May 5, 2026
Dr. Lida Teneva is an ocean conservation leader with 15+ years of work in ocean exploration, climate research, marine protection, and ocean philanthropy. She currently serves as CEO of OneReef, an organization dedicated to helping local stewards protect their coral reefs across the Pacific. She has worked in conservation across Pacific Islands, Latin America, East Africa, Antarctica, Greenland, Norway/Svalbard, and Indonesia, focusing on science and effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs) for 15 years with international organizations, policy-makers, and local Indigenous communities. As former VP of WWF, she developed a new global Area-Based Conservation (MPA) program, to strategically strengthen marine protection in Southeast Asia, South Pacific, Latin America, and East Africa. Prior to this, she supported the translation of science into policy in California and created a new Legislative Services program as Director of California Ocean Science Trust, to influence public policy and regulations on ocean and climate issues in California. At the Dalio Foundation, she created ship-based ocean expeditions that led to strengthened MPA protection and new discoveries for sharks and deep-sea species. In prior positions with Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society, Lida worked with local, often Indigenous, communities in Hawai‘i and Fiji on empowering them with tools and data to be better stewards of their local fisheries and MPAs, finding strategic opportunities in local policy contexts. Lida has helped found environmental education organizations and holds several NGO Board positions. Originally from Bulgaria, she earned her PhD at Stanford University and Master’s degree at Columbia University. She often teaches marine conservation, ocean law and policy, and polar law. Originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, Lida lives in California.