Heather Tausig

director, conservation, New England Aquarium

Heather Tausig is the Director of Conservation for the New England Aquarium. In this role she oversees all programs and staff within the department, coordinates conservation messages in Aquarium exhibits, and serves as a liaison with federal, state, and local governmental and non-governmental agencies concerning ocean conservation issues. The primary program areas she oversees include the Sustainable Fisheries Initiative, World of Water Films, and Marine Conservation Action Fund. Heather is also a senior producer of the Aquarium's World of Water (WOW) conservation films, which are distributed to more than 400 aquariums, zoos and science centers in the United States and abroad, with an audience of approximately 15 million people annually. Heather also oversees the coordination of grant requests and serves on the board for the Marine Conservation Action Fund a unique re-granting program that aims to protect and promote ocean biodiversity by supporting small-scale, time-sensitive, community-based projects around the world. In addition, Heather serves on the Advisory Board of University of New Hampshire's Large Pelagics Research Center, the Advisory Board for EcoFish, the Board of Directors for the Women's Fisheries Network, New England Chapter, and the Board of Managers of the Maria Mitchell Association, a science and history-based education, conservation, astronomy and natural science research institution. Heather received her master's degree in International Relations and Energy and Environmental Studies from Boston University.