Youth Ocean Ambassador: Ava Urquidez: International Ocean Economic Policy
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
We are thrilled to welcome Ava Urquidez as Reef Life Foundation's newest Youth Ocean Ambassador.
A lifelong outdoor enthusiast — runner, surfer, and hiker — Ava has turned her love of nature into a career dedicated to protecting it.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Ava earned her Bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin, where she built a foundation in the political and economic forces shaping ocean policy.
That international experience
gave her both a global perspective and the communication skills to translate complex marine issues into action.
Her background in media has further sharpened that ability — including work on a
platform designed to lower the barriers to sustainable living for people who care about ocean conservation and renewable energy but aren't sure where to start. She now brings that same bridge-building approach to her role in renewable energy policy at Environment Texas, where she focuses on reducing the ocean impacts of energy development.
Bringing the Ocean to Everyone Growing up landlocked didn't dim Ava's connection to the ocean — it shaped her mission. Surfing around the world, she noticed how distance from the coast can make people feel removed from ocean issues, and therefore less compelled to act. Her goal at Reef Life Foundation is to close that gap: making ocean protection feel relevant and achievable for consumers, businesses, and institutions alike, wherever they are.
Please join us in welcoming Ava. Together, we'll champion coral restoration, amplify
youth voices and protect our marine ecosystems for generations to come.
Women in Ocean Policy Enrich the Future of Planetary Economic Growth and Stability, as Water is the Priority.
Reef Life Foundation's
Led by Reef Life Foundation / IntelliReefs | In Partnership with UN Global Education Networks, IUCN, African Ocean Foundations, GLISPA Global Islands, Canada and Salish Sea Indigenous Cultural Directors, Caribbean Nation Communities
This new global initiative is designed to restore coastal ecosystems and Indigenous marine foodways using Oceanite as a foundation for community-led innovation. By linking Oceanite sites across continents, this project builds a shared brain trust of knowledge, hands-on education, and localized restoration models that accelerate climate resilience and ocean literacy worldwide. These Global Policy Initiatives require women of international education, and vision to become the next leads for Nature Initiatives within coastal communities. Ava is headed for waterways and Blue Planet Programs in her future, and the Reef Life Foundation supports her environmental pathways!!
