Ashleigh McGovern
Ashleigh McGovern is Senior Vice President of Conservation International's Center for Oceans, where she leads a global team advancing ocean solutions that benefit nature, climate, and people.
Working across science, policy, finance, and partnerships, she oversees efforts to accelerate marine conservation, strengthen coastal resilience, and support sustainable ocean economies around the world.
Over the course of her career, Ashleigh has helped launch and grow some of the world's most ambitious ocean conservation initiatives, including the Coral Reefs on the High Seas Coalition, the Blue Abadi Fund, the Global Mangrove Alliance, and the Blue Nature Alliance. She also founded the Marine Protected Area Roundtable, now known as the 30x30 Accelerator, which brings together leading public and private funders to advance global ocean conservation goals.
A strong advocate for collaboration and innovation, Ashleigh is passionate about building partnerships that unlock financing, strengthen local leadership, and drive collective action toward a healthier and more equitable future for people and nature.
Ashleigh holds a master's degree from Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School of Public Policy and Management and is a co-founder of em·data, inc., a firm that develops AI solutions for public and private sector partners.