A woman with short curly grey hair smiling, wearing a blue and white striped shirt and a green pendant necklace, with a body of water and distant hills in the background.

Katherine Short

Marine expert, visionary leader, systems practitioner, strategic thinker

Katherine Short is a marine conservation and management strategist whose passion for ocean health and commitment to regenerative practices have influenced marine management and blue economy transformation the world over. As Founder, Principal and Director of F.L.O.W. Collaborative, Katherine channels her expertise to foster healthier marine environments, thriving communities, and drive innovation for a living ocean economy.

Background and Values

Katherine's lifelong connection to the ocean anchors her career and values. Raised around tropical waters and always on, in and under the sea, and inspired by global conservation work from a young age, she has dedicated over thirty years to caring for marine ecosystems. Her core values are:

  • Authenticity, Respect, Honesty

  • Compassion, Adventure, Curiosity, Growth

  • Conscientiousness and Fun

A long-held philosophy is “people healing nature healing people,” emphasizing the inseparable relationship between environmental and community wellbeing.

This video about Katherine illustrates her values. It was produced by the Alumni organisation of her school in Singapore, the United World College of South East Asia. It’s 2020, so she was still in her former business partnership in Terra Moana.

Katherine Short CV

Professional Strengths and Impact

  • Cultural intelligence and cross-cultural competency, upholding Te Ao Māori and mana moana-led kaitiaki o te moana, honed through a decade advising Moana New Zealand’s kaitiakitanga hikoi, delivering the Land Information Māori marine data strategy, and being lead author of the Blue Cradle Tiaki Moana report.

  • Visionary leadership in regenerative blue economy principles, as lead facilitating author of New Zealand’s foundational framework for moving from extractive to regenerative marine practices.

  • Strong inter-disciplinary strategist and systems practitioner, blending ecological, natural capital and ecosystem services,  research, science and analysis expertise, with strategic, ecosystem-based, marine policy, sustainable fisheries, and business acumen to develop solutions that address the root causes of marine degradation.

  • Co-designing, developing, securing funding, and delivering complex projects (e.g. WWF Oceania Regional Sustainable Seafood Programme, Moana (Marine-Heat Wave) Project, Sustainable Seas Science Challenge Pāua Climate Risk Valuation model, and MFAT funded WWF Pacific Sustainable Seafood Programme.

Woman giving a presentation at a podium with a laptop, wearing glasses and a red patterned blazer, with posters about sustainable fishing behind her.

Katherine Short (through F.L.O.W. Collaborative Ltd) was co-founder, partner and director of Terra Moana Ltd 2013 – 2024.

Please see www.terramoana.co.nz to learn about their work with Moana New Zealand (Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd), the Moana (marine heatwave) Project, the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge, Napier City Council to redesign the National Aquarium of New Zealand and many more contracts and projects they delivered over a decade working together.

A man and a woman smiling outdoors with a body of water in the background, dressed in smart casual clothing.
Connect with Katherine
Underwater scene with schools of fish swimming through kelp forests.

“On behalf of MSC Oceania, I want to extend heartfelt appreciation to Katherine. Her stewardship exemplified the spirit of World Ocean Day, uniting people across sectors to celebrate our oceans and take collective action for a sustainable future. Katherine’s professionalism and leadership were truly instrumental in making this event both memorable and impactful.”

— Alex Webb, Marine Stewardship Council
More Testimonials
  • Person holding a green fern leaf with both hands, seen from above, on a dark forest floor background.

    Connection

    We are Nature - everything is connected

  • A close-up of the back of a handmade drum, forming a geometric pattern.

    Wisdom

    Working with knowledge holders to combine traditional knowledge and contemporary science.

  • Calm ocean waves under a foggy sky.

    Stewardship

    The future is in our hands and our hearts.

  • Space-themed painting featuring a rocket, planets, and astronauts, with handwritten text and childlike drawings of children and animals.

    Boldness

    Pursue boldness and equity to ensure the ocean and its guardians get the resources they need.

A sea turtle swimming underwater over coral reef.

CARING FOR THIS PLANET

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WORKING FOR OUR FUTURE

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KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE WE CAN MAKE

CARING FOR THIS PLANET * WORKING FOR OUR FUTURE * KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE WE CAN MAKE

Career Highlights

Highlights: BSc in Ecology (Victoria University of Wellington), Masters by Research in Conservation Science (Imperial College London), 17 years in WWF globally, 10 years as co-founder and partner Terra Moana Ltd, and multiple governance and advisory roles: Trustee of Blue Cradle Foundation, steering group Co-Chair Aotearoa Marine Carbon Forum, and co-founder of Gecko NZ Trust, Ocean Decade Australia Ocean Business Leaders’ Summit Advisory Group to the beginning, and add BIOFIN New Zealand Advisory Group, and Co-Founder Te Ahu of Rehua (Māori Marine Science Network).

DOWNLOAD A SUMMARY OF KATHERINE'S MARINE WORK
A large group of diverse people posing for a photo outdoors on a wooden platform, with lush green mountains and blue sky in the background.

Ongoing journeys of transformation

I enjoy innovation and am exploring new ways to share insights and grow revenue streams, whilst continually strengthening cross-sector alliances for systems change.

Whether convening stakeholders on marine finance, guiding policy, or facilitating knowledge exchange, this current chapter is about tangibly putting my values and expertise to work, spreading the lessons of a thirty-year career, planting new seeds, nurturing them, letting outdated modes die away, and always seeking ways for people and nature to heal together. 

- Katherine Short

Research boat and aquatic equipment on a calm ocean with mountains in the background.

“Katherine embodies ocean advocacy in every sense—she truly lives and breathes it. Throughout our collaboration, I have been consistently impressed by her breadth of knowledge across marine and coastal systems.

She brings not only deep environmental expertise but also a nuanced understanding of the perspectives and challenges faced by the fishing and aquaculture industries, government agencies, the research community, and, most importantly, the cultural dimensions that span them all.

Her insights extend beyond the New Zealand context, enriched by extensive international experience and a remarkable global network.”

— Dr. Suzy Black, New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science

Photo credit: FloMo and the New Zealand Bioeconomy Sciences Institute

More Testimonials