About Us
Mission
Beneath The Waves is a nonprofit research and conservation organization studying and protecting the ocean’s giants — sharks, whales, and other large marine species whose biology, behavior, and ecological role hold the keys to ocean health. We execute global expeditions, deploying innovative science and technology to study the ocean's giants at scale. We then translate those discoveries into conservation outcomes: protected habitats, informed policy, and stronger ocean resilience.
Vision
Our vision is a future where the ocean’s giants, the ecosystems they sustain, and the people who depend on them thrive together.
How we work
Beneath The Waves runs on a dual-engine model: Discovery to Translation. Our Discovery engine places scientists and collaborators in the field and lab, generating powerful new data and storytelling opportunities. Our Translation engine turns those findings into outcomes: protected areas, policy, and durable conservation finance. Together, this model moves us from a DNA swab to a policy outcome, at a pace few organizations can match.
History of Impact
Established in 2014, Beneath The Waves has executed over 50 expeditions spanning 18 countries, published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, advised governments on policy at the national level, and worked within communities to build capacity for change. But raw numbers only tell part of the story. What sets Beneath The Waves apart:
Smaller team, outsized footprint.
Our core team of researchers have produced 150+ peer-reviewed publications and 50+ expeditions across 18 countries, a rate of output most organizations achieve with many times the staff and budget.
Science that becomes actual policy.
Our Bahamas blue carbon research moved from a Nature Communications publication to national legislation to the enabling conditions for a $300M debt conversion for marine conservation, a rare, traceable path from discovery to real capital and policy change.
Genuinely global reach.
From The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos to Ireland, Japan, and the Eastern Tropical Pacific, our work spans ocean basins, not a single region or species.
Trusted by leading institutions.
We collaborate with organizations including the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Tufts University, KAUST, and more – partnerships that reflect independent vetting of our science by high-impact players and institutions.
A story that reaches far and wide.
Our science consistently ranks in the top 5% of all marine research by public attention and social awareness (Altmetric), further amplified by media partnerships with National Geographic and Discovery Channel that bring ocean giants and the case for protecting them to audiences far beyond the conservation community
Meet The Team
Austin Gallagher, PhD
Founder and CEO
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Dr. Austin Gallagher is the founder and CEO of Beneath The Waves, overseeing company vision, mission, and strategy, as well as managing a dynamic team of researchers and storytellers toward success. Gallagher’s approach combines thrilling science, private sector collaboration, local engagement, and media–to create effective partnerships that drive tangible impact.
A globally-respected marine biologist and social entrepreneur, Gallagher has worked diligently studying and advocating for highly migratory species and their habitats around the world, directly supporting the protection of species and hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of ocean. He has forged dozens of “firsts” in the ocean space, ranging from the identification of new species and geographic records to implementing new technologies to accelerate conservation solutions. Dr. Gallagher has served as the lead scientist on over 50 scientific expeditions across 6 continents, and is broadly trained with expertise spanning large marine animal tracking, behavioral ecology, physiology, genetics, plant science, and socioeconomics. He has published over 100 scientific papers, spanning research on the migrations of ocean giants, blue carbon, deep-sea exploration, and marine policy. Gallagher is regularly consulted by international governments, and US Congress, and he has briefed and collaborated with over a dozen Heads of State to prompt and develop legislation and policies to protect threatened ocean habitats, species, and the communities that depend on them.
In 2022, he partnered with wild tiger sharks to discover the world’s largest seagrass meadow in The Bahamas, an area of over 93,000 sq. km representing the ocean’s largest carbon sink and one of the most important ocean discoveries in recent decades. He is a National Geographic Explorer, Fellow of the Explorer’s Club, Fulbright Scholar, former Forbes 30 Under 30 Winner, and an Honorary Associate Professor at The University of Exeter.
Carlos Duarte, PhD
Director of Research Innovation
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Professor Carlos M. Duarte is the Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in Red Sea Ecology at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in Saudi Arabia. Before this he was Research Professor with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Director of the Oceans Institute at The University of Western Australia. He also holds an adjunct position at the Arctic Research Center in Aarhus University, Denmark. Duarte’s research focuses on understanding the effects of global change in marine ecosystems and developing nature-based solutions to global challenges, including climate change, and develop evidence-based strategies to rebuild the abundance of marine life by 2050. He has conducted research across all continents and oceans, spanning most of the marine ecosystem types, from inland to near-shore and the deep sea and from microbes to whales. Professor Duarte led the Malaspina 2010 Expedition that sailed the world’s oceans to examine the impacts of global change on ocean ecosystems and explore their biodiversity.
