WHO WE ARE

OUR STORY

Blue Action originated in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, a powerful and destructive storm that struck The Bahamas in 2019.

It was established with the primary mission of driving climate resilience for low-lying coastal communities and their ocean ecosystems in light of the climate crisis.

Blue Action has expanded to become an internationally recognized company that accelerates mitigation and adaptation solutions for climate resilience through investment in innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building.

Today, as global change-makers, our commitment to these objectives remains unwavering.

Blue Action originated in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, a powerful and destructive storm that struck The Bahamas in 2019.

It was established with the primary mission of driving climate resilience for low-lying coastal communities and their ocean ecosystems in light of the climate crisis.

Blue Action has expanded to become an internationally recognized company that accelerates mitigation and adaptation solutions for climate resilience through investment in innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building.

MEET THE TEAM

Up

We activate a global network of impact investors, academic thought leaders, blue & green entrepreneurs, and testing grounds to drive climate-tech innovation and implementation at scale.

This network will harness the living laboratories of oceans & coastlines to build a climate resilient future for low-lying coastal communities and use climate solutions to usher in the sustainability revolution.

FOUNDERS

Team

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

RUPERT HAYWARD

Exec. Chairman, Blue Action Accelerator

President & Chair, Blue Action Lab

Rupert, a Bahamian national, is a principal and director of the GBPA (Grand Bahama Port Authority) the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation, the Freeport Harbor Company, Grand Bahama Shipyard & the Grand Bahama Utility Company, among others.

He holds a Govt' appointed board seat, as Vice-Chair, of The Bahamas Protected Areas Fund, and is an advisor to the University of The Bahamas, on climate and resilience.

He completed his MA (Hons) in Geography — Caribbean Development — at Edinburgh University, UK 2003, and has an MBA in Sustainable Business Management from Presidio Graduate School, San Francisco.

MELISSA HALPERN

COO, Blue Action Accelerator

Board Member, Blue Action Lab

Melissa is passionate about building holistic solutions for climate resilience and fostering ecopreneurship through integrated education, innovation, and ecosystem restoration projects.

Prior to co-founding Blue Action, she practiced law at a boutique intellectual property firm in San Diego, gaining specialized experience in technology transactions, licensing, commercial contracts, and IP strategy. She then worked in-house building international partnerships for an educational technology start-up.

Melissa holds a B.A. cum laude from Davidson College and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law with a Concentration in Intellectual Property Law. She is a member of the State Bar of California.

JEFF STOIKE

CSO, Blue Action Accelerator

Board Member, Blue Action Lab

Jeff has worked on sustainability strategy for over two decades, from vantages ranging from nonprofits and commercial startups, to academia, think tanks and federal policy-making.

Prior to joining Blue Action, he served as Special Appointment at the U.S. State Department conducting "corporate diplomacy" in Silicon Valley. He also founded the Climate Philanthropy Project at the Urban Institute.

Jeff holds a PhD in International Sustainable Development from Yale University, co-founded two social enterprises focused on sustainable agriculture (Georgia and Ecuador) and engaged in community development in places as diverse as the SF Bay Area and Cairo.

BLUE ACTION LAB

RASHEMA INGRAHAM

Director of Workforce Development &

Ecosystem Restoration, Blue Action Lab

A Bahamian National and Grand Bahama Resident, Rashema is the Executive Director of Waterkeepers Bahamas and Founder of GB Envirobins.

She has been recognized as one of the 40 Most Successful & Influential Professionals in The Bahamas in 2019.

TONY JOHNS

Operations Director, Blue Action Lab

A Bahamian National and Grand Bahama Resident, Tony has 35+ years of regional experience in and around the Queen Conch industry and a local lead for Mariculture on the Island of Grand Bahama. He actively engaged in humanitarian operations collaborating with NGOs, in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

His passion lies in ocean conservation with a focus on Queen Conch, and to provide sustainable food sources through restoration and mariculture.

FIONA BELLOT DANIELS

Director of Finance, Blue Action

Fiona is a Bahamian National and a resident of Grand Bahama. She is a CPA, licensed by the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants. Fiona obtained her undergraduate and graduate education at the University of South Florida and currently holds a Master of Accountancy graduate degree. Fiona's career began in public accounting at KPMG Atlanta and The Bahamas offices. Since then, she has held executive level financial positions at Okyanos Cell Therapy and Kelly's Freeport Ltd. Additionally, Fiona has had the opportunity to be adjunct faculty at the University of The Bahamas in previous years.

KRISTIAN MOREE

Aquaculture Technician,

Grand Bahama Queen Conch Mariculture Center

Kristian, a Grand Bahamian, was recognized for his dedication to Biology with inclusion on the Dean's List at Dalhousie University. Since graduating, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to the environmental sector, serving as a Science Officer for the Bahamas National Trust. In this capacity, Kristian managed operations at the Mobile Queen Conch Hatchery in Moriah Harbour Cay National Park. His enthusiasm for community engagement shines through his speaking engagements at TEDx Grand Bahama and his active involvement in international coastal cleanups across Grand Bahama and Great Exuma.

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LACHELLE RUSSELL

Aquaculture Technician,

Grand Bahama Queen Conch Mariculture Center

Lachelle, a Grand Bahamian, graduated with honors from the University of The Bahamas, School of Environmental Life Science in Nassau, New Providence, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry in May 2022. She maintained a GPA of 3.23 and was on the Dean's List.

Lachelle is a Registered Phlebotomy Technician through the Phlebotomy Mastery Institute and the American Medical Technologists in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Lachelle also has a strong background in community engagement and education, having worked as a teacher at ICAN Community School in Grand Bahama.

BLUE ACTION ACCELERATOR

GEORGE NORTHCOTT

Founder, Founders Factory

President, Blue Action Accelerator

George co-founded Founders Factory in 2015. He is President of Founders Factory's operations. First Class degree from Oxford University.

JAMIE ROWLES

Investment Director, Blue Action Accelerator

Formerly Head of Investments at Sky Ocean Ventures, where he built a 25 company portfolio. Founding teams at Tropic Bio Sciences (>$50m raised to date) and Co-Founder of Dark Kitchen Marketplace.

MBA at UCLA Anderson (Price Award) and former private equity lawyer (Freshfields STB Blackstone).

OLIVIA BROOKS

Head of Investments, Blue Action Accelerator

Olivia has spent two years investing with Founders Factory in climate and health startups. She was previously lead investments at Creator Fund, a deep tech European fund co-created by Founders Factory. She is the founder of UK Health Tech community and has First Class degree from Bristol University.

LIAM NOLAN

Head of Growth, Blue Action Accelerator

Liam is Head of Growth at Founders Factory. He has supported 50+ businesses across the Studio and Accelerator in his 3 years at the company.

Previously, he helped scale JustPark to 6m users, was a Founder himself and a Consultant to early stage businesses.

He has a BSc in Management Sciences.

JACOB GEORGE

Head of Product, Blue Action Accelerator

Seasoned product leader with over 10 years of experience building world-class, innovative products by leveraging emerging technologies in AI/ML, generative AI, web3, hardware and more.

Skilled at taking innovative products from 0 to 1, Jacob has supported ventures that have raised $100m+ in verticals spanning Health, FinTech and DeepTech.

Jacob holds an MBA from Imperial College Business School.

BIANCA FURTUNA

Head of Data Science, Blue Action Accelerator

Bianca Furtuna is Head of Data Science at Founders Factory, responsible for designing and implementing Applied Machine Learning across the portfolio.

Previously Bianca was an Applied Machine Learning Scientist at Microsoft. She is passionate about all things data and using new and emerging technologies to deliver data focused solutions with Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.

Bianca has an MSc in Electronics Engineering from Imperial College London.

OUR PARTNERS

Up

Our global partners are instrumental in turning our ideas and strategies into tangible results. By bringing their unique expertise, resources, and capabilities to the table, they play a crucial role in funding and implementing the solutions we develop.