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About

Vision

A Healthy Ocean for a
Healthy Future

Mission

Scaling up Science, Innovation & Outreach for a
Healthy Ocean

Our Purpose

To have the future we want, we must have a thriving ocean, full of life.  Where we understand the role a healthy ocean plays in mitigating the brutal effects of climate change. Where we understand that by restoring and protecting our ocean, we all benefit. 

THE CHALLENGE

The ocean and the life in it face multiple stressors; climate change, pollution, and over-fishing. But it also faces another more pervasive issue – lack of prioritisation, funding and support.

Aotearoa New Zealand has a special role to play as guardian to one of the largest and most significant ocean spaces on the planet. As ocean people we need to step up and act with urgency and decisiveness.

HOW WE WORK

We partner with exceptional New Zealand scientists and innovators to fund action for a healthy ocean. Using the powerful platform of sport, we bring global attention to the vital message to protect what we love and need, the ocean.

New Zealand’s maritime territory is 15 times its landmass
but we only protect 0.4% of it.

TOTAL TERRITORY
≈ 4,000,000 km²
≈ 0.4%
≈ 10 % Unprotected

OUR IMPACT

IN NUMBERS

1

Marine conservation projects supported

$ 1 M

Directed to the projects we support

0

knowledge partners working with us to drive action for a healthy ocean

0 +

ocean champions engaged using their voice and platform for the ocean

Blair Tuke
Founder
Blair Tuke’s love of the ocean has driven both his extraordinary sailing career and his mission to protect it for future generations. With six 49er World Championship titles, Olympic gold, and two silver medals, Blair transitioned from the 49er class to new challenges, including a podium finish in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race on MAPFRE. He has also won the America’s Cup three times—first as flight controller on Emirates Team New Zealand’s foiling catamaran in 2017, then defending the Cup in New Zealand in 2021 and Barcelona in 2024. In 2021, Blair took on another challenge, leading the Black Foils New Zealand SailGP team as joint CEO alongside longtime sailing partner Peter Burling. A Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a BLAKE leader, and World Sailor of the Year, Blair is equally committed to ocean conservation. As co-founder of Live Ocean Foundation and Live Ocean Racing, he channels his passion into protecting the ocean that has shaped his life and career.
Peter Burling
Founder
Peter Burling is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished sailors and a passionate champion for ocean restoration and protection. His sailing achievements include Olympic gold and two silver medals, nine World Championship titles (six in the 49er class), and three America’s Cup victories. As co-CEO of the Black Foils New Zealand SailGP team, Peter continues to excel on the global stage. His growing awareness of ocean health, sparked during the 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race, fuels his commitment to conservation. A member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a BLAKE leader, and twice crowned World Sailor of the Year, Peter combines technical brilliance with an innate understanding of wind and sea. Peter seamlessly merges his sailing career with his mission to protect the ocean. As the co-founder of Live Ocean Foundation and Live Ocean Racing, Peter works to drive action to safeguard the ocean and raise awareness around the vital role it plays in the health of the planet.

Our Team

Our small but mighty team brings a range of ocean experience, both on and off the water.

