'Aulani Wilhelm

Conservation International

"Until the global community understands the full value of mangroves to humanity, these trees will continue to be felled for short-term gain. We have to make it worth it to invest in protecting these areas."

For over two decades, ‘Aulani Wilhelm has worked to protect the ocean and the resources it provides. As the senior vice president of the Conservation International Center for Oceans she will build on her past successes, helping to lead the designation of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and founding the Big Ocean Network, to protect the marine resources that people rely on for food, livelihoods and culture. Previously, ‘Aulani served as Director of Ocean Initiatives for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and was a 2014-15 Social innovation Fellow at Stanford University, focused on island-scaled social enterprise. She is Chair of the IUCN-WCPA Large-Scale Marine Protected Area Task Force, and served as an advisor to UNESCO’s Marine World Heritage Programme.