Our Staff
Jim Cannon is Chief Executive Officer and founder of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership.
Jim has worked on fisheries, forestry, and conservation issues in Asia, Europe, and the Americas for more than three decades. He was named Intrafish’s “Person of the Year” in 2009.
Jim founded SFP in 2006 to scale-up the impact of fisheries improvement efforts. At the time, there was no organization like SFP, working with the seafood industry to drive change through their supply chains. The model for fisheries conservation that Jim and the SFP team created is now the standard approach to seafood sustainability by seafood companies around the world.
Before starting SFP, Jim edited the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s World Review of Marine Fisheries in the late 1990s. From 1997 to 2006, he worked at Conservation International (CI), first as head of the conservation economics program and then as co-founder of CI’s Center for Conservation and Government. He has advised McDonald’s on its fish sourcing guidelines and annual sourcing evaluations for more than 20 years and has advised Walmart on seafood sustainability for nearly two decades. He created the Fisheries Improvement Partnerships model, which evolved to become the fishery improvement project (FIP) approach that is widely used today.
From 2005 to 2008, Jim served on the Marine Stewardship Council’s Technical Advisory Board. In 2019 he joined the Board of Verra, to help scale-up financing of projects that tackle climate change and plastics pollution via voluntary offsets markets.
Jim has a degree in population ecology from Cambridge University and an MSc in renewable resources management and an MPhil in fisheries economics from Imperial College London.
Jim is based in the US, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Andrei Klimenko oversees the Operations team, including the Finance, Development, Human Resources, and IT departments, and develops and supports institutional strategy and governance.
Andrei has more than 25 years of experience in commercial fisheries, conservation, and the energy sector. He has fished commercially in Alaska, the Bering Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean; led Wild Salmon Center’s Kamchatka Russia and government relations programs; and worked in strategic planning at Vestas Wind Systems. Andrei earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, with a concentration in natural resource and environmental management, and a BA in geography from Clark University.
Andrei is based in the US, in Portland, Oregon.
Dave Martin is responsible for overseeing SFP’s work on marine ingredients and engagement in multispecies fisheries, leads SFP's efforts to protect human rights and promote ethical treatment of workers in seafood, and is a member of the aquaculture team.
Dave has been involved in conservation efforts for more than 25 years, focusing on working with communities in Siberia, the Russian Far East, Oregon, and throughout the Pacific Rim to promote sustainability, civil society, habitat conservation and restoration, and wilderness and natural resource protection. He worked for SFP from 2012 to 2015, and then returned in 2017. In the interim, he served as corporate director of sustainability for Aqua Star, where he oversaw fisheries and aquaculture improvements, and led engagement on addressing social issues in the seafood supply chain. Dave has MAs in both international policy studies and Russian translation from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a BA in political science and Russian studies from the University of Iowa.
Dave is based in the US, in Portland, Oregon.
Kathryn Novak leads all of the SFP activities related to protecting marine biodiversity and currently has a focus on the bycatch of endangered, threatened, and protected species. She leads a program of work that fuses science, communications, and industry engagement to allow the seafood sector to become a powerful protector of ocean wildlife.
Previously, Kathryn worked at the Ocean Conservancy and helped to initiate some of the early improvement projects in the US Gulf of Mexico. She is a certified ESG Practitioner with the Center for Sustainability Excellence (CSE). Kathryn has a BA in communications from the State University of New York at Albany.
Kathryn is based in the US, near Orlando, Florida.
Aneita Ahuna supports SFP’s CEO in all areas of daily activity, while also serving as the liaison for the SFP Board of Directors.
Aneita has been involved with the nonprofit community for over 45 years. Prior to SFP, she participated in various sectors as an executive director, development director, volunteer coordinator, and event planner, and supported youth activities in schools and the community. Aneita has a BS degree in business administration and psychology from Chaminade University. Attending college in Honolulu, Hawaii, motivated a relocation from California to Hawaii, which has been her home for the past 53 years.
