to facilitate the ongoing success of FishWise. She is a management professional in the sustainability arena with the ability to create procedural systems from the ground up. Prior to FishWise, Brooke managed an independently owned natural food store in Aptos, CA, overseeing all operations. Also, Brooke has held positions in customer service at Netscape Inc., and human resources at SugarCRM in Silicon Valley, and beyond. She is a key contributor to FishWise’s ability to adeptly manage client needs, as she can rapidly identify and resolve challenges of all kinds by delivering practical and focused solutions.