Sally Paterson
Chief Executive
Sally is the founding Chief Executive of Live Ocean, guiding the organisation through its formative years in close collaboration with the founders. Her passion for the for-purpose and philanthropic sector has developed over the past decade, following a successful career in communications. She has worked with organisations such as Blake, where she witnessed the power of sportspeople to raise awareness of environmental issues. In 2017, Sally deepened her expertise by earning a Graduate Certificate in Business (Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies) with distinction from the Australian School of Non-profit and Philanthropic Studies (ACPNS). Before this, she spent 15 years providing media relations advice to corporate, consumer, and not-for-profit clients. Sally is also a trustee for The Duncan Foundation. Over summer, she enjoys life off the grid on Rakino Island in the Hauraki Gulf with her family, embracing ocean adventures, good books, and stunning views.
Hannah Prior
Impact Director
Hannah has over a decade of experience in New Zealand’s environmental non-profit sector, focusing on leadership and engagement. She created and led BLAKE’s Young Blake Expeditions, voyaging to the Kermadecs and Sub-Antarctic, and worked as a Science Communication Fellow with the Ocean Exploration Trust. With degrees in Law and Arts and a Master’s in Environmental Law, her passion for the ocean drives her mission to safeguard and restore its health for future generations.
Jane Gold
Chief Financial Officer
Jane, a Chartered Accountant since 1996, brings extensive corporate experience from roles in London, Melbourne, and Auckland. She served as CFO at Tower Health and Life and led ecostore’s Finance Team for four years. Now focused on non-profits, Jane supports several organisations, including Simplicity’s fund management and charitable foundation. Passionate about ocean health, she balances her career with family life, enjoying cooking, walking, traveling, and time with friends.
Kelsey Hunter
Partnerships & Communications Manager
Kelsey’s career has focused on communicating sustainability and building global communities. She has delivered strategic communications on climate change and sustainability, including work with Sustainalytics, an ESG research firm. Kelsey designed Climathon, a global climate movement recognized with the Guardian Sustainable Business Award. Passionate about protecting the ocean, she is driven to amplify its critical role in planetary health and share inspiring stories of ocean guardians.
Elaine Harris
Digital Manager
Exploring the connection between people, land and sea has played a pivotal role throughout Elaine’s career. Working with organisations such as Environment Canterbury and FarmIQ, Elaine executed a variety of successful marketing campaigns and outreach programmes, designed to educate, and evoke positive action. Her SaaS and environmental management background inspired Elaine to utilise her skills for the ocean and transition to the non-profit sector, where she has spent the past four years developing Live Ocean’s digital presence and optimising the team’s internal business functions. Raised on tales of her dad’s sailing adventures, Elaine jumped aboard a 420 at her first possible opportunity. With a special knack for capsizing and spending more time ‘in’ the water than ‘on’ it, she eventually traded the boat for a pair of fins. Now a trained scuba instructor, she can often be found exploring the bays around the Hauraki Gulf and Wellington Harbour.
Alina Rollinson
Team Administrator
Alina’s career bridges corporate and non-profit sectors, underpinned by a degree in International Relations and a knack for building relationships and managing data. Originally from Siberia, her respect for the natural environment shapes her work. Now based on Auckland’s North Shore, Alina is an active member of the Spirit of Adventure shore crew, and enjoys ocean swims and beach time with her young son. She brings her passion for the ocean to her all-rounder role at Live Ocean Foundation.
Miranda Burdon
CHAIR
NEW ZEALAND BOARD
Miranda is Chair of the Live Ocean board. Her career spans both the commercial and social sectors and she has over twenty years of governance experience. She spent three years as the CEO of NZ Global Women. She also served as Deputy Chair of Project Litefoot, a charitable trust that inspires New Zealanders to be environmental champions through connections with sports clubs and sporting heroes. Miranda is the Co-Founder of Food Nation (a plant-powered food producer), Chair of Emerging Proteins NZ and Chair of Meadow Mushrooms Ltd. Miranda studied at Harvard University (USA) as the recipient of the Trade New Zealand Export Award in 1999. Miranda has a deep appreciation of water as a Taonga and the importance of the ocean as comparable only to the air we breathe.
Shelley Campbell
Trustee
New Zealand Board
Shelley (Ngāti Hine) is the Chief Executive of Wise Group, one of the largest providers of mental health and wellbeing services in New Zealand. Prior to that she was the CEO at the Waikato Bay of Plenty Cancer Society. Her passion for the  environment was honed during her time as CEO of the Sir Peter Blake Trust through their leadership development and environmental programmes for young New Zealanders.  She is on the Next Foundation Advisory Board and is also on the Board of the national science challenge, Sustainable Seas. She’s also an honorary Captain of the Royal NZ Navy, and a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.  Shelley is a current board member of Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui and Le Va, and has previously served on the board of the Halberg Foundation among others.  When she isn’t working Shelley can be found out fishing in the Coromandel, training for Iron Māori or with her three mokopuna. 
Jez Fanstone
TRUSTEE
NEW ZEALAND AND US BOARDS
Jez’s passion for the ocean started on the South Coast of England. His path was set with his first Whitbred 97/98 ocean race and then again with the 2001/02 race. Jez was involved with the British Olympic Sailing Team, coaching Ben Ainslie for the 2008 Olympic Games, before moving to NZ in 2006. He spent eight years as Yachting New Zealand’s High-Performance Director, where he led arguably the country’s most successful Olympic sailing campaigns (London 2012 and Rio 2016). It was through this he met Peter (then 17) and Blair (19) and coached them for the three years leading up to their Olympic silver medal in London. Jez sits on both the board for Live Ocean in NZ as well as the US board. The ocean has provided Jez’s life with so much and he is a strong advocate for leaving a healthy and productive ocean for future generations, an ocean full of life.
Andrew Judge
TRUSTEE
US BOARD
Andrew has worked with non-profits since 2005, serving as Programme and Capacity Development Director for Live Ocean during its establishment, before becoming CEO of the Australian Himalayan Foundation in 2023. Previously, he was COO and CEO of SurfAid International, leading significant program expansion, emergency responses, and securing government aid funding. Andrew holds a Master’s in International Law from Columbia University. A keen diver, he is always seeking out saltwater redemption.
Amanda Martin
Trustee
US Board
Amanda has over 20 years experience as a tax advisor working in a Big 4 firm, a UK investment bank and Tax Principal at nsaTax Limited – New Zealand’s largest specialist tax practice.  In 2021,  Amanda founded New Zealand tax specialist firm, Tax Advisory Limited.  Her clients include SMEs, high net worth families, non-profits and other chartered accounting and law firms. Amanda has a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce from Otago University, is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand and is an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Amanda brings to Live Ocean her extensive experience with tax compliance and reporting obligations with tax authorities. Originally from Wellington, Amanda is a passionate advocate for ocean health. When not at work, Amanda loves spending time with her family on Rakino Island and diving in or sailing on the beautiful Hauraki Gulf.
Erin Miserlis
Trustee
US Board
Erin Miserlis is a philanthropy and community engagement specialist with over 20 years in the non-profit sector. Specializing in organizational leadership with an emphasis on fundraising, marketing, and communications Erin most recently served as the US-based Executive Director for SurfAid International, which originated in Gisborne. As well as development roles with the YMCA and American Heart Association, Erin also worked for the Center for Community Solutions (CCS). She was the agency’s first-ever Development Director and raised over a half-million dollars for their emergency services programs and $250,000 in grant revenue, including the prestigious Oprah Winfrey Angel Network Grant. Erin spent her youth on the shores of Oxnard, CA which is home to the beautiful Channel Islands National Park. Spending the bulk of her time in and around these waters became the foundation for a lifetime appreciation of the ocean, its inhabitants, and preserving it for generations to come.

