Who We Are
The Sea Life Foundation is building the market infrastructure and public awareness to strengthen coastal resilience and make our oceans healthier. We're managed by a leadership team with deep experience across finance, science, and communications, and governed by a Board of Directors committed to the same.
We partner with Johns Hopkins University and other academic institutions to offer internships at the nexus of environmental science, finance, and communications and marketing — training the next generation of people who'll carry this work forward.
Intentionally a homophone, The Sea Life Foundation brings together a passion for ocean-based solutions with a desire to experience life — and work — a little differently too.
About the Founder
Elizabeth Nicoletti Sheehy is the Founder and Chief Executive of the Sea Life Foundation, bridging global issues in finance and policy with local issues in coastal resilience and environmental education. As an oyster farmer in Stonington, CT, Elizabeth offers hands-on experience in the blue economy and nature-based solutions.
Channeling her interest in the environment through communications, she has been the Managing Director of her own communications firm and previously held leadership roles such as public affairs advisor, media manager, and executive speechwriter. Elizabeth brings two decades of corporate communications experience, most recently at Bloomberg, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and IDB Invest. She co-authored the book Under a Lucky Star, about one of the world’s first-ever microfinance cooperatives. Elizabeth received her bachelor’s from Georgetown University and her master’s from Johns Hopkins University. She is a certified Oyster Master Guild specialist.
Reach out at enicoletti@sealifegroup.org.
About the Chief Financial Officer
Jessica Emery, CFA, is our Chief Financial Officer. Jessica joins us with over 15 years of Wall Street experience, bringing expertise in financial management and analysis to our growing team. She has experience in structured transactions, risk management, and cross-functional operational execution, including managing financing portfolios and driving strategic initiatives. She has a strong passion to support environmental causes and an interest in developing market-based solutions to improve and restore our environment. Jessica will support the Foundation through various financial and operational processes.
Jessica received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and is a CFA charterholder. She is active with various nonprofits in her community, most recently the Old Greenwich School PTA and Waste Free Greenwich.
Reach out at jemery@sealifegroup.org.
About the Chief Counsel
Ingrid Scholze is a lawyer with extensive experience in dispute resolution, including complex commercial litigation, mediation, and arbitration. She spent eight years at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, where she represented clients in high-stakes commercial disputes across a broad range of industries, including health care, financial services, insurance, and energy. Most recently, Ingrid has focused on helping businesses resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution, advising clients in mediation and arbitration.
Ingrid is an experienced board member and an expert in nonprofit and public-sector organizational management, financial and strategic planning, and sustainable growth. She has served on several local government advisory boards and nonprofit boards, including the Association for Conflict Resolution in Greater New York, Chappaqua Friends Nursery School, and the Chappaqua PTA.
Reach out at ingrid@sealifegroup.org.