Turning the tide on coral reef decline
The window to save coral reefs is rapidly closing. The solutions sit with our generation and our time. Together we can save the world’s coral reefs.
Who we are
Great Barrier Reef Foundation USA is a US-based non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of coral reefs. We support organizations like the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in Australia, which has a track record in bringing the world’s brightest minds and advanced technologies together to solve the challenges facing coral reefs.
#Featured projects
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation is delivering the world’s largest coral reefs program and more than 100 Reef-saving projects. Here are just a few of them.
Pioneering Reef forecasting
The world's largest forecasting program to track and predict the condition of Reef waters.
Saving endangered turtles
Restoring the world’s largest green turtle nesting area on Raine Island.
Coral IVF
Pioneering science delivers new life to the Great Barrier Reef.
Restoring Reef Island Habitats
Restoring critical island habitats to protect ecosystems and save vulnerable species.
#Board and officers
Cindy Hook - Chair
Appointed as the Chief Executive for Deloitte Asia Pacific in September 2018, Cindy leads a team of 2,800 partners and 45,000 professionals across 17 countries. She was educated in the United States and worked for 20 years as a certified public accountant for Deloitte in San Francisco.
Nathaniel Riley - Treasurer
Nate is Senior Strategist at Boston Trust Walden, an investment management firm known for its leadership in impact investing, where he manages global multi-asset and equity portfolios. He received a BA from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Ben Phillips - Executive Director
Ben Phillips has more than 25 years of fundraising and management experience. Recognized as a leader in global fundraising techniques, Ben has shared his expertise with not-for-profit organizations around the world. Ben has worked across all not-for-profit sectors and is a contributing author to the fundraising text “International Fundraising for Non-Profits”.
Damian Eales
Damian has a diverse executive resume. He has held senior leadership positions across retail, banking and media industries. Notably, Damian was CMO of a top Australian department store retailer - David Jones, one of Australia’s largest banks - Westpac, and Australia’s largest media media company - News Corp. Although he has spent many years in marketing roles, his experience extends to leading financial services, sales and operations. He was most recently Chief Operating of News Corp Australia. Today, Damian is global head of transformation of News Corp and is based in New York. Damian served as President of the International News Media Association between 2019 and 2022. He also served on the Board of the Sony Foundation, based in Australia.
Jeff Bleich
Jeff Bleich is the Chief Legal Office at Cruise, leading the legal and compliance teams. He previously served as a special master in the U.S. District Court, and as a partner at both Munger, Tolles & Olson and Dentons. He has over three decades experience in resolving complex domestic and international disputes. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Australia, and as Special Counsel to President Obama in the White House. For his federal service, Ambassador Bleich received numerous awards, including the Sue Cobb Medal, the State Department's highest award for a non-career ambassador.
Jonathan Breene
#News
Unesco report supports the crucial role of the Foundation’s Resilient Reefs Initiative in fighting climate change
Planting Corals
Reef partnership to plant 100,000 corals off Cairns & Port Douglas
UN Ocean Decade
Great Barrier Reef Foundation partners with United Nations in race for ocean survival
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