It's becoming increasingly clear that human activities are putting significant pressure on life in our ocean.

Aleksander is an award-winning reporter, photojournalist and editor with more than 33 years’ experience in the national and international media. Before founding Reflections with Vanessa Frey, he focused on investigative storytelling on oceanic issues such as pollution and fish farming. He is currently leading the day-to-day operations of Reflections from his native country, Norway, while frequently jumping into the ocean to document issues up close, and freediving whenever he can. Being a passionate underwater photographer, his work has been exhibited in several galleries. Aleksander is also a popular speaker. Now most of his speeches focus on visual documentation showing how human activity affect our ocean.

Vanessa is a seasoned investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist with a passion for the ocean. As a major shareholder and board member of several international corporations, she brings years of business experience and a global network to Reflections.

Her philanthropic efforts in the ocean space focus on supporting the establishment of marine protected areas. She is also a dedicated impact investor in the blue economy. Vanessa envisions Reflections as a dynamic knowledge hub addressing global oceanic issues, accessible to a diverse audience—from fishermen to scientists, and especially the wider public. Her mission is to raise awareness of the ocean’s vital role in securing the future of humanity.

Marine researcher turned ocean storyteller, Danel brings the wonders of the underwater world to life through her engaging content. With an adventurous spirit and a deep knowledge of marine ecosystems, she shares the beauty and importance of our oceans. From studying marine biology and oceanography at the University of Cape Town to researching sharks in Aliwal Shoal and manta rays in Mozambique, Danel's journey has led her to the exciting world of ocean storytelling. As Reflections' Social Media Producer, she combines her scientific knowledge with a passion for visual communication to create compelling narratives that connect people with the ocean. When she’s not behind the screen creating captivating stories, you can find her underwater exploring the kelp or conquering the tallest mountains on her trail runs.

Naushad started his career as a feature writer at the national Bangladeshi daily, New Age, when he was fresh out of high school. Since then, he has contributed to publications in various countries, reporting on politics, human rights, refugee crises and migration. More recently, after working in the development sector for some time, he is focused on writing about coastal and climatic issues.

At Reflections, he will continue to tell insightful stories about all things ocean, while ensuring the quality and readability of written content across platforms.

Lou is an award-winning photographer and author who believes in the power of storytelling to change hearts and minds for the good of the planet. A lifetime of observing nature combined with a PhD in marine biology and 15 years working in marine monitoring and education has served her well. Lou has contributed to international magazines, online publications and blogs. At home in Wales, she finds huge inspiration in the rich wildlife of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. You’ll find Lou freediving in the kelp forests, exploring rock pools at low tide, or in the surf riding waves.

At Reflections, Lou shares her awe for the ocean in words and images and ensures the science we bring you is correct and up-to-date.

Espen is a versatile graphic designer with a broad range of skills. His academic background is an MA in visual communication, and he has worked within several design disciplines including digital UI/UX design,
and brand creation and transformation.

Espen’s role for Reflections has been to develop its brand identity and strategy, to make sure it stays true to its core values across the different touchpoints, and to create meaningful interactions between Reflections and our users.

As a marine biologist and researcher Chaitanya is deeply passionate about the intricate world of taxonomy and the fascinating lives of invertebrates. The thirst to uncover the hidden connections that sustain our ocean drives her exploration of diverse marine habitats. From South Africa, she spends her time freediving in the kelp forests.

Chaitanya has completed her master's in marine biology, and while progressing into her PhD, she has also been setting up and maintaining Reflections's Knowledge Hub, which can be a point of departure for any research related to the ocean.

Svein, initially a musician, ventured into film making, and has been combining these careers for the last 20 years. 

After discovering free diving and spearfishing he found out it’s possible to bring a camera under the ocean's surface and document some of the magic that goes on down there.

So if he’s not on stage somewhere in Norway, you will probably find him free diving with a speargun or a camera in the world’s ocean.

In Reflections Svein will do filming, produce and edit film, animate and composite graphics and also work on sound design, music and mastering.

Senior scientist in marine biology, Hartvig Christie (76), is still active in an emeritus position at Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). His major tasks since 1978 have been research projects on coastal ecology, mostly focused on kelp forests, sea urchin grazing and the effects of other stressors on coastal ecosystems. Hartvig started diving in 1969 and for more than 40 years it has been an important part of field investigations covering all parts of the Norwegian coast. The results have been disseminated in 90 scientific publications in international journals, more than 150 research reports, over 150 oral presentations and popular communications in newspapers, radio and TV.

Norwegian underwater photographer and author Erling Svensen (69) started diving 48 years ago and continues to do so several days a week. This has amounted to more than 5200 dives on all continents, including Antarctica. Erling has published 15 books and has contributed images to more than 150 books internationally. He is on a species mission and has captured stunning images of more than 1470 species, amounting to 72,000 pictures from Norwegian waters alone. The many species he has photographed outside of Norway are yet to be quantified.

Dr. Aaron Eger is a seasoned communicator and outreach specialist in marine conservation, with an almost exclusive passion for kelp forests. Aaron has presented his work at international forums like the United Nations Ocean Conference, COP16, and COP28, and tries to convey complex scientific issues to diverse audiences. He has featured in media interviews across radio, print, television, and podcasts, with coverage in leading outlets like The Guardian, New Scientist, and Bloomberg. As the founder of the Kelp Forest Alliance, he has led numerous workshops, symposia, and collaborative research initiatives that have engaged hundreds of global participants, fostering a community of practice around ocean conservation. His short film Gardening Marine Forests explores why we do marine restoration and has been featured at multiple film festivals. Aaron's communication efforts are driven by a deep commitment to making marine science accessible and actionable, empowering communities and policymakers to protect ocean ecosystems.

Hannah is a marine ecologist at The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR), primarily working on the GEcoKelp project (https://www.gecokelp.org/). Her research involves investigating the impact of climate and human stressors on kelp forest ecosystems and their associated communities, alongside developing and testing techniques to restore these vital ecosystems. She is also interested in understanding how opportunistic macroalgal blooms, invasive and non-native species, and the presence of artificial structures influences marine biodiversity and how we can better manage and protect coastal ecosystems from the risks associated with these factors.

Madi is a marine historical ecologist and PhD researcher based at the University of Exeter, UK. She specialises in understanding the past dynamics of kelp forests, as well as their social-ecological significance over time. Madi is a keen diver and has worked as a marine and conservation photographer for more than a decade. She is passionate about bridging ocean visuals with intricate stories of its people and conservation. Science communication and storytelling are also an important aspect of Madi's work.

Cat is a marine ecologist at the Marine Biological Association (UK). Her research focusses on restoration, cultivation and harvesting management of marine resources, such as kelp forests. With a keen interest in applied research outcomes, she works closely with industry partners. Her work also explores how benthic ecosystems respond to environmental change, such as climate change and marine heat waves, and seeks solutions to improve marine stewardship.