Our Team

Ocean Exchange Team

Debbra Johnson

Co-Chair ARISE-U.S., Resilience & Transformational Change Advisor

Debbra A.K. Johnson serves as the Vice Chair of the ARISE U.S. Network. She has been a member ARISE since 2011.

The organization is the Private Sector Alliance for Resilience Societies and it is led by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

Debbra has spent portions of her career moving between business ownership and corporate intrepreneurship – working on diverse issues across a number of sectors and disciplines. 

In 2014, following 16 years with DuPont where she held leadership positions in strategic market & product development, and sustainability, Debbra launched a small business that leverages global teaming to bring together best-in-class knowledge and experts.  Services include the models and the means to develop the essential capacities for adapting and transforming organizations; as well as advice, technical guidance and tools for ‘next gen’ disaster risk reduction/ resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.  The work is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, The Sendai Framework, and the Climate Agreement.

Debbra is also a member of the Climate Chain Coalition, the Advisory Council of the Sustainability Curriculum Consortium, and she serves on the University of Oklahoma Public Service Institute Coalition.

She is a graduate of the University of Maine, Portland-Gorham, and holds a Certificate of Distinction in Transforming Development: The Science and Practice of Resilience Thinking, from the SDG Academy/Stockholm Resilience Institute, and a Certificates in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Contact Us

Ocean Exchange invites you to learn more about Awards Program, our ecosystem and success of our award winners and participants. Together, we can chart a powerful course to help ensure the future of our oceans and the Blue Economy.

Testimonials

Being a voting delegate at Ocean Exchange reminded me why I do this work—watching students and industry leaders alike push the boundaries of what’s possible for ocean health and the blue economy. Deep thanks to Moffatt & Nichol for supporting our time and commitment.

 
Lynette Cardoch
Vice President Director, Resilience and Adaptation, Moffatt & Nichol

The Guy Harvey Foundation has been a proud partner with Ocean Exchange for the past few years as it provides a wonderful platform for innovations to be shared, meaningful networking to take place and overall supports the growth of the ocean economy and conservation efforts. We’ve been fortunate to provide awards for both collegiate and high school categories, participated on the judging panel and are inspired by the problem solving solutions presented by each candidate. If you want a good dose of inspiration, definitely look to supporting, attending or participating in the events!

 
Jessica Harvey
Chief Executive Officer, Guy Harvey Foundation

Ocean Exchange consistently brings together some of the most promising innovators in sustainability, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to support their work through the Solutions Review Team. Each year after attending the annual conference, I leave energized by the quality of ideas presented, the mission‑driven entrepreneurs involved, and the collaborative environment that drives meaningful progress for our oceans and The Blue Economy.

 
Rick Claar
Partner/President, The Martec Group

Participating in Ocean Exchange as an AUV subject matter expert was a meaningful way to share Anduril’s perspective on operational autonomy and AUV deployment. The event brought together diverse stakeholders focused on advancing practical, impact-driven maritime technologies, and provided a valuable platform for meaningful and inspiring discussions that delved into the complexities and opportunities spanning the full spectrum of ocean innovation.

 
Jessie Gray
Engineering Project Manager, Anduril

At Carollo Engineers, water is all we do—so we’re passionate about protecting our oceans. Attending the Ocean Exchange connected us with innovators advancing the blue economy, including those driving reuse and improving wastewater treatment and water quality. Events like this highlight how essential cross-sector collaboration is to solving global water challenges and creating a more sustainable future.

 
Dave Sobeck
Executive Vice President, Carollo Engineers