Ben Scheelk

Ben manages The Ocean Foundation’s Blue Resilience Initiative, which focuses on nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Ben works to support coastal community resilience by restoring and conserving coastal habitats like seagrasses, mangroves, coral reefs, seaweeds, and salt marshes as well as reducing stressors to coastal environments and improving local food security through innovative regenerative agriculture and agroforestry approaches using seaweed-based compost. Ben joined TOF after working as the project manager and executive assistant for Alexandra Cousteau at Blue Legacy International, one of TOF’s now fledged projects. Ben holds a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from The George Washington University. He graduated from Northern Michigan University with a B.A. in Earth Science and International Studies with Honors.

Ben serves as Chairman on the Board of Directors for The Commons, a 501(c)(3) that empowers restoration stakeholders with access to high quality digital services and open tool kits. He also serves as Treasurer on the Advisory Board for Ocean Connectors, a fiscally sponsored project of The Ocean Foundation, which uses classroom activities, field trips, and “knowledge exchanges” to connect youth and build global stewardship in San Diego and Mexico.