Dr. Cécile Gaspar
Founder, Director of Strategy and conservation programs Te Mana O Te Moana Foundation
Veterinary Doctor, Doctor in marine ecology, MBA
Cécile is a French environmental specialist settled in French Polynesia since 1993. She is specialized in marine environment with a degree in veterinary medicine, a MBA and a PhD in marine ecology. In 2004, she co-founded te mana o te moana NGO “spirit of the ocean” and ran it as the President till 2018 before becoming its strategy and conservation programs Director in 2020.
This NGO has three objectives: education, conservation and research on the Polynesian marine environment. Jean-Michel Cousteau and the French astronaut Jean-François Clervoy are its ambassadors. Cecile is an official sea turtle expert for IUCN. She developed a dedicated sea turtle clinic in Moorea, which has welcomed more than 500 sick and injured turtles to this day. She has set up a long-term green turtle nesting monitoring program on Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa atoll since 2007.
Her foundation has developed educational programs and received over 100,000 children up to date. The foundation is one of the leaders of the AME Educative Marine Area concept in French Polynesia. Cecile is also part of the board and scientific committee of Tetiaroa Society Foundation and she has joined Pacific Beachcomber Group as its Sustainability coordinator. Cécile Gaspar has been honored as a Knight of the National Order of Merit in 2012.
This NGO has three objectives: education, conservation and research on the Polynesian marine environment. Jean-Michel Cousteau and the French astronaut Jean-François Clervoy are its ambassadors. Cecile is an official sea turtle expert for IUCN. She developed a dedicated sea turtle clinic in Moorea, which has welcomed more than 500 sick and injured turtles to this day. She has set up a long-term green turtle nesting monitoring program on Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa atoll since 2007.
Her foundation has developed educational programs and received over 100,000 children up to date. The foundation is one of the leaders of the AME Educative Marine Area concept in French Polynesia. Cecile is also part of the board and scientific committee of Tetiaroa Society Foundation and she has joined Pacific Beachcomber Group as its Sustainability coordinator. Cécile Gaspar has been honored as a Knight of the National Order of Merit in 2012.