WildAid Appoints Chris Wilcox to Lead Growing Marine Protection Program

WildAid has appointed globally recognized scientist and conservation leader Dr. Chris Wilcox to lead its growing marine protection program. With a strong record of translating research into policy change and conservation innovation, Dr. Wilcox brings expertise in fisheries management, protected areas, and plastic pollution to WildAid’s marine program–recipient of the 2023 Earthshot Prize. With a goal to expand effective marine protection to 250 sites around the world, WildAid aims to advance conservation of key ocean ecosystems for wildlife and the communities that depend on them. 

WildAid CEO Meaghan Brosnan stated, “We’re thrilled to have such a proven leader join our team, Chris is an innovator and a builder with a keen focus on solving problems and scaling solutions.” 

Dr. Wilcox most recently served as the Director for Fisheries and Conservation at the Minderoo Foundation while previously leading many ground-breaking projects as a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research at Australia’s national science agency.

Some recent projects included creating the software and hardware for Indonesia’s new national fisheries monitoring system, estimating unreported fishing in the Indian Ocean, and using underwater sound to stop poaching and destructive fishing.  With his PhD from the University of California Santa Cruz and 124 scientific papers published over the past 10 years, Dr. Wilcox brings strong analysis with a highly applied and practical bias.

“I am really excited to join WildAid’s stellar team.  It will be an amazing opportunity to lead the marine program in delivering effective conservation where it’s needed most,” said Dr. Wilcox. “We’re aiming to build and scale solutions that can protect critical coastal and ocean areas from illegal fishing and other threats around the world.” 

About WildAid’s Marine Program 

With 20 years of on-the-water experience, WildAid is a proven leader in safeguarding marine protected areas (MPAs), coastal fisheries, and vital habitats from critical threats, including illegal fishing and over-exploitation. WildAid empowers partners and local communities in 16 countries to develop and implement comprehensive, cost-effective enforcement solutions that protect and strengthen the ocean, allowing fisheries, marine wildlife, coral reefs, blue carbon habitats, and coastal communities to thrive.

WildAid’s marine program recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with Global Affairs Canada to protect the vibrant Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape. Over the next two years, this initiative will work to enhance the protection and sustainable use of marine resources across four countries in the region: Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama. The project, Strengthening Marine Enforcement in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape, will improve monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) capacities, bolster regional cooperation, and promote the role of both men and women in coastal communities in marine conservation efforts. 

About WildAid  

WildAid inspires change and empowers the world to protect wildlife and vital habitats from critical threats, including illegal wildlife trafficking, climate change, and illegal fishing. WildAid delivers impact at scale in two distinct ways: 1) creating innovative communications campaigns that inspire millions of people in China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the U.S. to protect endangered wildlife and reduce climate impacts, and 2) strengthening effective ocean enforcement of priority marine areas, including marine protected areas, coastal fisheries, coral reefs, and blue carbon habitats with government, NGO and community partners in 16 countries around the globe.