vagostini@tnc.org
Marine scientist with strong relationship building skills and 15+ years diverse experience in fundraising for, developing and implementing large scale marine conservation projects and programs to advance conservation and sustainable development in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Indonesia, and the
Eastern and Western US seaboard. Recognized for innovative strategy development, strong leadership of dispersed, cross-functional teams and diverse communication skills.
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, Director of Science and Conservation, Caribbean Program
Miami, FL 10/2015-present
Serves and the Caribbean Region’s Chief science and conservation officer. Provides strategic leadership and with the management team establishes overall science and conservation priorities to ensure successful and meaningful results are achieved. Is accountable for the alignment of science activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, and programs to support the Region’s conservation vision.
• Program management: Provides leadership for the region’s strategic planning processes.
Directly supervises the regional science and conservation team and oversees collaboration with other TNC programs. Guides and facilitates cross-cutting work priorities between the region’s employees and across multiple functions. Provides leadership for project development and implementation.
• Partnerships: Identifies, enhances and leads effort to develop strategic partnerships both within and outside the organization (e.g. NOAA, FAO and Red Cross)
• Fundraising: Works with development, marketing, and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors (private and public) to meet fundraising goals. Provides leadership on proposals, especially in areas pertaining to science and conservation.
• Science: Ensures sound science guide the strategic execution of the conservation vision of the
Caribbean Program including current and future programs associated with fisheries, integrated ocean management, coastal resilience to climate change and coral restoration, as well as other emerging initiatives. Promotes innovative approaches to conservation and identifies opportunities for research and collaborations within and outside the organization. Represents the Caribbean
Program within and outside TNC.
• Policy: Works with Marine Policy team to integrate key outcomes of field projects into targeted global policy arenas (e.g. UNFCC-COP19; CBD)
• Communication: Leads and contributes to peer-reviewed publications, reports, presentations, and project factsheets. Works with marketing departments, policy and communication strategy team to synthesize and communicate key outcomes.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, Senior Scientist
Miami, FL 2007-2015
Lead complex multi-disciplinary project design, implementation and management. Helped provide strategic and scientific advice to marine Conservancy teams in 30 countries across the globe.
• Program Management: Lead planning and budgeting processes for several multi-year, 1-4 million dollar grants (USAid, German Government Climate Initiative, Packard foundation and Anne Ray
Charitable Trust). Helped lead strategic planning processes for Conservancy’s central marine program and select regional and country marine programs around the world (Meso-American reef,
Caribbean, and Indonesia)
• Partnerships: Identified, enhanced and lead effort to develop strategic partnerships both within and outside the organization (e.g. NOAA, FAO and Red Cross)
• Fundraising: Lead proposal research and grant development. Worked with philanthropy to secure new private funding opportunities and report on current gifts (300k-4 million dollars). Lead donor trips resulting in 500k-4 million dollar gifts to the Conservancy; supported donor reporting processes
(Anne Ray Charitable Trust, Walton and Packard foundations)
• Science: Lead the development of strategies, approaches and tools to highlight the value of healthy marine ecosystems for sustainable development and integrate social and ecological dimensions.
Topics of focus include: Small scale fisheries, Ecosystem Based Management, Integrated Ocean
Management (e.g. Marine Spatial Planning and Protected Area Network Design), Nature Based
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation.
• Policy: Worked with Marine Policy team to integrate key outcomes of field projects into targeted global policy arenas (e.g. UNFCC-COP19; CBD)
• Facilitation: Designed and facilitated over 40 trainings, workshops, and planning meetings in 7 countries
• Communication: Lead and contributed to peer-reviewed publications, reports, presentations, and project factsheets. Worked with marketing departments, policy and communication strategy team to communicate key outcomes. Developed and implemented knowledge management and learning strategies for internal and external partners
PEW INSTITUTE FOR OCEAN SCIENCE, Research Scientist
Miami, Florida; 2005-2007
Developed research program, contributes to Institute’s strategy development and engaged key partners
• Program management: Worked closely with Institute Director and Chief Scientist to develop strategy and project design for Institute’s work related to Ecosystem Based Management.