Aneita is based in the US, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Bill Bradford collaborates with SFP’s major buyer and supplier partners in North America, assisting them in establishing their sustainable seafood sourcing objectives and overseeing and reporting on their progress.
Bill has ten years of experience working with one of the largest seafood distributors in the United States. Throughout his career, he has collaborated closely with fishermen, suppliers, retailers, and chefs. He also led marketing campaigns, social media videos, and training sessions to engage both staff and customers. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Penn State University.
Bill is based in the US, outside Atlantic City, New Jersey
Chuck Burg is responsible for achieving SFP’s fundraising goals via foundations, government and development agencies, and individual contributions, by cultivating and maintaining relationships with existing and potential funders.
Before joining SFP, Chuck spent 16 years at Conservation International, where he managed CI's Melanesia Program for six years before moving over to its Foundation Relations unit in 2002. At CI, he worked closely with Jim Cannon and others to devise a strategy for marine protected area creation in Papua New Guinea. Prior to CI, Chuck worked as an editor for a textbook development house, wrote filmstrips for the National Geographic Society's Educational Media Division, and worked as a research assistant to the Secretary Emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution. Chuck holds a BA in English literature from Oberlin College and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy.
Chuck is based in the US, in Washington, DC.
Jacqueline Deane regularly monitors and evaluates Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) based on their progress over time, using an alphabetical (A-E) rating system developed by SFP. She also collaborates closely with the FishSource team and database, as well as with external partners like FisheryProgress.org.
Prior to joining SFP, Jacqueline began her career in marine mammal husbandry before transitioning into wildlife conservation. She previously worked on longleaf pine restoration in the Southeastern United States with The Nature Conservancy and later contributed to endangered species reintroduction efforts with the Conservation Centers for Species Survival and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Jacqueline holds a bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of Rhode Island, with a minor in leadership studies.
Jacqueline is based in the US, in Northern Virginia.
Anne DiMonti is responsible for SFP’s work to reduce marine mammal entanglements in pot/trap fishing gear and generate beneficial conservation solutions for both marine mammals and the fishing industry.
Anne comes to SFP with a 30-year commitment to marine science. Prior to joining SFP, Anne was employed with Audubon Society of RI as Director of Audubon’s Nature Center and Aquarium. In addition, Anne has also developed and directed several collaborations with marine and maritime organizations, government offices, universities, and NGOs to advance shared conservation efforts. Among other projects, Anne spearheaded Sharing the Seas: Safe Boating for Sailors and Whales to educate and empower mariners to make choices that lead to better ocean conservation and reduce marine mammal ship strikes.
In July 2014, Anne was honored to be chosen as a Mystic Seaport 38th Voyager, traveling aboard the historical whaling ship the Charles W. Morgan as a visiting scientist.
Anne has a bachelor of science in zoology from the University of Rhode Island. In addition, she completed an honors biology program at the University of Portsmouth in England and has accomplished several other professional developments.
Anne is based on the East Coast of the US, in Rhode Island.
Katie Mihalik is responsible for supporting several North American supply chain and retail partnerships, while working closely with SFP’s data systems, Supply Chain Roundtables, and Protecting Ocean Wildlife program.
Prior to joining SFP, Katie completed internships with Publix Super Markets, Inc., in its seafood procurement department, and at Marineland Dolphin Conservation Center in animal care and training. Katie also volunteers to assist in various field research projects through Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve and with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Katie has a bachelor’s degree in coastal biology from the University of North Florida, where she did field research on marine mammal and shark biology and ecology within northeast Florida waters.
Katie is based in the US, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Anna Gabis is responsible for oversight of all accounting operations of the organization, and ensures that SFP’s systems and procedures support effective program implementation and flawless audits of its financial reports and systems.
