Come January 1, the Water Revolution Foundation will have a biological oceanographer at its helm, driving its next phases of yachting sustainability. Leah Werner brings more than a decade’s worth of experience with environmental science, policy (including government policy), and communicating with non-technical decision-makers and stakeholders.
Werner is succeeding Robert van Tol as the organization’s new executive director. He has been in the role since the non-profit’s founding seven years ago. Werner’s career has spanned upwards of 13 years primarily in the United States. She spent the past five years, for instance, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Hazardous-waste projects, including investigation, remediation, and land redevelopment, were among her duties. Simultaneously, Werner needed to translate the related complex technical issues for a variety of laypeople to better understand. They included the local residents at public forums, for instance, as well as underserved communities and the media.
Overall, Werner has experience in both governmental roles and industry-facing roles. Cross-sector collaborations on practical, sustainable solutions are yet another aspect of her background. This especially suits the work of the Water Revolution Foundation, since it focuses on improving the oceans’ vitality and the yachting industry’s environmental footprint.
While Werner will support ongoing initiatives such as the new Ocean Assist program, letting yacht owners invest in ocean regeneration projects, she’ll further identify new opportunities. “My focus will be on building strong partnerships, aligning industry for adoption and implementation of everything the foundation has brought forward over the last seven years,” she notes. “We enter a critical new phase embedding actionable standards and tools to truly move forward as a collective,” she continues. “Together, we can drive measurable progress that supports both the industry’s future and the health of our ocean.”
As the founding executive director, Robert van Tol grew the Water Revolution Foundation in scope and influence. He’s departing the organization to become the Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss) executive director. “The Foundation and its programs are here to say,” he declares. “I am excited to see Leah and the strong board and talented team take the Foundation to the next level.”
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