Partners

REEFrame Project Leads

Matt Ramsey, Senior Director, Conservation International Hawai‘i

Matt provides general oversight for REEFrame. As the senior director of Conservation International Hawai‘i, he has over 30 years of experience with natural resource projects in Hawai‘i, including conservation finance, resource protection, terrestrial restoration, and fisheries initiatives. Matt previously worked with the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization (NOAA) Fisheries Pacific Island Regional Office. He is the Hawai‘i chairperson of the Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council and holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management from Cornell University.

Mark Hixon, Ph.D., Hsiao Endowed Chair of Marine Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Mark is REEFrame’s science lead. Since 1979 Mark has studied coral reefs, focusing on reef restoration since observing the severe decline of O‘ahu’s herbivorous reef fish. His studies helped inspire the Coral Resilience Module Experiment, which became the feasibility study for REEFrame. Mark’s research on projects in California, Oregon, Hawai‘i, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the Great Barrier Reef, and French Polynesia, focus on the behavior, population, and community ecology of coastal marine fish. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology, a master’s degree in ichthyology and ecology, and a Ph.D. in population and aquatic biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Matt Campbell, Ph.D., President and Head of Engineering, Natrx

Matt Campbell is designing the project’s nursery reef frames and overseeing the fabrication of the 3D-printed reef modules. He is a coastal and ocean engineer with 20 years of experience integrating traditional coastal engineering principles with biological and ecological processes to improve coastal resiliency. Matt previously founded ORA Technologies, which provides nature-based solutions in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2016, he conceptualized, patented, and developed the Natrx 3D concrete printing technology to restore natural infrastructure. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering, a master’s degree in biological engineering, and a Ph.D. in biological engineering from Louisiana State University.

Ryan Okano, Ph.D., State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)

As an East Hawai‘i Biologist for DAR, Ryan supports the permitting process and provides natural resource management perspectives for REEFrame. He has over 12 years of experience in nearshore restoration including both land and water projects. He also serves as Hawai‘i’s point of contact on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force. Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Hawai‘i.

Mike Foley, Ph.D., Senior Coastal Engineer, Principal Investigator, Project Manager, Oceanit

Mike is helping build REEFrame’s structural framework. He has a decade of experience in the ecological engineering of marine structures. His doctoral dissertation focused on breakwater reefs, their impact on coastal processes, and their ability to enhance a reef’s ecological value. At the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), Mike designed a blue- green shoreline structure to mitigate coastal hazards and enhance native species habitats. He is also testing marine construction materials to learn how they can attract and grow coral. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Colorado College, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Hawai‘i.

Julie Morikawa, President and Founder of ClimbHI

Julie oversees REEFrame’s community and industry connections and partnerships. She has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and technology sectors worldwide. As the president and founder of the Hawai‘i nonprofit ClimbHI, she actively partners with leading businesses and organizations statewide. She is also a board member of the O‘ahu Visitors Bureau. Julie has launched numerous workforce development initiatives and campaigns over the past 15 years, reaching more than 140,000 keiki across Hawai‘i. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.