Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a dynamic marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab. As a consultant for ocean conservation and climate policy issues, she combines scientific rigour with policy innovation to address environmental challenges. Her multidisciplinary expertise, deep commitment to social justice, and passion for sustainable development render her an outstanding sustainability speaker. With an ability to translate complex scientific insights into compelling narratives, she inspires audiences to engage with the pressing issues affecting our oceans and planet. Her vision and expertise drive transformative change.

Educated at Harvard University with a BA in Environmental Science and Public Policy and later earning a PhD in Marine Biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, she embarked on a remarkable journey. Early roles included serving as Executive Director of the Waitt Foundation, a non-profit partnering with island governments and communities to support sustainable ocean initiatives. Ayana also co-founded the Blue Halo Initiative, pioneering the Caribbean’s first island-wide ocean zoning effort, and founded Ocean Collective to advance conservation solutions. Her early career experiences laid a strong foundation for her future impact on global environmental policy. Ayana is now working at the Urban Ocean Lab, an initiative she co-founded to cultivate equitable and practical climate and ocean policy.

Dedicated to the communication and advocation of climate solutions, Ayana is a Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College, underscoring her commitment to advancing urban ocean conservation, sustainable fishing, and social justice. Her prolific writing includes the bestseller “All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis” and the visionary “What If We Get It Right”, alongside numerous influential articles. She also co-created and co-hosted the acclaimed podcast “How to Save a Planet”, sharing inspirational stories about climate change. These achievements highlight her relentless drive to create meaningful change.

With extensive experience delivering talks at TED, the Smithsonian, the Aspen Institute, the United Nations, and to Fortune 500 companies, Ayana has become a sought-after speaker on ocean conservation, climate solutions, environmental policy, and social justice. Her dynamic presentations captivate diverse audiences, combining scientific rigour with engaging storytelling. Organisations hire her for her ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity, passion, and authority, ensuring that every event is enriched by her expertise and vision.