Our
People

Dr. Iain Kerr holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of London and a Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Southern Maine. Beginning his career at Ocean Alliance as a volunteer, Dr. Kerr has dedicated over 38 years to the organization, growing with it to become a pivotal figure in marine conservation. As the inventor of SnotBot, Dr. Kerr has helped revolutionize whale research and conservation with Ocean Alliance’s ever-expanding drone-based toolkits, significantly advancing the field of whale research with less invasive, easy-to-use, and scalable tools that collect robust data sets.

In 2013, Dr. Kerr recognized the potential of drones to transform whale research and conservation, leading to the development of SnotBot. Since then, Ocean Alliance has deployed the family of SnotBot tools on over 1000 non-invasive health assessments, evaluating ten species of whales across eight countries. Ocean Alliance also has drone-tagged over 240 whales and is currently continuing to lead the field on developing drone-based disentanglement techniques. His groundbreaking work and leadership of Ocean Alliance through the decades has not only advanced scientific understanding but has received global recognition, including speaking on this work in front of the full United Nations General Assembly.

Dr. Kerr’s legacy and contribution to science and conservation are widely recognized. He is listed as an author or co-author on over 100 scientific papers and he has successfully ensured that Ocean Alliance’s messages reach the general public through international television and films. His filmography includes Earth Live, Blue Planet Live, One Strange Rock, Whale with Steve Backshall, Deep Dive North America, the Equator from the Air, and, as a Scotsman, his favorite being featured in Billy Connolly’s Great American Trail.

He has run international conservation research efforts in twenty countries across the globe, he led in a successful effort to establish to establish a marine mammal sanctuary in Papua New Guinea and has received numerous accolades for his work, including the SOS Grand Blue Award in 1994 for exposing illegal sea cucumber fishing in the Galapagos, the Chevron Conservation Award in 2006, and being named one of 25 visionary leaders by the Annenberg Foundation in 2014.

Presently, Dr. Kerr continues to be a leading voice in marine conservation, inspiring efforts to protect our oceans and their inhabitants while leading Ocean Alliance into the next evolution of drone-based tools for whale research.

Science & Conservation Director Andy Rogan has worked for Ocean Alliance for over a decade, beginning his tenure with us onboard the R/V Odyssey during Operation Toxic Gulf. Since then he has been a mainstay at Ocean Alliance, helping to drive our SnotBot work and more recently our drone-based tagging work. A regular attendee at scientific and conservation-focused conferences, Andy keeps up-to-date with the most recent news from the world’s of whale science and conservation. His day-to-day role varies widely – and includes conducting research, supporting our fundraising efforts, supporting global whale conservation initiatives, leading on our education & outreach work, and aiding CEO Dr. Iain Kerr in the day-to-day running of the organization. Outside of Ocean Alliance, Andy has also worked on research projects in West Africa, Australia, the Canary Islands, Alaska, and the United Kingdom. He has a master’s degree in animal behavior from the University of Exeter.

Chris Zadra is the Drones for Whale Research Program manager for Ocean Alliance, Inc. After receiving a Master’s in Engineering from Lehigh University, he jumped on the opportunity to combine his interests in UAVs with his love of whales and the ocean. His skills in rapid prototyping, software development and entrepreneurship help Ocean Alliance develop new, noninvasive tools for marine mammal research and conservation.

Alyssa is a Data Assistant at Ocean Alliance, where her field experience and passion for marine mammal health, behavior, and the impacts of human activity inform her work. Drawing on firsthand insight into the challenges faced by researchers and animals, she supports the development of data-driven tools that advance the study, rescue, and protection of wildlife. Committed to sharing Ocean Alliance’s mission, Alyssa enjoys translating data and tools into educational opportunities that raise awareness and inspire conservation efforts.

Growing up on the water in Greenwich, CT, Linde and her family all shared a love of the ocean. Already a lifelong sailor, a chance meeting with Roger Payne inspired her to help conserve what was so close to her heart. She has since completed an MA in Marine Biology with a thesis on the effect of anthropogenic noise on the reproductive system of female humpback whales. Linde has served on the board of Ocean Alliance for several decades. As Director of Development, Linde’s fundraising abilities, along with her enthusiasm and dedication to the mission of Ocean Alliance, continue to be a substantial asset to the organization.

Nate Nowel graduated with dual degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and Nebraska Wesleyan University studying mechanical engineering and biology respectively. At Washington University, Nate was involved as an engineer in the university’s high-power rocketry club. His research experience includes work at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, where he contributed to projects involving ocean sensing, ocean modeling, and marine technology. Nate is interested in using his diverse background to develop new engineering applications for marine research and conservation. At Ocean Alliance, he works on the development and testing of drone-based whale tagging and disentanglement systems designed to improve the safety and effectiveness of efforts to protect and study whales in their marine environment.