Minna Epps is the Head of IUCN’s Global Ocean Programme (Ocean Governance, Ocean and Climate change, Marine pollution and Blue Finance).

She is the Chair for the Blue Natural Capital funding facility executive committee, the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund, and Chair of the IMPAC International Steering Committee, as well as serving as a strategic advisor to the Blue Action Fund, the One Planet Fund and most recently part of the Impact Committee of Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s newly launched ReOcean fund, a private equity fund dedicated to SDG14, and represents IUCN in several high-level Ocean networks, as well as coordinating marine scientific research. She is also a WEF Friends of Ocean Action Leader. Global policy work include Head of IUCN Delegations for various marine Multilateral Environmental Agreements and negotiations (ie the High Seas BBNJ Treaty).

Minna has 20 years of experience in international marine and coastal conservation from fieldwork to global policy. She brings her experience from IUCN, Marine Stewardship Council, European Commission, UNEP, WTO, and marine conservation NGOs. Minna is a marine biologist with studies from Imperial College, Rhode Island School of Oceanography and UC Berkeley.