Before coming to SFP, Anna worked as a controller in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors for more than 10 years, including at the Wild Salmon Center, where she also led finance and administration for more than three years. She also consulted with Ocean Outcomes on accounting matters between 2016 and 2018. She holds a BS in accounting from Portland State University and a master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University.
Anna is based in the US, in Portland, Oregon.
Annie Haylon manages a portfolio of Operations activities for SFP, and supports the organization and COO across a number of priorities.
Prior to joining SFP, Annie worked with one of the largest law firms in western Massachusetts. She has a keen interest in ocean law and policy, and completed internships with the New England Aquarium, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic at Vermont Law School, Conservation Law Foundation, and the Stanford University Center for Ocean Solutions. She holds a juris doctor degree from the Vermont Law School and a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She also spent one undergraduate semester at Williams College’s Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program.
Annie is based in the US, in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Lisa Kensok is a member of the People and Culture team at SFP, where she is committed to supporting the organization's employees.
Before joining SFP, Lisa served as the marketing and communications director at a non-profit private school. Her professional journey includes extensive experience in the software industry, where she held various leadership roles in marketing and communications. Additionally, Lisa served as both board secretary and board chair on the board of directors for a public charter school.
Lisa's has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in the science of organizational leadership. She has also earned certificates in executive briefing facilitation and management and has undergone comprehensive training in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Lisa is based in Beaumont, California, USA.
Jen Levin collaborates with SFP’s major buyer and supplier partners in North America, assisting them in establishing their sustainable seafood sourcing objectives and overseeing and reporting on their progress.
Before joining SFP, Jen spent 20 years working with commercial fishermen in New England as well as with global seafood suppliers and retailers. She managed the Sustainable Seafood Program at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and also founded and operated a seafood company that specialized in high-quality catch from the Gulf of Maine, targeting high-end buyers across the country. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine.
Jen is based in the US, outside Portland, Maine.
Dorothy Li manages SFP's Ocean Disclosure Project, a disclosure platform to increase corporate transparency and sustainability in seafood. She encourages seafood companies to voluntarily report, analyzes wild-caught and farmed sourcing data, and creates profiles for participants annually. Previously, she worked on a disclosure platform for climate action at CDP.
Dorothy is based in the US, in Hawaii.
Kris Marchu works closely with SFP’s Development team, global staff, and donors to achieve fundraising and donor stewardship goals via foundations, government, and development agencies.
Kris brings a history of international fundraising and a passion for the environment to SFP. She comes from a green background, having done fundraising for Greenpeace's US and Australia-Pacific offices, as well as coordinating stewardship endeavors for Friends of the Earth. Before joining SFP, she worked at the Sabin Vaccine Institute as the resource development operations associate for the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. Kris has a master’s degree in international relations from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, and a BA in international studies from California State University, Long Beach.
Kris is based in the US, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Kerry Marhefka works with participants in the global mahi-mahi and Indonesian snapper and grouper supply chains to determine improvements needed to minimize the impacts of these fisheries on the environment.
Before joining SFP, Kerry co-founded one of the first Community Supported Fishery programs in the US and owned a small seafood company that won the James Beard Award for Leadership. Before that, Kerry was a fishery biologist with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, where her work primarily focused on marine protected areas.
Kerry has a long history of work in US fisheries management, including representing the state of South Carolina as a South Atlantic Fishery Council member, participating on the Advisory Team for South Carolina Sea Grant’s Commercial Fisheries Training Academy, and serving on the board of the South Carolina Aquarium’s Good Catch Program. She has a BS in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston.
Kerry is based in the US, near Charleston, South Carolina.
Alexia Morgan is responsible for implementing programs to reduce the numbers of marine endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species harmed by fishing activities. This work is achieved by catalyzing the seafood supply chain to implement measures to reduce these impacts, such as requiring the use of best practice bycatch mitigation measures. In addition, Alexia conducts and coordinates supply chain bycatch audits for SFP partners and other major seafood buyers.
