Aoife is the Campaign Manager for the Fair Seas campaign, which is working to increase the number of protected Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Ireland. The campaign’s vision is that Ireland pioneers ocean protection within the EU by putting in place ambitious legislation by 2025 and highly protecting 10 percent of its EEZ (exclusive economic zone) with a clear pathway for realising at least 30 by 2030. Aoife has over twenty years of experience in communications and project management working in large multinationals, educational institutions, membership bodies, and start-up organisations in Ireland and Australia.

Aoife is the official Hope Spot champion for Ireland’s first and only Hope Spot. The Greater Skellig Coast was approved as the first Hope Spot in Ireland in January 2023 by Mission Blue, led by the legendary oceanographer Dr Slyvia Earle. Fair Seas, led by Aoife, is also an official SDG champion for 2023/2024. Fair Seas is recognised for its ongoing work to protect, conserve and restore Ireland’s unique marine environment. The coalition of leading environmental non-governmental organisations and networks is one of 26 organisations appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD.

Donal is the marine policy officer for the Fair Seas Campaign. With a strong background in marine biology and ecology, Donal also has a wealth of policy experience from the UK, including coordinating a coalition of environmental NGOs focusing on MPA management and implementation.

Grace is the Marine Policy Officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust where she focuses on Marine Protected Areas in Ireland and across the EU. She has recently completed a Masters of Research in Marine Biology comparing shark distributions in the North Atlantic with environmental variables. She has several years experience working with eNGO’s and raising awareness on marine issues through stakeholder engagement.

Jack O’Donovan Trá is the Communications Officer at Fair Seas. Jack is blending the art of good comms with marine science to bring the message of ocean protection to a wide audience in an engaging and impactful way. Jack is a marine biologist by training and moved into comms and campaigns in 2018, and has since worked with many large international environmental coalitions and campaigns across Europe.

Sibéal is the Education and Outreach Officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, where she focuses on science communication, community engagement and training coordination. Sibéal has a marine biology background and six years of surveying experience working as a marine mammal and seabird observer; she is also co-author of the report ‘Revitalising Our Seas’ published by Fair Seas in June 2022.