• Science: Developed approaches and tools to help bridge the gap between fishery management and marine conservation
• Facilitation/partnerships: Assisted the Pew Fellows Program Manager in: 1) annual meeting scientific program and related workshops design 2) general interface with Pew Fellows and other scientists.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Research Associate
Seattle, Washington; 1999-2005
Developed and implemented research program and facilitated the integration of outputs with ongoing fisheries management processes
• Program management: managed 100k grant (planning, budgeting and reporting)
• Science: Examined impacts of climate on US West Coast fisheries; designed strategies to integrate social and ecological dimensions
• Policy: provided guidance for a Regional Fisheries Ecosystem Management Plan
• Communication : conveyed findings to fisheries managers and policy makers
NOAA, Contract Scientist
Seattle, Washington; 1999-2001
Contributed to research, information management and communication efforts
• Science: Assembled a comprehensive ocean properties data-base; interpreted and summarized trends
• Policy: Evaluated use of information for fisheries management
• Communication : Facilitated access to information; conveyed findings to fisheries managers and policy makers
UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION, Consultant
Rome, Italy; 1996-2002
Lead the design and implementation of projects; managed relationships with key partners; designed and facilitated workshops; provided strategic advice
• Program management : designed and implemented 100k grant (planning and reporting); advised
FAO’s fisheries department on questions related to impacts of environmental variability on fish populations
• Partnerships: worked with the European Commission’s Research Institute to evaluate utility of application of remote sensing techniques to the study and management of fishery resources
• Science: developed methodologies to assess habitat suitability based on oceanographic parameters
• for Mediterranean small pelagic fisheries and evaluated associated implications for management
Policy: worked with the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean to integrated scientific results with management outcomes
• Facilitation: organized and co-chaired a workshop on Environmental Variability and Small Pelagic
Fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea

SEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, First Scientist
Woods Hole, MA; 1993-1997
Taught undergraduate level courses in oceanography and managed ship-board based science operations
• Program management: held overall responsibility for the operations of the laboratory and field sampling during six week off-shore cruises aboard 125 ft. research vessels; supervised the work of twenty five students and two assistant scientists
• Fundraising/Communications: helped communicate organization goals to potential donors and communities in ports of call.
• Science: helped design and implemented curriculum for high school and college students
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Seattle, WA; 1999-2005
Ph.D. School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Thesis: Climate, ecology and productivity of Pacific sardine and hake in the California Current
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT STONY BROOK
Stony Brook, NY; 1990-1993
Master of Science in Marine Environmental Science
Thesis: Hypoxia in the New York Bight and Adriatic Sea; a comparative study focusing on management strategies.
OHIO UNIVERSITY
Athens, Ohio; 1985-1989
Bachelor of Science in Zoology
Languages: fluent--English and Italian (dual citizenship USA/Italy); working knowledge of French and
Spanish.
Field work: advanced certified diver, site assessment and community workshops in the Caribbean,
Indonesia, and the Mediterranean
Computer: advanced use of Microsoft and Adobe image editing suite of programs; working knowledge of GIS and systematic conservation planning software .
Programming: MatLAB, R, and S-plus platforms
Membership: Advisor, Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation
See attached publication summary.

Margles, S. W., Agostini, V. N ., Roth, L., Gilmer, B., Schill, S. R., Knowles, J. E.,Blyther, R. J., ( in press).
Assessing vulnerability: an integrated approach for mapping adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure to climate and coastal hazards in Grenada .
Mcleod, E., Margles, S. W., Wongbusarakum, S., Gombos, M., Dazé, A., Otzelberger,A., Hammill, A.,
Agostini, V. N., Urena Cot, D., Wiggins, M. 2015. Community-based climate vulnerability and adaptation tools: A review of tools and their applications. Coastal Management . 43:439-458.
Agostini, V. N., Margles. S. W., Schill, S. R., Knowles, J. E., Blyther, R. J. 2015.
Marine zoning for sustainable management: A case study for Saint Kitts and Nevis. Ocean and Coastal
Management. 104:1-10.
Agostini, V. N., and Margles, S. W. 2014. Marine Fisheries, Social Vulnerability and Risk. In Coasts at
Risk: An Assessment of Coastal Risks and the Role of Environmental Solutions . Ed. M.W. Beck. A joint publication of United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), The
Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Coastal Resources Center (CRC) at the University of Rhode Island
Graduate School of Oceanography.
Agostini, V. N., Roth, L ., Margles, S. W. 2014. Assessing the vulnerability to climate change of small scale fisheries: examples from Grenada. In Enhancing Stewardship in Small-Scale Fisheries: Practices and
Perspectives . Eds. P. R. McConney and M. Pena. Barbados. CERMES Technical Report No. 73.
Grantham, H.S., Agostini, V.N., Wilson, J., Mangubhai, S., Hidayat, N., Muljadi, A., Muhajir, Rotinsolou,
C., Mongdong, M., Beck, M.W. and Possingham, H.P. 2013. A Comparison of zoning analyses to inform the planning of a marine protected area network in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Marine Policy . 38: 184-194.
Agostini, V.N., Grantham, H.S. , Wilson, J., Mangubhai, S., Rotinsulu, C., Hidayat, N., Muljadi, A.,
Muhajir, Mongdong, M., Darmawan, A., Rumetna, L., Erdmann, M.V., and Possingham, H.P. 2012.
Achieving fisheries and conservation objectives within marine protected areas: zoning the Raja Ampat network. The Nature Conservancy, IndoPacific division, Reprt no. 2/12.
