Simon Reddy, Executive Secretary

Simon has spent 20 years developing and delivering international policy in areas such as oceans and climate change. Most recently he was Executive Director of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group from 2007-2012, during which time the organisation became an internationally recognised global network of 59 cities taking action on climate change. Simon trained as a marine and fisheries biologist.

Philip Burgess, Director of Policy and Research

Phil has over 25 years’ experience on oceans issues, working for Australia’s Maritime Safety Authority, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Commonwealth Environment Department. He has represented Australia in many international fora, including the UN and APEC and was one of the first co-chairs of the UN process examining biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Clare Brennan, Director of Operations

Clare has worked for more than 15 years in international affairs. She joined the Commission from the Mayor of London’s office, where her role as Senior International Relations Officer entailed providing advice and support to the Mayor as a means of delivering and shaping his international policy agenda. She also spent a year seconded to the C40 secretariat as Senior Coordinator.

Richard Black, Director of Communications

Richard joined the Commission from BBC News, where he spent eight years as Environment Correspondent. His background is in radio, particularly BBC World Service where he worked successively as a sound engineer, producer, presenter and correspondent. He formerly ran his own radio production company and wrote for magazines on medicine, science and the environment.

Kristian Teleki, Director of Global Engagement

Kristian was most recently Vice President of SeaWeb, responsible for its sustainable markets, science and Asia Pacific programmes. He was previously Director of the International Coral Reef Action Network and led the Marine Programme at UNEP-WCMC. Kristian chairs the reference user group of the MEDSEA ocean acidification project, and is on the boards of several environment, development and social initiatives.

Ruth Chaloner, Communications Manager

Ruth has worked in communications and public relations for more than a decade, principally in information technology. For most of that period she ran her own company, based in Cambridge. Recently Ruth spent two years living in South Georgia, developing the South Georgia Heritage Trust’s outreach and fundraising work.

 Jennie Dean, Senior Policy Associate

Jennie’s background is in ocean policy, most recently at the Pew Environment Group. There, she advocated for advancement of the US national ocean policy and on other marine conservation issues. She has also worked in the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Naval Oceanographic Office, and for conservation groups such as The Nature Conservancy and Reef Check.

Sarah Gardner, Administration Assistant

Sarah joined the Commission from the UK Energy Research Centre, where she organised conferences and other events for energy professionals. Prior to that she worked in the educational sector, running international professional development programmes for teachers. Sarah has also worked in local government.