Hi, I’m Paulita, a founder and the first Executive Director for Sea of Life. I’m Belizean-American with ties to South Florida and Belize City, and I'm dedicated to ocean protection. My career started in Belize, where I wrote the first research on plastic pollution and led a grassroots movement. I then worked with a research team from Emory University in the U.S. Virgin Islands on a long-term project funded by NOAA, studying invasive lionfish while connecting with local fishing communities. I spent over six years at Oceana, the largest ocean conservation group, pushing for global conservation policies. I've also advised other conservation organizations and U.S. Congress members. My experiences have shown me that community is key to finding knowledge and solutions. I’m eager to focus on creating entrepreneurial and educational conservation solutions in the Caribbean.

Dassia Regalado is a Belizean environmental advocate, Equine Veterinary Technician, and social entrepreneur. She specializes in equine medicine as a freelancer while pursuing a Master's in Equine Bone Diseases. Dassia is the Program Fellow for Sea of Life and the Communications & Public Relations Lead for the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network.

She founded a plastic art project that transforms waste into eco-friendly products, empowering women and youth through sustainable entrepreneurship. With a strong background in wildlife conservation and community engagement, Dassia has worked on crocodile coexistence, marine ecosystems, and mercury contamination in seafood.

Having grown up on the ocean to a fishing and farming family in The Bahamas, Natalie holds a deep connection and understanding to local coastal community needs. This deep understanding drives her passion to ensure that communities and ecosystems are healthy for future generations. Natalie received her MSC in International Food and Resource Economics from The University of Florida. Her specialty includes analyses of fishers behavior and entrance into new markets and designing and managing sustainable fisheries projects.

Dr. Holden Earl Harris (he/him), is a postdoctoral researcher and a quantitative natural resource ecologist at the University of Florida's Nature Coast Biological Station, where he helped found and serves on their committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. His current research focuses include invasive species population dynamics and bioeconomics, innovative fisheries gear, science communication, and applying ecosystem models to understand the effects of land-use and climate changes in estuarine and coastal marine communities. His work has been supported with awards from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Guy Harvey Ocean Scholarship, Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, and Melnick Ocean Foundation. Before graduate school, Dr. Harris worked as a SCUBA instructor, dive boat captain, and commercial spearfisher.

Dr Tamarie Rocke is a Belizean medical doctor and global health practitioner with over 8 years experience. She holds an MBBS from the University of the West Indies (2015) and a Masters in International Health and Tropical Medicine from the University of Oxford (Trinity College, 2021).

During her time as an international antimicrobial resistance consultant at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), she worked in Latin America and the Caribbean to provide technical support to governments on national plans for antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention. She is currently a consultant for the World Health Organization conducting pipeline analysis on novel antibiotics. She is passionate about Belize’s natural and cultural heritage and promotes a solution-based dialogue about plastic waste reduction through her sustainability platform Refillery Co.

Tamara Thomas, Executive Director of Ocean Ties and ocean advisor to the IUCN, brings several years of expertise on Ocean Issues – across several international conventions and relevant fora including the Convention on Biological Diversity; UN Framework on Climate Change; BBNJ; as well as on matters related to seabed mining. Among her previous roles, she served as Director of International Ocean Policy for Conservation International, International Ocean Policy Advisor of the Global Oceans Program at The Nature Conservancy and Advisor to the Chair of the United Nations Preparatory Committee of BBNJ. Ms Thomas aides in the creation of country and international level policy to support integration of marine nature-based solutions and innovative finance approaches and positions them as integral to global development agendas. She holds a masters of environmental management from Yale University and currently serves as Ocean and Ocean-Climate Advisor to The Republic of Seychelles and co-leads, within BBNJ, Area Based Management Tools including Marine Protected Areas and Environmental Impact Assessments within the African Group.

André Habet is an educator, writer, and environmental advocate with extensive experience in academia and community engagement. He holds a PhD in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric from Syracuse University, where his dissertation explored Belize’s climate futures. As an Associate Professor at Galen University, André teaches writing and literature, actively revising curricula and directing the university’s writing center.

His professional work spans environmental journalism, podcasting on climate issues, and working with the Belize Film Commission. Passionate about climate justice, he was recently named a Board of Director with Sea of Life, contributing to conservation efforts in Belize, and producing research addressing climate justice across the Caribbean.

Phil is an independent citizen scientist and ocean advocate, formerly with the World Bank, who has visited Belize annually since 2013 to support management of invasive lionfish, build relationships with Belizean conservation leaders, and participate in the country’s efforts to protect its marine resources.

Secretary for National Fisheries Association of The Bahamas.

Funder of the Om Shanti Belize Meditation Technique and Om Shanti Belize School & Retreat for Yoga & Wellness and Rhythm of Change Belize (ROC), a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing evolutionary tools of progressive action (yoga/breathwork/meditation) to communities throughout the country and region.

Founder of Lacy Consulting Services.

Retired from NOAA- Fisheries, establishing the program to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and a capacity building program. Nancy is also a consulting advisor to WildAid.

Atlanta based artist, educator and activist. Her LinkedIn is here.

Commercial fisherman, licensed fisherman, owner is Bahia’s Kitchen restaurant and proud husband and father.

Design Strategist at Emerging Technologies Service Design Network Accredited Educator. Let’s connect.

Sherelle is Founder and CEO of RootWorks, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in executive leadership coaching, diversity and inclusion

Director of Development at The Action Lab a strategy center for social movements that sparks political and personal liberation.

Sasha Machuca was Sea of Life’s first Community Liaison and now serves as a community advisor.

Jammed packed schedules have never deterred me from embracing new responsibilities and challenges. In 2023 I was fortunate enough to join SoL, as their Community Liaison for Belize's first Plastic Solutions Academy. Their mission, vision and core concept behind the initiative resonated with me. Prior to this, I've done volunteer work for the Herbarium of Belize, Toledo Institute of Development and Environment, and the Environmental Research Institute.

I am also the social media content creator for the Belize City Animal Aid and a Quality Assurance Laboratory Technician. I wish to live a meaningful life. You can find me where there is a worthwhile cause.