Karen Sack

Executive Director, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA)

Karen is a co-founder and Executive Director of ORRAA. She has worked on ocean conservation, law and policy for the past three decades and spoken and written extensively on ocean conservation issues. She previously served as CEO of Ocean Unite, co-founded with Sir Richard Branson and José María Figueres. Before that, she had roles as Senior Director for International Oceans at The Pew Charitable Trusts, and as Head of Greenpeace International’s Political & Business Unit as well as its Oceans campaign. She has spearheaded global campaigns to secure a new high seas biodiversity treaty, establish large marine reserves and sanctuaries, reform the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, end illegal fishing and high seas bottom trawling, and drive political and policy action to protect marine species. She also initiated the Global Ocean Commission. Karen has master’s degrees in international environmental law and in international political economy. She is originally from South Africa and now lives in the United States. Karen is also the President of ORRAA Inc.