Meet the Team

Chris Butler-Stroud, Chief Executive, WDCS
Chris, as International Director, is responsible for the overall delivery of WDCS’s objects as a charity operating around the globe. Joining the UK arm of WDCS in 1992 as a researcher, he has worked across all WDCS’s cetacean conservation disciplines, and has been involved in delivering most aspects of WDCS Policy, including participation at the International Whaling Commission, (for many years as a specialist advisor to the UK Government), CITES, UNEP SPAW (Caribbean), the Convention on Migratory Species, ASCOBANS, and ACCOBAMS amongst others. Chris has been an advocate for cetacean conservation and WDCS around the globe, representing WDCS and, most recently, as the NGO representative guest addressing the opening ceremony of the CMP CoP, Rome.

Chris has led the organization from being solely a funding body for conservation research into a true advocacy organization with specific Policy objectives. As dedicated cetacean advocacy experts, the organization has provided services to other NGO’s (including GP, WWF, and IFAW) as well as Governments and international bodies such as the European Union (investigating the abuse of EU funds in the capture and export of Black Sea dolphins from Georgia).

In recognition of WDCS’s expertise and contribution to countries capacity to implement practical cetacean conservation, WDCS was, in 2005 awarded Partnership Status with the Convention of Migratory Species. CMS Executive Secretary Robert Hepworth stated: "WDCS, with its global yet grassroots-level approach, is an ideal partner for CMS in its endeavour to link intergovernmental agreements and action in the field. WDCS has proven to be a valuable partner in raising awareness and enhancing the education of the public on dolphins. CMS also works with WDCS to implement decisions made at intergovernmental level on the ground. The Convention is looking forward to working with WDCS towards a safer environment for dolphins, whales and porpoises."

Whilst at WDCS, Chris has served for ten years as a Board member (as Chairman and Vice-Chairman) of the UK based Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL), a registered charity, coordinating the activities of over 38 wildlife and countryside NGOs (collectively with a membership of over eight million supporters) in their policy delivery with the UK Government. As Chairman of Link, Chris oversaw the delivery of the UK’s Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000).

Before joining WDCS, Chris was a serving officer with the UK’s Royal Air Force, and has worked in the advertising industry.

Chris's academic background includes a B.Sc. in Geological Sciences, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Advertising, an MBA (Open) and he is currently contemplating completing his LLB as he ends up having to deal with international environmental legal issues on a regular basis as part of policy delivery and at heart, is an eternal student.

Sue Fisher, US Policy Director
Sue has worked on issues relating to the exploitation of endangered species for 15 years. She has worked for WDCS for over ten years, running its programs against whaling and trade. Sue is a UK-trained attorney, but hated commercial practice and left to volunteer at a cat shelter. Sue emigrated to the USA in 2002 and is based in Portland, Oregon. She spends most of her free time endeavoring to keep up with, and feed, her two small boys and trying not to think about the emails piling up on her computer.

Courtney Vail, US Policy Officer/Caribbean Program Manager.
Courtney has worked within the wildlife conservation and animal welfare field for nearly 20 years, and has been with WDCS almost ten of them. With a diverse background in biology, law and environmental policy, Courtney focuses her time across the spectrum of issues for WDCS, providing leadership for its Caribbean program and a variety of domestic and international educational and outreach initiatives. Courtney is currently based in Arizona and spends her free time hiking, playing sand volleyball and loving her daughter, Sierra.

Kate O’Connell, Specialist Researcher
Kate has been involved with WDCS for nearly twenty years. With a combined background in international relations and biology, she has helped to draft more than a half dozen treaties related to the protection of the marine environment. An Associate Member of the American Translators Association, she speaks several languages and honed her Spanish when she studied right whales in Argentina and by watching Spanish soap operas on television. An expert on whale and dolphin issues, Kate spends each morning scouring the internet in one of the many languages she speaks gathering information to help WDCS campaigns. Kate lives in Connecticut with her family (LOTS of teenagers, hence a first-hand experience in wildlife management) and tries to maintain a somewhat sane house and a gruelling work schedule. In her free time (about ten minutes a day) she plays the bodhran, a traditional Irish drum, and practices, to the dismay of all -- especially her dog Lila -- the Irish tin whistle.

Sue Rocca, Biologist and Intern Coordinator
Sue has been involved in whale research, conservation and advocacy for more than 10 years. A queen multi-tasker, Sue manages the sightings and humpback databases, oversees the WDCS NA Intern Program, manages fundraising events, heads up the Turks and Caicos research project and then spends time in Baja with grey whales and tequila each winter - all while conditioning her hair, plucking, surfing, skyping and answering the phone.

Emma Davis, International Development Manager
While Emma is based in the UK and liaises with WDCS fundraisers around the world, her efforts in helping the Whale Adoption Project have been immeasurable so we have adopted her as part of the North American team. She is at her happiest underwater and scuba dives whenever and wherever she can - so far in the Maldives, the Red Sea, Thailand, South Africa, the Philippines and Australia.

Chris Hall, Finance Officer
Like Emma, Chris is based in the UK where he serves as part of the Finance team. However, Chris uses his personal vacation time to come to the US office every eight to ten weeks to work. While in the UK, Chris works diligently to oversee our finances.

Svatka Whitton, Administration Officer
Svatka speaks four languages, is a chemist by training and yet, WDCS was somehow lucky enough to get her to manage our North American office. When she’s not making sure the adoptions pack are sent out on time, the mail is organized and the deposits are made, she is figuring out ways to streamline our office to make sure the maximum amount of funds go to programs, not overhead. She also keeps the office clean and has the two most adorable little girls that can scream at a pitch only dogs can hear.

Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Senior Biologist (as in Status, not Age), Vessel Strike Program Lead
Regina has worked with the Whale Adoption Project since 1990 and moved to WDCS in 2005. Working primarily on large whale issues such as risks from fishing gear entanglements and vessel strikes she also dabbles in education and other stuff. Regina has a conservation seat on the federally appointed Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team, Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team, Atlantic Trawl Gear Take Reduction Team and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council where she advocates for whales, gets migraines, and nurses them with tequila. She is most thankful for her family (Dave, DJ and Evan), friends, indoor plumbing and would rather be captaining the boat.

Georgia Lozinsky and Jim Carsella, Webmasters
Georgia started as a volunteer for the Whale Adoption Project more than ten years ago and has become an invaluable part of the team ever since. When she isn’t keeping our website up and running and working above and beyond the call of duty, she spends time in her home in Colorado with her husband Jim, who codes all of our database and whale adoption cart needs, and three rescued pets, including a Bichon named Sara Lee, a buff Cocker Spaniel named Keeper and a very talkative African Gray parrot named Echo.

Lindsay Bruce, WDCS IT Manager and Videographer
Before joining WDCS in 2002, Lindsay trained as an electronic engineer and had a varied career in publishing; first as a graphic designer, followed by journalist for one of the UK's largest magazine publishers, then IT consultant for a number of companies in England. While based in the WDCS UK office, Lindsay spent 6 weeks in the US filming humpbacks off Cape Cod and came back to re-design the Gulf of Maine sightings and Photo ID databases. Now ruined by the whales (and tequila) Lindsay dreams of joining the US full time. Until then, he is on-call for us 24/7.