This panel will provide an introductory presentation and discussion tailored for policymakers, decision makers, investors/finance institutes, and other stakeholders committed to catalyzing actionable strategies for coastal resilience.
Beginning with an examination of historical satellite remote sensing data, we'll introduce innovative technology to understand system dynamics that drive coastal evolution. Transitioning to predictive earth system modeling, we'll showcase the power of anticipating and mitigating climate-induced coastal vulnerabilities and risks.
This approach allows for the development of feasible adaptation pathways. Central to our discussion is the imperative of a consultative approach, where scientific rigor converges with community perspectives to inform policy formulation.
Through practical case studies and expert dialogue, attendees will gain invaluable insights into operationalizing this tiered approach to drive decision-making regarding coastlines and natural capital within policy frameworks. Join us in charting a course towards sustainable coastal adaptation, shaping policies that safeguard vulnerable communities and ecosystems in SIDS and beyond.
Greg is the Coastal Resilience lead for Fugro in the Americas, where he implements a Climate and Nature strategy to help partners prepare for the future. Fugro is an industry leader in providing geo-data insights by mapping, modeling, and monitoring information about our planet and the structures built upon it. Greg’s experience has spanned policy, industry and entrepreneurship, and his focus is on building long-term partnerships that benefit ocean health, build coastal resilience and create economic opportunity.
Dr. Cheryl Hapke
Principal Consultant, Coastal Resilience, Fugro
Cheryl is a coastal geologist with more than 25 years of experience studying coastal climate risk and resilience. Dr. Hapke worked for 2+ decades with the USGS as a research scientist, and now is a Principal Consultant in Coastal Resilience with Fugro. She studies coastal processes and works with decision-makers impacted by the challenges of coastal climate risk and resilience, which include municipalities, private coastal facilities, insurers, government entities, and other stakeholders. Dr. Hapke has extensive experience overseeing and managing large projects and coordinating across diverse groups of stakeholders and partners.
President, Deborah Brosnan & Associates; Founder, OceanShot
Dr. Brosnan is an ocean climate-resilience scientist and visionary eco-leader reshaping the fight against environmental and climate hurdles. Bridging sectors from finance to government, she's a powerhouse interlocutor turning challenges into opportunities for businesses, communities, and our planet. From her native Ireland to the US and Caribbean, her journey echoes dedication, passion, perseverance, and personal resilience surviving both a plane crash and volcanic eruption – a true force of nature.
Jerry Jermain Enoe is the chairman of the National Coastal and Ocean Governance Committee and an advisor to the government of Grenada on the blue economy. He currently serves as the GIS Coordinator at St. George's University and has been involved in various consultancy roles, including projects with The Nature Conservancy, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, and the European Union. Jerry is also a Selected expert for the informal advisory group for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas for the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). Additionally, he is working towards completing his PhD in Geoinformatics at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, expected (2024). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a specialization in Marine Biology from St. George's University and a Certificate in Ocean and Climate Science from the Sea Education Association (SEA).
Restoring Coastal Community Economies through Coastal Resilience & Restoration
This panel will share the Blue Community program for building the tourist economy for coastal communities through a variety of coastal resilience and restoration strategies, and new financing methods through investment partners.
Some of its key features or the Blue Community programs and services include:
Sustainability assessment, community engagement, capacity building, and culture based leadership development
A Shared visioning utilizing techniques from the NASA futuring team process, the Delphi prediction process,
12 Blue Community strategies co-developed with the Walt Disney Company Animal Science and Environment team
The Olympic Award winning Culture Based Leadership Development developed with UNEP
A three module online course through the University of Central Florida Rosen College for Hospitality Management to increase community engagement, build capacity
Shellfish as an opportunity for ecnomic development, food security, and carbon sequestration.
The Chiles Hospitality Model for the Circular Economy
Several best practices for coastal restoration and resiliency from Sea and Shoreline.
The New Day approach for healthy investing for protecting the oceans, coastal restoration, and resiliency
Robertico Croes - Moderator
Dr. Robertico Croes, a professor at the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management, is a leading figure in Tourism Economics and Management. With over 40 years of experience, he has made significant contributions to academia and the tourism industry worldwide, and importantly has helped to improve the tourism destinations’ residents’ quality of life.
At the heart of his academic endeavors lies a dedication to rigorous scholarship and practical application. As the editor of the influential Rosen Research Review, Dr. Croes disseminates cutting-edge research to a global audience, reaching over 1,000,000 readers across 150 countries fostering dialogue and innovation within the tourism industry.
Beyond academia, Dr. Croes is instrumental in shaping tourism development strategies for small islands and developing nations. His consultancy work spans diverse areas such as labor and economic justice, strategic pricing, innovation, and social equity, driving sustainable growth and economic prosperity.
Dr. Croes' global influence is evident through presentations in numerous countries and prestigious conferences worldwide. Recently, the President of the United Nations General Assembly invited him to speak at the High-Level Thematic Event on Tourism, part of the first-ever United Nations General Assembly Sustainability Week, at the UN Headquarters, New York.
Dr. David W. Randle is Managing Director of the Blue Community Consortium
Capacity buidling & community engagement
Culture based leadership development
Technology for community assessment, planning, implementation, & evaluation.
Ed Chiles is the founder and of Chiles Hospitality, Gulf Shellfish Institute, and All Clams on Deck
Operating a business with a circular economy
Relationship of health soils to health oceans
Shellfish combined with seagrass is an opportunity to improve the ecoomy, jobs, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Gamble Creek Farm a model for transitioning to organic farming while restoring the soils and increasing carbon sequestration. Healthy soils have a strong impact on keeping coastal waters clean.
Carter Henne is President of Sea And Shoreline
Carter Henne has worked in both the public and private sectors to create healthy aquatic environments that support the unique species that depend on these critical habitats. In 2014, he co-founded Sea & Shoreline LLC, where he has since served as President. He sits on the Seagrass Technology and Restoration Innovation Task Force, a delegate reviewer for the Ocean Exchange, and serves on the management board of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Council. His expertise lies in seagrass aquaculture, aquatic habitat restoration, nature based solutions, marine contracting, and coastal resiliency. He has extensive experience transforming algae-based aquatic ecosystems into healthy, plant-based ecosystems.
His mission of implementing sustainable, nature-based solutions is balanced with meeting stakeholder needs to foster community involvement. His approach to aquatic restoration has earned him accolades and esteem in the scientific community for his innovative methods and organizational leadership. Under Carter’s leadership, Sea & Shoreline implements novel transformational restoration projects.
Doug Heske is founder and CEO of Newday
Investing in your values
Investing to make a difference
The difference between ESG and Impact Investing.
