Biography
Aulani Wilhelm,
Senior VP, Center for Oceans
Aulani Wilhelm is the senior VP at the Center for Oceans. Her work bridges culture, community and science to drive innovations in ocean conservation.
Aulani has played a pivotal role in shaping the emerging field of large-scale ocean conservation, leading the design and establishment of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaiʻi, and as founder of Big Ocean, a network of the world’s largest marine managed areas.
Prior to joining Conservation International, she was director of ocean initiatives for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and a social innovation fellow at Stanford University. She founded Island Water, a social venture to provide clean water and reduce plastic pollution on islands, and the Design4Nature Collective, a network of professionals trained in design thinking who apply methods of problem-solving for nature.
Aulani holds a master’s degree from Stanford University and a bachelor’s from the University of Southern California.
