Rachael DeWitt’s expertise spans freshwater and ocean conservation and policy. She most recently worked on Ocean Conservancy’s government relations team, covering issues including Arctic conservation, fisheries, climate, ocean energy, deep-sea mining, and shipping. On Capitol Hill, Rachael worked for Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) on ocean policy issues. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Skaneateles Lake Association in upstate New York. Curious about her journey? Get to know her below!
Where does your interest in the ocean come from?
My interest in the ocean first stemmed from an interest in water. Growing up on Skaneateles Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, I had access to an abundance of freshwater. I learned how critical clean freshwater is and how ecosystems support this essential resource. Additionally, the lake I grew up on has a 400–350 million-year-old fossilized coral reef embedded in its shoreline. When I had the opportunity to travel to the ocean, my love of water only grew.
My interest in and exposure to the ocean are credited to my parents, who met while SCUBA diving and had me in SCUBA gear at seven years old. I was fortunate to experience the ocean beneath the surface from a young age. Seeing coral reefs firsthand—and how they support immense biodiversity, sustain fisheries, provide coastal protection, and bolster coastal communities—amazed me and lit a fire within me to protect this incredible ecosystem.
What path took you into ocean policy?
I started my path with the environments I had access to: freshwater and watersheds. At a young age, I volunteered with the local lake association, learning how to protect my hometown lake. An earth science class in high school motivated me to focus my career on environmental science. As an undergraduate at the University of Vermont, I earned a degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Aquatic Ecology, Policy, and Management, which is where I learned how environmental policy advances and declines as political winds change. It was also here that I first heard about the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. I knew I wanted to make the jump to saltwater, as I had always loved the ocean. I decided to go to graduate school, where I earned a Master’s in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This interdisciplinary program helped solidify my interest in ocean policy, and my acceptance into the Knauss Fellowship gave me firsthand exposure to the field I now love and which has become my career.
What are you looking forward to in your work with ESP Advisors?
I have long admired ESP Advisors’ leadership and commitment to ocean and environmental advocacy, and I have enjoyed collaborating with this incredible team in my previous roles. As a powerful, women-run consulting firm, I have consistently been impressed with ESP’s ability to get things done, no matter the political climate, and it is a dream to work here.
Beyond the wonderful internal team, I am thrilled to work with a group of passionate, dedicated clients with a mission to protect the ocean and the environment. Expert clients committed to ocean protection are the foundation of policy change, and I am excited to play a role in strategizing with these clients to help secure wins for the ocean.
What’s something that blows your mind about the ocean?
I am amazed by the immensity of the ocean and how little we know about it, and I am astonished by the human impact we can have on an environment so large. We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the depths of the ocean. There are many discoveries yet to be made. The decisions we make today can impact the existence of species before we ever know they existed—species that could support ecosystem functionality and medical research. Advocating for responsible ocean use can ensure we explore the ocean in a manner that supports scientific research, ocean health, and the needs of communities around the world.