Name: Chloe Harvey

Nickname

Calamity Chlo

Where are you from?

A tiny village called Old Dalby nestled in the Leicestershire countryside in the UK, but now call Bristol home.

What are you best known for?

I love a get together – if someone’s in need of an evening out then they know I’ll be an easily persuaded companion. And probably that I love an eco-nag (better described by me as a considerately timed, open minded, gentle reminder of how to do things in a more environmental manner).

What’s your background?

I did a degree in Marine Biology and spent my teenage years instructing scuba diving in duck ponds around the UK. After Uni, I worked as a Consultant Technologist for an innovation company; managing the technical work of pan-European aquaculture projects. Everything about that job was unsuitable for my character – I stayed for 18 months before cashing in and buying myself a backpack and travel dive kit!

What inspired you to get into marine conservation?

I never, ever, wanted to work in conservation. At Uni there was the ‘saving the dolphin and turtle’ tribe and it didn’t appeal to me… at all. I was going to do a PhD and work in genetics. The life of a lab rat for me; and I was super excited about it. Then I spent some time in Asia and I saw first-hand the damage the diving industry was doing to marine life every day. Then I was given an opportunity to volunteer with Green Fins: to provide vital human resource and expertise to help drive sustainability with the sector on a global scale. That’s where I am now, 12 years later… I’ll get back to genetics one day, maybe.

Chloe in the early days of her involvement with Green Fins

What brought you to Reef-World & why do you care about the work we do?

Reef-World came about as a happy coincidence of stumbling upon the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative. JJ (my much-better-at-everything-half) and I were entrusted by Anne Paranjoti (née Miller) to inherit Reef-World in 2009. I was only 25 at the time but she saw how passionately we worked for the Green Fins Thailand team and reckoned we could do more, reach more, protect more if we had an organisation (with a global vision and a very good reputation) behind us. While Reef-World’s work impacts so many lives around the world, we are a small team and this means two things: we’re all really busy and we can respond to the needs of the people and environment we care about very quickly. I love this.

Chloe & the Reef-World team with Natalie Harms (UN Environment Programme) at ADEX 2019

What’s your role at Reef-World and what does that look like?

I’m one of the Directors (along with JJ, my husband) so it’s quite a mixed bag. We’re a team of just five, which means everyone needs to be a jack of all trades to a certain extent. I’m in charge of the charity’s governance, financial reporting and forecasting, reporting to donors, HR etc. But I also get to do my fair share of the fun stuff. Green Fins is our flagship programme so most of our programme implementation is focused on that. I get to regularly travel to project sites and work with our national partners to help them to implement Green Fins in their local diving communities, craft our educational tools and materials as well as oversee high level Green Fins programme development.

Chloe on a dive with her husband and co-director JJ Harvey

What do you enjoy the most about your role?

Every day throws up a different perspective, challenge and opportunity: it’s great. I also get to work with some of the most amazing, passionate and dedicated people from all around the world. The only reason we’re able to do what we do is because of some wonderful people trusting us over the years. Looking back, I am really humbled and very much in awe of those acts.

While some people would find working with their husband every day a sweaty panic inducing prospect, I actually really enjoy it because he’s pretty awesome. Same is true for Sam, who found us way back in 2012 and has stayed by our side through the highs and lows and is now our Programmes Manager. She is one of the most empathetic people I know and I’m forever grateful for her consistent reminder of the human element in our decision-making processes. She also seems to have a boundless enthusiasm for leaving no stone unturned when we’re brainstorming the development of a new concept or product. It’s such a pleasure.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to get into the marine conservation sector?

Keep at it: it’s not an easy nut to crack. Good work experience, good contacts and strong ethics will all help. Do loads of research and build your own picture of what you think is right and wrong in conservation. If something smells a bit fishy, it probably is. Be ready to walk away from a seemingly great opportunity. Unfortunately, this sector is very much like any other. If you have been associated with something that holds bad rep, it will work against you.

Chloe in the field with Green Fins members

Outside work, what are your hobbies/favourite pastimes?

I have a two-year-old daughter and my life outside work revolves around her. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good play dough session! After living abroad for almost 10 years, while getting Green Fins established, I really enjoy spending time with my family. I also love being by the ocean. If I can throw a bike ride, walk, surf, swim, paddle board or picnic into the mix, then I’m one very happy lady.

What’s your favourite marine animal and why?

I have a deep respect for octopus. The more I learn about them the more I like them. They are playfully inquisitive and pretty grumpy in equal measures. Quite unlike anything else in the animal kingdom. I also feel the most ridiculous sense of pride when I actually spot one on a dive. So, it’s a double win!

What marine animal are you most like and why?

I’d like to say a majestic, elegant manta ray – but probably more realistically an octopus.

When and where did you qualify as a diver?

When I was 11, my Dad told me he’d booked a holiday to Egypt and we were going to learn to dive. My response was “no way; only James Bond can dive Dad!” Once I’d gotten over the initial horror of getting into a wetsuit in desert heat, I absolutely loved it and have done ever since.

Chloe (far left) learning to dive in Egypt, Dahab 1997, aged 11

Tell us about your most memorable dive…

Oh my goodness, that’s too hard. A night dive off Coral Garden in Coron, Philippines: just me, JJ, lots of octopus and what seemed like an ocean full of bioluminescence. A wreck in the Normandy landings that had settled upside down and once you entered it seemed like a magical cathedral covered in beautiful white Deadman’s fingers (a type of sedentary marine animal) and tanks hanging upside down still attached by chains. A recent training dive in a dirty dock in the Red Sea where we were joined by a few bottle nosed dolphins – biggest surprise ever! Every single Green Fins Assessor practical training dive (once described as the underwater circus) – getting to know the diver behind your trainees is just the most wonderful experience. Plus, it’s often very very funny.

Chloe running an assessor training programme in Egypt

& one diving destination still on your bucket list?

Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines.

Star sign and how you express it

Gemini - sociable, communicative and ready for fun, with a tendency to suddenly get serious, thoughtful and restless. You never know which one you’re going to get.

If you could have one superpower, what would you choose and why?

Urgh, I’ve really thought this through and, although it’s so cliché, I would really like to be able to breath underwater. Sorry, but it’s true.

What’s the strangest injury you’ve ever had?

I’ve only ever broken two bones in my body – my two small metacarpals. One three times and the other twice. Very odd.

Tell us something most people wouldn’t know about you?

As a young girl, I used to race remote control cars. I was actually really good at it and I loved it. Another hobby I have my dad to thank for – although I chose not to make a living out of that one. Thank goodness.

Meet Chloe: Reef-World's Director