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A gifted communicator and manager with 10 years’ experience in global partnership development, fundraising, stakeholder management and communications. James has produced film and TV across three continents and was a key player at ScreenHits TV, a successful streaming start-up with international reach. Climate solutions have been an obsession for 20 years, since his first climate documentary in Madagascar.

Developed applied biotechnological solutions from marine systems, from algal cultivation to sustainable bioproduct research and development. Led interdisciplinary projects advancing seaweed-based bioproducts, bio-acrylic acid production and aquaculture waste valorisation, in many international collaborations. Has both the kelp farming and processing chops to get Big Kelp off to a running start.

A talented and adventurous marine biologist whose background is in fish, shrimp and kelp farming. Their dissertation was on land-based seaweed aquaculture, and they currently work on the biggest seaweed project of its kind domestically. Their role will be to set up and oversee new aquaculture projects. Living in New Zealand means valuable local knowledge.

‘The Kelp Father’ and pre-eminent global seaweed generalist and futurist, author of the definitive book on seaweed futures, The Seaweed Revolution. His friends, contacts and influence span the world. He is a United Nations advisor and a known quantity at almost every global seaweed conference, and has already proved an excellent advocate and strategic advisor.

Carole has been working with algae for decades and is seen as a leading expert globally. She has led large EU and international multidisciplinary projects on algal biotechnology (over €12M EU funding), has 80+ publications (h-index 45) and expertise in algal cultivation, extraction, product development and biorefining. She also mixes a mean Erlenmeyer flask.

Hires and runs the local crew, holds the day-to-day on site and reports to the CEO. Previously operations and site manager at large aquaculture companies CH4 and Maclab.

Runs the in-house nursery, takes delivery of Macrocystis seed stock, and seeds the lines. Trained alongside the hatchery supplying Cawthron Institute before the season starts. Previously a lab technician at CH4.

Runs the wet line — no drying, no heat. Receives fresh biomass, presses, separates and drums the concentrate, and keeps the batch records the certifications need. Previously worked in senior roles across forestry, viticulture and aquaculture.

Manufactures the wet lines and rack harvester. Assembles the first limited run of racks and winch buoys from delivered components, and repairs them between cycles. Intermittent contracted work. Has engineered for MacLab, Waimana and MFA.

Vessel handling, mooring and rack deployment. Holds the tickets, runs the deployment and recovery, and owns safety on the water. Harvest and deployment is intermittent and Andy has a workshop adjoined to our warehouse, so this is multi-role.

Deploys and monitors the seeded lines, records growth, depth and condition, and gathers the season-one evidence the whole yield case rests on. Harvest, maintenance and deployment is intermittent, so part time or multi-role.

Pioneering engineer and bio-mechanist. PhD on plesiosaur hydrodynamics; built the FLIP robot for the BBC with David Attenborough. Now at Imperial College mechanical engineering. Big Kelp has a partnership with Imperial College to battle climate change and coastal erosion at vast scale using its unique tech. Multiple grant applications pending.

Over a decade’s expertise in bio-refinery developing and optimising scalable extraction and purification processes for seaweed-based bioactive compounds, notably alginates from kelp at BioMara, integrating mariculture, biodiesel, livestock and agricultural industries into a seaweed-based biorefinery model.

A brilliant strategist and financial analyst, James led a team at Emitwise helping some of the biggest companies in the world decarbonise. 15 years of Fortune 500 decarbonisation strategy (Accenture, McKinsey clients); expertise in market entry and corporate partnerships.

A consummate salesperson and a subject expert in exactly the markets we intend to lead. Heads marketing and direct sales strategy and execution. A prolific lead creator and negotiator. He already sells exactly what we will sell – except our products will be cheaper, greener and more plentiful.

Pioneering chemist and materials scientist specialising in the building blocks of algae used for bio-plastics, nano materials and hydrogels, and in carbon capture modelling. Pending grant funding or substantial profits, they will lead Big Kelp up the value chain in novel uses of algae-based bioplastics, both algin-based feedstock and fermentation to PHA.