Marianne Brisson, Founder + Co-Host
Marianne Brisson is the founder of Seaze and the Mersea Strategy LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to helping ocean organizations with business and marketing. Originally from Gaspé, Québec, she grew up by the ocean and is passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices in business and the marine sector.
Her career spans policy, innovation, and strategy—from advising Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to leading ocean innovation for a regional economic development group. She now works with impact-driven organizations like Whale Seeker, leveraging her expertise in strategy and marketing.
Marianne holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.Sc. in Management and International Business. A Duke Global Fellow for Marine Conservation (2019), she studied drones for marine ecology. Now based in Oregon, she lives with her husband and their rescued Pomeranian, Pink.
Antonia Nicholls, Co-Host
Antonia is the co-host of Seaze. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical and Public Health Nutrition. She recently embarked on a new professional journey as a Business Development Representative at Opna, a start-up unlocking capital for climate projects, with speed, scale and equity. Prior to this, she worked at Kana Earth.
She obtained her PADI Advanced (Junior) Open Water Diver certification at 11 years old and started freediving in 2021 in France. She currently holds a PADI level one Freediver certification. She was born in France and holds the Irish, South African and British nationalities. She has lived in France, Brazil, Monaco, Malaysia, the Netherlands and the UK. She dreams of freediving with whales. She now lives in London, UK.
Aurora Sillars Volunteer, Research & Education
Aurora grew up in London but calls Eriskay, Scotland, her true home. Summers on the water sparked her love for the sea, leading her to earn her RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and compete in the Ocean Globe Race, becoming the youngest British competitor. While circumnavigating, she partnered with the GOES Foundation and Durham University to research microplastics and plankton.
Emily S. Patrolia, Founder and CEO at ESP Advisors
Emily S. Patrolia is an ocean and environmental policy expert with experience across government, advocacy, and the private sector. She began by advising state governments on science-based policies that support local economies and long-term planning. In Washington, she served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, shaping legislation and guiding priorities for agencies like NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard. Now, as Founder & CEO of ESP Advisors, she leverages advocacy, partnerships, and data-driven solutions to influence environmental policy.
Seaze and ESP recently launched "U.S. Ocean Policy Updates," a bi-weekly series where Emily breaks down the latest policy changes—what they mean and how they shape the future of our oceans.