IPNLF STRENGTHENS GLOBAL EXPERTISE WITH KEY APPOINTMENTS

IPNLF strengthens global expertise with key appointments. The International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) is expanding its team and deepening its expertise as it embarks on its latest five-year strategy.

Six new recruits have recently joined the International Pole and Line Foundation to advance small-scale, low-impact tuna fisheries worldwide.

The new appointees bring diverse expertise across fisheries science, policy, advocacy, market engagement, and strategic communications.

Market Outreach Specialist: Iain Mahood
With more than 30 years in retail and sustainable tuna supply chains, Iain brings deep commercial expertise. He spent a decade as Commercial Director at World Wise Foods, the UK’s largest supplier of pole-and-line tuna, and over 20 years at Marks & Spencer in a variety of roles.

Indonesia Programme Lead: Kai Garcia Neefjes
Joining earlier in 2025, Kai brings extensive experience with small-scale tuna fisheries in Indonesia. Formerly Strategy Lead and Associate Specialist with the Indonesian NGO MDPI, he supported fisheries and community-led programmes with technical expertise. Since joining IPNLF, Kai has been featured in CNBC Indonesia, Mongabay, and Antara News.

Senior Communications Strategist: Clare Harrison
Clare has nearly two decades of international experience in journalism, media, and strategic communications. She has delivered high-impact campaigns for global brands, non-profits, and government agencies, securing coverage in The Guardian, Forbes, and the World Economic Forum, and supporting major events including Davos and the UN Climate Change Conferences.

International Law & Policy Consultant: Dr Maïa Perraudeau
Maïa provides legal and policy analysis focused on Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), UN institutions, and the law of the sea. She brings expertise in the processes of UN bodies, notably the FAO, and the role of RFMOs in shaping global fisheries policy. Her recently completed PhD looked at the role of international law in inter-State fishery conflict. Maïa is bilingual in English and French and also has Spanish proficiency.

Advocacy and Engagement Lead: Emilia Dyer
After recently completing her Master’s degree, Emilia has rejoined the team as IPNLF’s Advocacy and Engagement Lead. Her work focuses on improving the national and regional management of tuna fisheries and leveraging the power of markets and consumers to help drive changes on the water. Emilia brings specific expertise on the use, compliance, and conservation interactions of drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) used in tuna purse seine fisheries.

New Trustee: Dr Cristina Brice Pita
Cristina is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (IIM-CSIC) in Vigo, Spain, and a Guest Professor at the Centre of Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Portugal. She’s been involved in numerous international projects and published extensively on small-scale fisheries, fisheries governance, and coastal community development.

Commenting,  Martin Purves, Managing Director, IPNLF, said:

“Each of these new appointments strengthens IPNLF’s capacity to deliver on our mission. From on-the-ground fisheries programmes to international policy, market engagement, and public communications, our expanded team brings the expertise necessary as we continue to advance sustainable one-by-one tuna fisheries worldwide.”

Image credit: International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF)