Marine didn’t always know her career would lead to ocean conservation, but her connection to nature has been a constant since childhood. At 13, scuba diving became a transformative experience that ignited her fascination with the underwater world. Yet her journey into conservation was far from straightforward. After earning a business degree in Paris during the 2008 financial crisis, Marine took a pragmatic step into the luxury fashion industry. Working for renowned brands like Longchamp and Chanel, she climbed the corporate ladder. However, her father’s sudden passing became a turning point. Confronted with the realization that her job allowed her only three days to grieve with her family, Marine reassessed her priorities and set out to find a deeper purpose.
Taking a year off to travel, Marine reconnected with her love for nature and diving. A documentary on shark finning sparked a lightbulb moment, solidifying her desire to transition into conservation. Volunteering with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) gave her invaluable hands-on experience and clarity on how she could make an impact. That role inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental Management at the University of Hong Kong. Determined to build her knowledge and skills, Marine navigated this intense period while raising her newborn daughter, working part time, and wrapping up her dissertation, showcasing her resilience and commitment to this innate passion.
Today, as Associate Director of Conservation for TNC’s Oyster Restoration Initiative in Hong Kong, Marine is leading efforts to revive the city’s once-thriving shellfish reefs, which are critical for water filtration, marine biodiversity, and coastal protection. In the challenging low-visibility waters of Lantau Island and the Pearl River Delta, Marine and her team collect and analyze oyster samples, filling crucial knowledge gaps and developing strategies to rehabilitate these vital ecosystems. She is also spearheading efforts to have oysters recognized on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List for Ecosystems in Hong Kong, a significant step toward prioritizing shellfish reef conservation globally.
Marine firmly believes that people cannot protect what they don’t love—and they cannot love what they don’t experience. So through her work, she’s on a mission to help Hong Kong residents see the beauty and importance of marine ecosystems like shellfish reefs, fostering a shared sense of stewardship. For Marine, this effort is deeply personal. Her greatest motivation is her daughter and the sobering thought that her generation may never experience coral reefs or marine life as they exist today. Yet Marine’s message is one of hope and urgency: by reconnecting people to the natural world and igniting their passion for conservation, we can drive meaningful change and build a future where humanity and the ocean thrive together.
