Fabien Cousteau Short Biography
Growing up on decks of his famous Grandfather’s ships, Calypso and Alcyone, Fabien Cousteau was destined to work to protect our planet’s immense and endangered marine habitats.
From his vast experience in the field, coupled with a degree in environmental economics from Boston University, he has refined a public policy platform grounded by his strong belief that environmental discipline can be the basis for innovative solutions that strike a balance between regional and global environmental problems and the realities of market economies.
In 2006, Fabien partnered with his father, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and sister, Celine, to complete a three-year multi-hour series for PBS called Ocean Adventures. In 2010, he launched Plant A Fish, an innovative nonprofit organization designed to empower communities and children to help restore their local water ecosystems through the healthy “replanting” of key marine species. Current initiatives include restoration projects in El Salvador, New York City, South Florida and the Maldives. Expansion to Haiti and Indonesia is expected in late 2012.
An active writer, he is currently working on a children’s book trilogy. Fabien is routinely seen on network television, the Oprah Winfrey Show, Gayle King, and as a guest/ contributor to NBC’s Today Show. He shares his guidance as a member of multiple Boards including SeaKeepers Society, Water Innovation Alliance, Millennium Project, Blue Ocean Film Festival, Plastic Pollution Coalition, One World One Ocean, Points of Light, Antarctic Ocean Alliance and the New York Harbor School. Additionally, he speaks at a variety of global and domestic environmental and water conferences as well as mainstream business conferences such as Google Zeitgeist, DLD, Rio2.0 and TEDx Rio.
Fabien shares his time between France and the United States (New York City) and when not conducting fieldwork he is riding the planet on a wind surfer, mountain bike or piloting a plane or taking a hike with Heidi, his four legged companion. His passion for vintage motorcycles sometimes takes him to the quiet of his garage where his cellphone does not work and he can dive into the zen of breathing life into these “basket cases.” See www.fabiencousteau.org for more on Fabien.
Tony Haymet Short Biography
Tony Haymet is a distinguished scientist, educator, policy advisor and business development leader. During 2006-12 he has been professor of Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, at the University of California San Diego, and Director and Vice-Chancellor for Marine Sciences.
He is also co-founder and Chair of CleanTech San Diego, a 501c6 business organization promoting and supporting clean technology businesses, now with over 100 members. He is appointed to the VCAT of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Since 2009 he has served as a part-time Strategic Advisor to Pegasus Capital Advisers on matters relating to the environment, oceans, food security and climate change. He is elected to and serves upon numerous national and international boards and committees. For example, he was a member of the Establishment Council of the Australian Biofuels Research Institute, which released its report and first grants in December 2011, and an on-site reviewer for the German Government in their 2012 higher education excellence initiative.
Tony Haymet was born and educated in Sydney, and gained a PhD at the University of Chicago. Prior to his appointment at Scripps, he was Chief of Marine and Atmospheric Research, with 5 laboratories around Australia, and then Science and Policy Director, for CSIRO, Australia’s science, industry and business research agency. From 1991-98 he held the Established Chair of Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Sydney. He is the author of over 175 peer-reviewed publications. In 2004, he attended Australian Institute of Company Directors residential course for Company Directors. In 2010. Prof Haymet served NIST Blue Ribbon Commission on Management and Safety (II). Tony Haymet brings to the understanding of the natural world a business focus and understanding of ocean resources, in all their forms, and technological solution to analyzing and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions.
He is a frequent contributor of Op-Ed pieces to newspapers around the world, listed here, a contributor to the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and to climate meetings in Copenhagen and Cancun, and a guest of leading radio and TV analysis programs. He also presented at The Economist’s Ocean meeting in Singapore. More on Tony may be found here.
Guillermo Kerber-Mas Short Biography
Guillermo Kerber-Mas, originally from Uruguay, presently coordinates the work of the World Council of Churches on Care for Creation and Climate Justice, based in Geneva, Switzerland. His work has made him travel to many countries to interact with local communities affected by environmental degradation and climate change. Guillermo holds academic degrees in Philosophy and Theology and a Doctorate on Sciences of Religion. His doctoral dissertation (published in Portuguese) is on the place of ecology in Latin American theology. He has published extensively on ecological matters since the late 80s and has advocated at the UN at e.g. the Human Rights Conference (Vienna 1993), UNFCCC COPs, and the Human Rights Council. He is one of the founders of the Geneva Interfaith Forum on Climate Change, Environment and Human Rights.
Suzanne Maxx Short Biography
The vision of a world team inspired Suzanne to use media to actually “tell-a-vision”. She pioneered the positive non-scripted genre “Actuality Television” with the development of the World Team™ television series, as the creator, writer and producer, which began after her first multi-media international co-production sponsored by Coca-Cola in Japan, as part of the World Expo. She is the Founder and President/Chair of the non-profit organization, World Team Now, and she is the leader of the World Team project. Through the journey to develop World Team, Suzanne worked on many global productions: Ashes and Snow, the International Yoga Expo, and the Earth Train For Peace. She is a professional writer, producer, and actress, athlete and international public speaker. In true entrepreneurial spirit Suzanne started “Sports to the Maxx,” where as a sponsored pro, she coached others to go beyond what they believed to be possible in extreme sports: in-line and roller skating, skiing, and horseback riding. As named in “Best of LA” and featured on “Eye on LA,” she has mobilized masses of people in clinics and classes around the world. Locally in Malibu she started the skate program and camp, plus helped to build the skate park, a continuation of her native NYC roller skate roots. She has worked with children, pro athletes, the disabled, and celebrities. Suzanne’s in front of the camera work includes a soap opera, episodic night time television, commercials and film. As a journalist, she wrote about film, sports and travel for a local Malibu paper, and as a public speaker she has addressed many international audiences.
The business plan for the World Team Project, and WTN’s Challenge developed through rare opportunities at Universities to work with students and faculty. With office space gifted to incubate World Team at Columbia University’s Computational Learning Systems, CCLS; Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Public Policy, and the International University of Monaco’s Business School, she bridged the gap between academia and professional worlds. Her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College gave her the architecture to acquire knowledge and inspired her global travels that wove an adventure for an ongoing creative education. Suzanne’s vision is contagious, as evidenced by all the people who have dedicated their time and resources to the World Team project. Life to the Maxx, maybe her creed, but it is also the working title of the book she has been asked to write on leadership. More on Suzanne can be found here
Kelly Rigg Short Biography
Kelly Rigg is the Executive Director of the GCCA, a global alliance of 300 organizations cooperating under the banner of the tcktcktck campaign. She has been leading international campaigns for nearly 30 years on climate, energy, oceans, Antarctica and other issues. She was a senior campaign director for Greenpeace International during 20 years with the organization. After leaving Greenpeace she went on to found the Varda Group consultancy providing campaign and strategic advice to a wide range of NGOs, and led the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition’s campaign to protect the high seas from destructive bottom fishing. More on Kelly can be found here
Deborah Triply Short Biography
Deborah Triply is an experienced lawyer who has acted for many environmental campaign groups such as WWF-UK and worked with Wildlife & Countryside LINK on the UK Marine Act. She has practised at the Bar representing a diverse range of clients on planning, environmental and public law matters. Until recently, she led the Environmental Law Foundation as its Chief Executive and now works with leading public law firm Harrison Grant solicitors. She has published several legal articles on environmental issues.