We are a small group of international volunteers trying to create an easy and accessible platform for anyone to get involved in marine conservation efforts from anywhere in the world. Through social media campaigns, call-to-actions, and events we constantly find new ways to create strength in numbers to give a voice to the voiceless.
THE TEAM
Natalie Parra
Co-Founder
Natalie is a freediver and marine conservationist based in Hawaii. She co-founded Keiko Conservation with the desire to create a platform where anyone from anywhere could get involved in ongoing marine conservation efforts around the world. She currently manages Keiko's international chapters. She also works for Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project and Oceanic Preservation Society.
Maria Gracia Gonzalez Nader
Keiko Ecuador
Maria is a biologist and diver deeply interested in marine conservation. She has volunteered for several NGO's and non-profits, and also has founded her own stray animal rescue group. She has additionally volunteered for the Fisheries Management Department at Parque Nacional Galápagos in Sea Cucumber Population Monitoring Program and Green Sea Turtle Nesting Monitoring Program. One of her main goals is to spread the message that everyone that wants to do something about our planet's health can and should get involved through simple every day actions.
Dana Bjarner
Keiko Ecuador
Dana is a Contemporary Dancer and a Wildlife and Conservation Photographer. She has been dancing since she was 4 years old and has always been passionate about the ocean, but it wasn't until she began scuba diving and free diving that she discovered her interest in marine photography and ocean conservation. She is now involved in marine conservation efforts in Hawaii and Ecuador, and trying to create awareness for marine issues through her imagery worldwide. Her current goal is to combine art and conservation by showing people that regardless of what career path you choose, you can find a way to use it to inspire others to care about the ocean. She hopes to show her dance students that they can use their artistic abilities as powerful tools to speak up about the important issues that should concern us all.
Rebecca Hoffman
Keiko Norway
Rebecca was born in Germany, spent her childhood in Canada, and her teens and adult life in Norway. Like many other kids in the 90's she watched the movie Free Willy. After seeing that movie something in her as a kid turned very passionate about whales. She drew them, fell asleep listening to music with whale vocalizations, all she wanted were toys of whales and so on. The only thing that has changed in the course of 25 years is that she no longer buy toys, and she care about much more than just whales. Her passion grew and she knew that one day she had to be a part of something and in 2017 she got my chance when she came in contact with the Keiko Conservation. She will be studying tourism from 2018-2020 and her long term dream is to start a small buisness that combines tourism with conservation here on the Lofoten Islands.
Tracie S.
Keiko Japan
Kenneth Young
Keiko Japan
Keiko Conservationists Aiding Our Work From Around The World
Carissa Cabrera
Carissa Cabrera is a marine biologist with a concentration on cetaceans. She has been in Hawaii in recent years and joined Keiko to help advocate sustainable practices, promote just treatment of all animals, and help others live a life aligned with their values while expanding on mine. She loves anything under the water or out in nature, and her favorite marine animal is a Cuviers beaked whale!
Chiara Salomoni
Chiara is a photographer specialized in underwater fashion and ocean wildlife. She grew up in Italy, experiencing the beauty of the sea since a young age. In 2010, Chiara graduated from the Brera Academy of fine Arts in Milan and then moved to California to study photography at Brooks institute, Santa Barbara. She is currently working on Mermaids For Change, and co-founded Project Mermaids, turning people into beautiful mermaids allover the world and create a book with half of the profits donated to SaveOurBeach.org. Chiara joined Keiko Conservation driven by a growing urge to reverse the degenerating faith of our oceans.
Anna Hall
Anna Hall grew up on the Canadian prairies, but has always had an affinity for the deep blue sea. She received a Bachelor of Science double majoring in Biology and Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, along with a Master’s degree in Environment and Sustainability from the University of Western Ontario. She has been involved with conservation in a variety of ways over the past decade, including working as an environmental educator, and has held a variety of research assistantships around the world from northern Canada to Costa Rica. You’ll find Anna going on adventurous travels, blowing bubbles while scuba diving, trying to take wildlife photography, and practicing yoga any chance she gets. Even though Anna may be very far from the ocean (for now), being a part of Keiko Conservation means that she can engage in global action to conserve the world’s oceans and all the life it contains, while encouraging others to do the same.