Our advisors are an invaluable resource for Live Ocean, providing decades worth of specialist knowledge, passion and insights.

Rochelle Constantine
Professor
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
Rochelle is a renowned biologist, lecturer, and relentless champion for the marine environment. Through her work at the University of Auckland, she has mentored future marine scientists, achieved unimaginable feats and led groundbreaking research, including Maui63—an AI-powered drone tracking Māui and Hector’s dolphins. Rochelle’s dedication to preserving New Zealand’s marine biodiversity has driven influential conservation efforts, making a lasting impact on science and ocean protection.
Tom Trnksi
HEAD OF NATURAL SCIENCES
AUCKLAND MUSEUM
Tom has over 30 years of expertise in South Pacific marine biodiversity. A global authority on marine fish larvae, his research spans biogeography, marine connectivity, and the benefits of marine reserves. As Co-Director of Te Mana o Rangitāhua, Tom integrates indigenous knowledge with ecosystem modeling to support the thrivability of Rangitāhua’s ocean, guided by Ngāti Kuri. He is also an accomplished author and researcher.
Our Supporters

Our supporters are people and organisations who passionately believe we need to do everything we can today for a better tomorrow. They’re ocean lovers. Like us they know Aotearoa has a special role to play in the fight for a healthy ocean. 

Their generosity supporting the organisation and amplification projects means 100% of public donations go to the projects we support. 

Ocean Champions

The ocean is an ecosystem. The better the life in it connects and works together, the more productive and vital it is.

We work with other ocean champions who provide a powerful platform to share the message of the urgent need for restoration and protection of our ocean.

Take Action to Create Lasting Solutions for Ocean Conservation

We need people like you to go the extra distance and bring your community around the ambition for a healthy ocean. Whether you are keen to join the club and hear more about the work we do, run a fundraiser, donate or jump on board as a supporter
GET ON BOARD