(http://marineplanning.org/Case_Studies/Indo_RA_Report.html).
Spalding M., V.N. Agostini , J. Rice. 2012. A bioregionalisation of the pelagic waters of the oceans. Ocean and Coastal management. 60: 19-30
Shepard, C.C., V. N. Agostini , B. Gilmer, T. Allen, J. Stone, W. Brooks, M.W. Beck. 2011. Assessing future risk: quantifying the effects of sea level rise on storm surge risk for the southern shores of Long Island,
New York. Natural Hazards.
Salomon, A.K., S.K. Gaichas, O.P Jensen, V.N Agostini , N.A. Sloan, J. Rice, T.R. McClanahan, M.H.
Ruckelshaus, P.S. Levin, N.K Dulvy, and E.A. Babcock. 2011. Bridging the Divide Between Fisheries and
Marine Conservation Science, 2011. Bulletin of Marine Science.
87(2):251–274.
King, J.R., V.N. Agostini , C.J. Harvey, G.A. McFarlane, M.G.G. Foreman, J.E. Overland, E.Di Lorenzo6, N.A.
Bond, and K.Y. Aydin. 2011. Climate forcing and the California Current ecosystem. ICES Journal of Marine
Systems.
68(6): 1199–1216.

Schill, S. R., Knowles, J.E., Rowlands, G., Margles, S.W., Agostini, V.N., Blyther, R. 2011. Coastal benthic habitat mapping to support marine resource planning and management in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Geography Compass, 5/12.
Agostini, V. N ., S. W. Margles, S. R. Schill, J. e. Knowles and R. J. Blyther. 2010. Marine Zoning in Saint
Kitts and Nevis: A Path Towards Sustainable Management of Marine Resources. A report to USaid, The
Nature Conservancy. (http://marineplanning.org/Case_Studies/StKittsNevisZoning.html)
Barange M., J. Coetzee, A. Takasuka, K. Hill, M. Gutierrez, Y. Oozeki, C. Van Der Lingen, V.N. Agostini.
2009. Habitat expansion and contraction in anchovy and sardine populations. Progress in Oceanography.
83: 251-260.
Agostini, V.N., A.N. Hendrix, C. Wilson, S.Pierce, R.C. Francis, A.B. Hollowed. 2008. Climate and Pacific hake: a geostatistical modeling approach . Journal of Marine Systems . 71:237-248
Ciannelli, L., P. Fauchald, K.S. Chan, V.N. Agostini , G.E. Dingsor. 2008. Fisheries spatial ecology: recent progress and future prospects. Journal of Marine Systems. 71:223-236
Agostini, V.N., A. Bakun, and R.C. Francis. 2007. Larval stage controls on sardine recruitment variability: the balance between predation and food availability. Marine Ecology Progress Series , vol. 345: 237-244.
Agostini, V.N., R.C. Francis, A.B. Hollowed, S. D. Pierce, C. Wilson, A.N. Hendrix. 2006. The relationship between hake ( Merluccius productus ) distribution and poleward sub-surface flow in the California
Current System. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Sciences 63:2649-265.
Lawson, P.W., E.A. Logerwell, N.J. Mantua, R.C. Francis, and V.N. Agostini . 2004. Environmental factors influencing freshwater survival and smolt production in Pacific Northwest coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 61:360-373.
Bailey, K.M., L. Ciannelli, and V.N. Agostini . 2003. Complexity and constraints combined in simple models of recruitment. The Big Fish Bang. Proceedings of the 26 th annual larval fish conference. H. I.
Browan, and A.B. Skiftesvik, eds. Published by the Institute of Marine Research; Postboks 1870 Nordnes,
N-5817, Bergen Norway.
Logerwell, E., N. Mantua , P. Lawson, R.C. Francis, and V. N. Agostini . 2003. Tracking environmental bottlenecks in the coastal zone for understanding and predicting Oregon coho marine survival. Fisheries
Oceanography, 12(6): 554-56.
Environmental variability and small pelagic fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea. Conference proceedings.
2002. V.N. Agostini and P. Oliver editors. Informes y estudios, Copemed. 8: 77pp.
Agostini V.N.
and A. Bakun. 2001. Ocean triads in the Mediterranean Sea: physical mechanisms potentially structuring reproductive habitat suitability for anchovies and other fish species. Fisheries
Oceanography. 11(3): 129-142 .

Bakun A., and V.N. Agostini . 2000. Seasonal patterns of wind-induced upwelling/downwelling in the
Mediterranean Sea. Scientia Marina.
65(3): 243-257.
De Leiva-Moreno, J.I., V.N. Agostini , J. F. Caddy, and F. Carocci. 2000. Is the pelagic-demersal ratio from fishery landings a useful proxy for nutrient availability? A preliminary data exploration for the semienclosed seas around Europe. ICES Journal of Marine Sciences , 57:1091-1102.