2025 has been a big year for the Blue Economy CRC. We have fish in the water and hydrogen in the tanks, our new CEO has just released our latest Annual Report and a new Strategic Plan is on the way. The Board is also going through a process of renewal with a new charter and members. We couldn’t be happier to see Katie Gwynne and Elisa Marie Dumas join us as Directors.
Katie is an environmental engineer who has dedicated her career to incorporating sustainability into the design, construction and operation of major on and offshore industrial facilities. Her offshore experience includes managing the environmental performance and compliance of the construction and commissioning of Australia’s largest resource development project, the Gorgon Gas Project, and ensuring the sustainable design of Australia’s first proposed susbsea factory off the northwest shelf of WA.
Passionate about the need to decarbonise energy-intensive industries and accelerate Australia’s transition to renewable energy, Katie joined Norway’s largest energy producer, Equinor, as the Australian Environment and Consenting Manager to facilitate the environmentally responsible development of Australia’s emerging offshore wind industry.
Elisa-Marie is Head of Global Programs & Partners at Ocean Impact Organisation, where she leads the design and delivery of innovation, accelerator, and commercialisation programs that support startups, researchers, and industry in the sustainable blue economy. She brings over 15 years of experience in program design, stakeholder engagement, and ecosystem building across the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific.
Elisa-Marie has a strong track record of forging partnerships between industry, government, and research to accelerate ocean innovation, as well as direct experience supporting founders in securing investment, scaling ventures, and delivering measurable environmental and economic outcomes.
Katie and Elisa-Marie will bring a great depth of directly relevant experience and fresh perspectives and we’re looking forward to having them join us at the table at our next meeting in November.
On behalf of everyone in our organisation… welcome to the board Katie and EM!
