I am a life-long marine conservationist with over 25 years experience in developing long-term marine conservation plans for sustainable seafood, marine protected areas, threatened species, community conservation, and climate change adaptation. I have experience in Southeast Asia and the Pacific with additional experience in East Africa and the Caribbean with managing conservation teams and fundraising while working with WWF, WCS, IUCN and SPREP as well as multilateral (GEF, GCF), bilateral (EU, AFD, USAID) and philanthropic donors.
From 2012 and 2016 I worked towards a PhD at Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies in Professor Yoh Yamashita’s Kyoto Laboratory of the Maizuru Fisheries research Station. While that was never completed, I wrote The Coral Triangle book and spent time teaching English and running programs at cafes in Kyoto.
Conservationist.
Diver.
Bird watcher.
Cyclist.
Reader.
Global citizen.
“Everything in moderation, including moderation.” Oscar Wilde
In support of the Coral Triangle book, Eric Madeja and I have a website about the Coral Triangle. Either of us is available for speaking engagements or to accompany natural history or photographic trips anywhere in the Coral Triangle region. http://coraltriangle.org/
Front cover of The Coral Triangle book
I also co-managed a successful attempt to set a Guinness Book of World Records attempt at the World’s Longest Underwater Clean Up.
On the off chance that anyone is interested, here is a relatively recent version of my resume: Kassem CV 03032024.docx.
Weightless in the World 