Staff Members
Tobias Aguirre, MPIA, Executive Director
As Executive Director, Tobias sets the conservation vision and organizational strategy for FishWise. His work with retail industry executives, trade associations, and NGO leaders, seeks to build a collaborative approach to conservation that results in effective business and improved environmental performance. To that end, Tobias serves on both the Food Marketing Institute's Sustainable Seafood Working Group Advisory Council and the Steering Committee of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions. He also works to connect California fishermen and ports to investment capital as a Steering Committee member of the California Fisheries Fund. He is a frequent speaker at leading industry events, such as FMI's Sustainability Summit and the International Boston Seafood Show. Tobias holds degrees from Stanford University and UCSD, where he specialized in nonprofit management and business strategy and was named a Schoepflin Fellow for his work on sustainable fisheries.
Siân Morgan, Ph.D., Director of Science
As Director of Science, Siân's work focuses on the use of strong science-based recommendations with business partners, developing international standards for sustainable aquaculture, and conducting research that promotes change in international markets for marine products. She serves on both the Global Steering Committee of the Shrimp Aquaculture dialogue and the Freshwater Trout Aquaculture Dialogue, convened by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Siân has fifteen years of experience in the fields of marine ecology and fisheries science with particular expertise in markets-based marine conservation, small-scale fisheries and quantitative methods for decision analysis. Siân has led projects in non-governmental, academic and consulting settings with stakeholders that range from coastal communities to government agencies. Past projects managed by Siân include developing SeaChoice, a national seafood program for Canada, working to develop pragmatic trade tools for CITES and researching species responses to area-based management for WWF.
Matthew Owens, MPIA, Director of Operations
Matt directs program management, business development, and internal operations at FishWise. He and his team of Program Managers understand and respond to the needs of existing FishWise member retailers and distributors while developing innovative, customized programs for new business partners. As Director of Operations, Matt continues to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of client services, internal procedures, and staff resources. Prior to joining FishWise, Matt worked on marine resource and water quality issues with the consulting firm ICF Jones and Stokes as an Environmental Planner. Additional experience includes managing Tropo Farms, a large-scale tilapia aquaculture facility in Ghana, and assisting with the business development of the El Barril Fishermen's Cooperative in Mexico. This direct involvement with production along with daily supplier interactions through his work at FishWise provides him a strong grasp of the seafood supply chain. Also, Matt holds a master's degree from UCSD in Environmental Economics and Policy with a Marine Resource Emphasis, and graduated with honors. The combination of a solid academic background and hands-on industry experience makes Matt a powerful resource in helping seafood companies create positive change on the water while continuing to perform financially.
Mariah Boyle, M.Sc. Candidate, Assistant Operations Director
As Assistant Operations Director, Mariah provides support to the Director of Operations and works with the Program Managers to ensure current member needs are met. Mariah also implements the FishWise program with new partners, and has recently begun to research and draft traceability policies for partners. Mariah also oversees outreach events, general operations support, and attends government and scientific conferences on wild fisheries. Mariah graduated from Florida Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology, completing a research project on the nematode parasite infection rate in batfishes. She is currently finishing her Masters research at Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, where she studies the diet of a deep water skate and the trophic relationships of groundfishes caught in bottom trawls along the west coast. Her knowledge and passion for the ocean has allowed Mariah to work in government, academic, and educational positions, including time at sea monitoring fish stocks off Alaska, California, and Oregon, all of which have contributed to her well-rounded understanding of fisheries and ocean health.
William Wall, B.Tech. Aquaculture, Program Manager
As Program Manager, William works alongside Mariah in supporting the Director of Operations while providing ongoing support to all current FishWise partners. He makes sure all current members receive materials updates, monthly phone calls and regular audits and aids in consumer outreach through various forms of digital media. In 2007, William graduated from Flinders University in South Australia with a Bachelor of Technology in Aquaculture where he completed a capstone project on the comparative understanding of aquacultured vs. wild seafood amongst local consumers. More recently, William completed the MBT program at UC Berkeley with a concentration in Business Administration and Marketing. Having garnered a passion for marine environments and all that they offer from an early age, he has worked in a number of "hands-on" positions within the seafood supply chain over the last 9 years including jobs related to production, preparation and sales.
Back to TopVictoria Galitzine, B.S., Science Analyst
As Science Analyst, Victoria provides support to the Director of Science in creating science-based solutions for businesses seeking to become leaders in the sustainable seafood movement, developing global standards to certify aquaculture operations and in researching methods to promote change in seafood markets. She is also responsible for updating FishWise materials with the latest scientific information from partner organizations. Victoria graduated from University of Wales, Swansea with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Marine Biology in 2006. Her studies included Fisheries Resources, Aquaculture, Marine Ecology and Environmental Impact Assessment and her final year thesis focused on the changing behavior of sea urchins in response to the overfishing of their predators. With experience running the University's Conservation Society, being a research volunteer with the Atlantic Whale Foundation, and interning with the Ecologist magazine, she has extensive knowledge of the issues facing the world's oceans and the research skills needed to find market-based solutions to affect positive change.