Professor Duarte served as President of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography between 2007 and 2010. He has published more than 800 scientific papers and has been ranked within the top 1% Highly-Cited Scientist by Thompson Reuters in all assessments of this rank. He has received many honors, including the G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award from the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography in 2001, the National Science Award of Spain (2007), and the I. Vernadsky Medal of the European Geophysical Union. the Prix d’Excellence by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES, 2011), the Carlo Heip award for excellent in Marine Biodiversity (2018), and the Ramon Margalef Ecology Award (2019), and honorary doctorates from the Université du Québec à Montréal (Canada) in 2010 and Utrecht University (The Netherlands) in 2012. He has been appointed to the Expert Group supporting the High Level Group, including 12 heads of states, that under the UN is working to propose, by 2020, a pathway towards a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
Rosemary Mann
Chief of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Rose Mann is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center at the Atlantic Council. She joined the Council from The Nature Conservancy, where she served as a Director of the Global Oceans Program leading the philanthropy strategy for a $100 million capital campaign in the areas of coastal risk and resilience, sustainable fisheries, ocean protection, and ocean governance. Previously, she served as the Assistant Dean of Advancement for the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy. Mann has more than 25 years of experience in the field of ocean conservation fundraising. She has raised more than $300 million for science, climate, and ocean protection during her career, and has dedicated her life to the protection of the Earth.
Rebecca Simon
Director of HR and Finance
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Rebecca Simon is Director of HR and Finance and serves as an integral part of the leadership team at Beneath The Waves, driving organizational growth and operational excellence. With over a decade of experience in human resources and operations, Rebecca brings a unique blend of strategic insight, culture-building, and operational expertise to the nonprofit space.
Rebecca’s career spans industries including fitness, retail, and consulting, where she has developed and implemented HR policies, led talent acquisition strategies, and guided companies through organizational transformations. Her work is grounded in creating inclusive and engaging environments that align with the core values of the organizations she supports. Rebecca’s focus on employee wellbeing and development has been instrumental in fostering motivated and high-performing teams.
At Beneath The Waves, Rebecca plays a key role in managing HR, finance, and operational functions, ensuring the organization is positioned for sustainable growth while supporting its mission to protect our oceans and marine life. Her expertise in streamlining processes, aligning teams, and building resilient organizational structures complements the dynamic and fast-paced nature of Beneath The Waves’ mission.
Outside of work, Rebecca is an avid beach lover who grew up in Huntington Beach, CA, and recently moved to Los Angeles. She looks forward to continuing her passion for both HR and ocean conservation in her work with Beneath The Waves.
Shannon Aldridge
Director of Programs and Operations
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Shannon Aldridge is the Director of Programs and Operations at Beneath The Waves, where she leads the coordination of daily operations and manages cross-departmental workflows to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the organization. In this role, she acts as a central point for internal communications, overseeing the planning and execution of strategic projects, high-level partnerships, and events. She also plays an integral role in field operations, contributing to scientific research, data analysis, and the production of scientific outputs.
With a strong background in marine science and extensive experience in the ocean space, Shannon is a PADI Dive Instructor and has previously managed dive programs with a focus on animal husbandry. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology with a minor in Marine Ecology from Nova Southeastern University.
Based in Miami, Florida, Shannon is a proud member of The Explorers Club, an international society dedicated to advancing field research and scientific exploration. Outside of her professional work, she is an avid traveler, freediver, and SCUBA diver, and enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities. A lifelong sports enthusiast, she brings the same passion and energy to her pursuits in nature as she does to her work at Beneath The Waves.
Brendan Shea, PhD
Associate Director, Science Programs
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Dr. Brendan Shea is the Associate Director, Scientific Programs for Beneath The Waves, where he oversees the scientific logistics of the organization’s research programs and external collaborations, including field operations, laboratory and data analyses, and scientific outputs. He takes on the role after nearly eight years of research experience with the organization in multiple roles, beginning as a Masters’ student field intern in 2018. Brendan’s broad academic background comprises spatial ecology, fisheries science, and quantitative modeling, and is complemented by more than five years of professional experience with project management in scientific and technical services consulting.
Brendan’s research approach integrates ecological and fisheries datasets through novel quantitative and spatial modeling approaches to better understand the ecology of highly mobile species, such as sharks. He has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles, and his work has appeared in leading journals such as Nature Communications, Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences, and Science Advances. Brendan uses a wide range of methods to address conservation-focused questions, including biologging, physiology, molecular techniques, environmental synthesis / big data approaches, and more. His research has been featured by a range of media outlets, including the BBC and Forbes, and he has appeared or contributed as a featured expert for numerous web series, workshops, and digital features.
Brendan holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, where he was an Interfaces of Global Change Fellow at the university’s Global Change Center, with his dissertation work assessing the ecological and conservation roles of marine protected areas for threatened shark species. He also holds an MSc in Marine Biology from Northeastern University, and a BA in Environmental Science from Colorado College. Brendan is based outside of Boston, MA, near where he grew up, and outside of work, he is an avid surfer, fisherman, and diver.
Kathryn Ayres, PhD
Research Scientist
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Kathryn Ayres is a Research Scientist for Beneath The Waves, providing support with data analysis and scientific outputs. Ayres is from a small village in northern England and although she grew up far from the ocean, she has had a fascination with sharks from a very young age. She holds a First-Class Honors Bachelor’s degree in Marine Vertebrate Zoology from Bangor University, UK, and a Masters in marine Environmental Management with Distinction from the University of York, UK. She recently obtained a PhD in Marine Science from CICIMAR-IPN University, La Paz, Mexico. Her PhD research involved using aerial drone surveys, acoustic telemetry, satellite tracking, and stable isotope analysis, to study seasonal aggregations and migration patterns of Blacktip sharks in Cabo Pulmo National Park. Ayres is a National Geographic Explorer, PADI Divemaster, and avid free diver.