Alexia’s interests include elasmobranch population dynamics, population and ecological risk assessments, bycatch mitigation techniques, and international fisheries management. She holds a PhD in fisheries and aquatic sciences from the University Florida, an MS in marine biology from Nova Scotia University, and a BA in biology from Lake Forest College in Illinois.
Alexia is based in the US, in Belfast, Maine.
Cody Pajunen is responsible for furthering SFP’s strategy of countering the threat of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally. His work is focused on developing tools and collaborative partnerships to establish best practices for fisheries management throughout the seafood industry and regulatory agencies.
Prior to joining SFP, Cody served as an officer in the US Coast Guard. While there, he led international maritime law enforcement deployments throughout South America and the Western and Central Pacific Ocean to mitigate the threats of IUU fishing and transnational organized crime. He holds a BA in political science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and an MA in International Relations from Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals.
Cody is based in the US, near Tampa, Florida.
Derek Shultz assists in planning, organizing, and executing SFP projects by utilizing project management systems, tools, and capabilities.
Before joining SFP, Derek worked for more than five years as a project management consultant for several clients, mainly in the life sciences field. Prior to that, he spent over a decade advancing renewable energy and sustainable products at Algenol Biotech, where he served numerous roles, namely as the aquaculture operations manager in an R&D department and project manager for production expansion and product development. Derek's early career involved oceanographic research at sea, mapping primary productivity across the Gulf of Mexico, and he also spent a short period working as a fisheries observer for the longline tuna fishery near Hawaii.
Derek has a B.S. degree in marine biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston and has held a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification since 2018. He is based in the US, in Fort Myers, Florida.
Braddock “Brad” Spear is responsible for key work streams in SFP’s overall portfolio of activity, including aquaculture, human rights, management policies for industrial fisheries in developed countries, certain Supply Chain Roundtables, relationships with other NGOs and stakeholders, and policy on sustainability standards and other sustainable seafood issues.
For eight years prior to SFP, Brad worked at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, ending his tenure as senior coordinator for policy. At the Commission, Brad developed an expertise in the US fisheries management system, coordinated the legislative program, and initiated collaborative efforts involving government, industry, and NGOs. He holds a BS in marine biology from the University of Maryland and an MA in marine affairs from the University of Rhode Island.
Brad is based in the US, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Amy Sweeting leads SFP's marketing and communications efforts.
Amy began her career as a journalist in Washington, DC, and Tokyo, Japan, before moving to Conservation International (CI), where she managed CI’s engagement with oil, gas, and mining companies. After leaving CI, she worked as a freelance writer and editor for a wide range of clients, including nonprofit conservation organizations, multilateral development banks, and international financial institutions. Amy has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University and a master’s in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Amy is based in the US, in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Lacy Walls is responsible for directing all People and Culture activities for SFP.
Prior to joining SFP, Lacy served children as the human resources manager at a non-profit private school. In addition to her HR expertise, she also has a background in accounting. Lacy holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, has served on the board of directors for a public charter school, and is an advocate and contributor to destigmatizing mental health. She also holds SHRM-SCP (Society for Human Resource Management – Senior Certified Professional) certification.
Lacy is based in the US, in Beaumont, California.
Megan Westmeyer advises the seafood supply chain on improvements needed to minimize the impacts of fisheries on the environment. Her work primarily focuses on wild shrimp and snapper/grouper fisheries in the US and Mexico.
For eight years prior to joining SFP, Megan led the South Carolina Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Initiative, an educational program for culinary professionals. In that role, she helped chefs learn about sustainable seafood by translating technical fishery information to a concise format usable by the culinary industry. She has also worked as a shrimp bycatch observer in the Gulf of Mexico and at the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Megan has an MS in oceanography and coastal sciences from Louisiana State University and a BS in marine science from the University of South Carolina.
Megan is based in the US, near Washington, DC.