Ashley Apel

Ashley Apel is an experienced professional in sustainable fisheries and environmental management. Currently serving as the Director of Partnerships & Strategy at Conservation International since April 2021, Ashley has previously held significant roles at Fair Trade USA, including Director of Agriculture & Seafood Producer Services, where the focus was on helping farmers and fishermen achieve Fair Trade certification across various food categories. Ashley's impactful contributions include developing the world's first fair trade certification for wild capture fisheries and collaborating on environmental standards for small-scale fisheries. Previous roles at the Environmental Defense Fund involved research on sustainable fisheries management, and early experiences included internships with organizations such as the National Environmental Trust and Reef Environmental Education Foundation. Ashley holds a Master's degree in Environmental Science and Management with a focus on Coastal Marine Resources Management from UC Santa Barbara and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science/Sociology from Whitman College.