Jeremy Jenrette, PhD
Research Scientist
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Jeremy Jenrette is a Research Scientist at Beneath the Waves focusing on the conservation of large marine animals. His research encompasses population genetics and computer vision with an interest in characterizing the genomes and proteomes of large pelagic and deep-sea species. He also develops automatic image classification algorithms to detect and identify marine species from underwater footage. Jeremy is a PhD student at Virginia Tech, holding a Bachelors in Biochemistry from the same university. In addition to collecting and rearing pink salmon populations in remote salmon hatcheries in Alaska, he works in the Mediterranean Sea, where he monitors white shark populations with environmental DNA methods. His work integrates several disciplines, such as social network mining to organize global shark observations and building intelligent drones for surveying marine protected areas. He enjoys fishing, kayaking, and programming.
Drew McDougall
Creative Coordinator
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Drew McDougall is a creative storyteller, visual producer, and creative brand consultant working at the intersection of marine science, conservation, and outdoor adventure. With a background spanning ocean-focused media and field research, he has helped shape the visual brand of Beneath The Waves while also contributing to projects with Oceanographic Magazine, National Geographic, and several outdoor brands.
He specializes in documenting the marine world, wildlife, and true fieldwork through photography, video, and writing with a focus on creating captivating stories of the important conservation work and research happening around the world. Drew is an SSI Freediver, a licensed captain, a former fly-fishing guide, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship with additional degrees in New Media and Marine Science. This, coupled with a deep personal connection to wild places through his work and time spent in remote coastal and freshwater environments, informs his approach to conservation storytelling and visual communication beyond that of someone who just takes pictures.
Sara Moffitt
Laboratory Technician
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Sara Moffitt is a Lab Technician with Beneath The Waves, where she primarily provides support in downstream lab processing of samples, as well as sample collection, management, and storage guidance in the field. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University in Cell and Molecular Biology, with a minor in Marine Sciences. With a year of drug development research experience in the field of biotechnology, she provides a broad skill set of lab techniques and investigative research experience to the team.
Zachary Graff, MSc
Field Marine Biologist
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Zachary Graff is a Field Marine Biologist for Beneath The Waves, where he assists with domestic and international research initiatives ranging from shark tagging projects to blue carbon work, and is often replied upon to fabricate field equipment due to his background in the trades. Zach is a marine scientist with a former research focus on coral reef fish population dynamics and top to bottom control on coral reef ecosystems. Zach holds a M.S. in Marine Biology from NOVA Southeastern University and is a certified vessel captain, SCUBA instructor, and technical diver with well over a thousand research dives. Zach has performed extensive fieldwork in the past ranging from oyster reef rehab to shark tagging initiatives. Zach grew up in coastal Florida and is an avid angler, freediver, and endurance athlete.
Tadzio Bervoets, MSc
Regional Expert
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Sir Tadzio Bervoets is a Caribbean marine conservation executive with 18 years of experience in marine protected area management, regional environmental governance, ocean science policy and sustainable blue economy development. In April 2025, he was knighted by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and appointed a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau for his services to nature management and conservation.
Sir Tadzio is the Executive Director of the Alligator Head Foundation in Portland, Jamaica, where he provides strategic, operational and financial leadership for programmes covering coral reef restoration, marine biodiversity monitoring, sustainable fisheries and community livelihoods.
He is also the Caribbean Regional Lead for the Coral Restoration Consortium’s Caribbean Coral Emergency Response Plan, a first-of-its-kind regional framework for improving preparedness and coordinated responses to coral reef crises.
He also chairs the UNESCO Ocean Decade Task Force for Latin America and the Caribbean, strengthening the connection between ocean science, public policy and sustainable development across the region. His other regional roles have included developing a funding mobilisation plan for UNESCO’s Caribbean ocean science programme, leading the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund’s BluEFin Project, advising Caribbean Community member states on climate adaptation and working with the Inter-American Development Bank on blue carbon financing.
He serves on the Caribbean Steering Committee of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and a United Nations Caribbean working group on protected areas.
He is a co-founder of the Caribbean Shark Coalition and has undertaken marine science and environmental policy work with Beneath the Waves, the United Nations Environment Programme, UNESCO and other regional and international partners.
Sir Tadzio holds a Master of Science in Environmental Resource Management, awarded with distinction by VU Amsterdam, with a specialisation in coral reef and coastal ecosystems. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, summa cum laude, from the University of South Florida.
Board of Directors
Maria Damanaki
Rosemary Mann
Wendy Benchley
Malik Adunni
Pamela Schisser Lindberg
Stephen Feron
Strategic Advisors
Cristina Mittermeier
Keith Myrick, MD
Rashid Sumaila, PhD
Jim Williams
Paul Nicklen
Melissa Márquez
Kristin Lindblad
Hanan Atia, MD
James Sternlicht
Jon Lake
