Executive Director

Karina Johnston is the Executive Director of Heal the Ocean and a dedicated scientific and community leader with many years of experience across California’s coastal ecosystems. Her work bridges science, policy, and public engagement to advance healthy, sustainable, and climate-resilient coastlines. She has directed numerous projects to restore coastal habitats, including marine ecosystems, wetlands, beaches, and dunes. Her previous roles include Senior Restoration Ecologist at Tidal Influence and Science Director of The Bay Foundation where she led habitat restoration, outreach, and water quality improvement programs. Her work in nonprofit management includes developing strategic plans, securing and implementing funding and grants, guiding scientific initiatives, and executing communication strategies. Karina holds a Master’s degree in marine ecology from James Cook University, BS in aquatic biology from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), Board Certification in Environmental Science, and is nearing completion of her PhD at UCSB. When Karina is not working to help heal our ocean, you can find her enjoying life at the beach with her family.

Operations and Outreach Manager

Amber is the Operations and Outreach Manager at Heal the Ocean.  In her role, she leads grant writing, marketing, event outreach, and administrative efforts.  Prior to joining HTO, Amber worked with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation on marketing and coordination for the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program and with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to organize marine debris cleanups at the Channel Islands.  Amber also has experience in environmental planning, coordinating greenhouse gas verification projects, and digital marketing in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors.  Amber holds a Masters of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.  In her free time you can find her backpacking, paddling, or surfing.

Operations & Communications Manager

As the full-time Operations & Communications Manager at Heal the Ocean, Jasmin leads grant writing, marketing, event outreach, and administrative efforts. She is also the co-founder of Women in the Water, a community group that hosts free, accessible events for Santa Barbara’s water-loving community.
Jasmin earned her B.A. in both Communication and Art from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While at UCSB, she served as president of Isla Vista Trading Post, a student-led organization promoting a circular economy by recirculating clothing and reducing textile waste in Isla Vista.
A dedicated environmentalist, Jasmin received her California Climate Stewardship Certificate through the Community Environmental Council. When she’s not working or volunteering, you’ll likely find her surfing, hiking in the backcountry, or painting at home—always inspired by the natural world she works to protect.

Policy Analyst

Noah graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he earned a BS in Environmental Management and Protection as well as an MBA with an emphasis in general management. Growing up in Ventura, Noah found his passion for the environment through surfing, running, and hiking. A prominent figure in the local music scene, Noah founded and managed multiple bands, co-wrote, co-produced, and performed on 5 full length albums, and performed in over 230 shows throughout California. Noah loves traveling and looking for new destinations to surf, snowboard, catch a show, and try new food.

Field Consultant

Harry Rabin is a photographer & filmmaker whose career has spanned science, environment and public entertainment with his award-winning films. His documentary work has always been accompanied by sound research to create informative and educational projects, and this intersection of science and art has led him to a career of environmental stewardship.

He is in charge of principal photography and videography for all productions at On the Wave Productions, and has acted as producer and/or cinematographer for numerous documentaries including Into the Shark Zone, Witness to Disaster, and When Sharks Attack among others. His documentary biography features natural disaster and wildlife coverage, and he has been fortunate to work with acclaimed filmmakers and environmentalists like Mike DeGruy and Sylvia Earle. His work has taken him to the front lines of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the Santa Barbara Thomas Fire, the ensuing deadly Montecito debris flows, and to Russia, where in 2019, he documented Charles Vinick and Jean-Michel Cousteau on a mission to free captured orcas from the notorious so-called “Whale Jail.” His documentary work helped secure their release.

He is currently public outreach advisor and field researcher for Heal the Ocean, where he uses his background in film and equipment to aid in scientific monitoring and public outreach. With Heal the Ocean, he has been working with California State Lands Commission to manage leaking legacy wellheads. Through close documentation, he has developed better practices for accurately locating wellheads and safely containing oil during abandonments.

He is also an official liaison between NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

Operations Intern

Haley is currently a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara studying as an undergraduate in the sociology department, which she plans to graduate in June of 2024 with a bachelor’s degree. She currently owns and operates her own small business, specializing in the resale and repurposing of vintage clothing. Haley can be seen at pop-ups and flea markets in her small community of Isla Vista or Santa Barabra, combining her passion for environmental conservation and fashion. In her spare time, Haley enjoys traveling, photography, hiking, camping, long walks on the beach, and rock climbing.

Public Outreach & Web Manager

Kylie graduated UC Santa Barbara in 2019 with a degree in Biology emphasizing marine science and a minor in French. She has been fluent in French since the age of 5. After graduating, she turned her biology background toward film, working on wildlife productions under Harry Rabin.

As a SCUBA instructor with years of experience working in the dive industry, she has unique firsthand experience with the underwater world. She has traveled to many continents, diving in and filming any body of water available. From her home in the cold kelp forests of the California coast, to the expansive corals of the Great Barrier Reef, to the deep, shark-filled blue of Guadalupe Island, Kylie hopes to share underwater and coastal conservation stories with audiences on land.

Through Harry, she was introduced to the wonderful work of Heal the Ocean, and has been working with them on public outreach through media since 2020. She also manages the HTO website.