‘Aulani Wilhelm is Kanaka ‘Ōiwi (Native Hawaiian), born and raised in Hawaiʻi. ʻAulani is the Chief Executive Officer at Nia Tero, an organization focused solely on Indigenous guardianship and the role Indigenous Peoples have played and can continue to play – in protecting lands, waters, and ocean areas as antidotes to the global climate crisis and biodiversity loss. She joined Nia Tero in October 2023 after serving as the Assistant Director for Ocean Conservation, Climate and Equity at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

‘Aulani previously served as the Senior Vice President for Oceans at Conservation International where she co-led the Blue Nature Alliance, a global partnership to catalyze the conservation of 18 million km2 of ocean. ‘Aulani led the establishment of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and World Heritage Site and co-founded Big Ocean, a network of the world’s largest marine managed areas. Prior, she was director of ocean initiatives for NOAA’s Office of Marine Sanctuaries, and a social innovation fellow at Stanford University.

‘Aulani is a Mellon Distinguished Scholar at Arizona State University’s Center for Imagination at the Borderlands. She holds a MS degree from Stanford University and a BA degree from the University of Southern California.