my life has been shaped by ocean, and Through my connection to the sea,
i get to explore themes of identity and meaning
to that Very life;
Continuously discovering anew,
my own inner voice.
-
The longing for the sea is a red thread that has been woven through my life from a young age.
I grew up landlocked in Germany, with the nearest “sea” being a 4-hour drive away.
Yet, my earliest memories speak of a little girl full of love & admiration for the wild blue spaces and their awe-inspiring inhabitants.
The wingspan of an Oceanic Manta Ray was hard to grasp at that age (still is, to be fair), and so I measured my parents’ bedroom, curious if one could fit in it. Or, I’d measure the width of our house; was a whale’s fluke really that big?
Seemingly so, I was born with that love for our marine environment, and it has been calling me, course-correcting me all my life.
-
My professional and creative journey within this field of work has had a steady undercurrent of searching for belonging.
Within marine conservation, I had always yearned for a place & voice - a meaningful way of contributing that felt like I belonged, that felt like me, and as though I was part of something bigger.
Through my writing, I have always found ways of deeply connecting with others in that world, wanting to support their missions, amplify their voices, make them feel seen.In my educational & outreach work, my most beloved memories are of others finding their spark & inspiration.
I wholeheartedly love seeing others thrive in their own light, and it is a privilege to be a part of that journey.
Nowadays, I move between the different worlds of marine conservation, curious about our oceans’ awe-inspiring natural beauty, and our emotive purposes as human beings in advocating for these blue spaces.
But this wasn’t always the case. My journey here was certainly not linear.
I know first-hand how overwhelming the transition from passion to practice can feel, and how important it is to have a space where we get to navigate the question of where we can find a sense of belonging.
The Path Of Finding My Voice Within The Marine Conservation Space Has Been A Process That Now Informs How I Want To Support Others Through A Mentorship Program That Focuses On Supporting Students And Early-Career Practitioners In Finding Their Voice, And Their Way Of Contributing Meaningfully Within The Marine Conservation Space.
As someone who has always been interested in the bigger picture, my work has spanned from facilitating adaptive management processes, mentoring university students and staff,
all the way to supporting conservation teams in navigating complexity, uncertainty, collaboration, and impact.
In my own time, I am a writer and underwater photographer, exploring human–ocean relationships and the quieter, more emotional dimensions of conservation.
It is a creative practice that is deeply intertwined with my professional work and it has shaped how I Aim to listen, hold space, and help others understand how their work in this space can reflect their authentic selves and true Hopes for their Part in it.
Alongside my storytelling & coaching, I co-design and facilitate nature-based education and storytelling programs for children, students, and local communities.
I love being part of spaces that value curiosity, creativity, lived experience, and reflection as tools for learning and leadership - without foregoing playfulness.
After all, creativity has always been how I have made sense of the world, and it can be a powerful way for people to reconnect with both nature and their own sense of agency.
i firmly believe That Finding Our Place in Marine Conservation should be about what feels aligned at a deeply personal level, just as much as it is made to be About our Technical Skills.
the more we understand ourselves in that context, the better we can serve our beloved blue spaces without losing ourselves in the process.
