WDC has around 80 staff worldwide working in 6 locations. They are led by a team of directors overseen by volunteer trustees who are responsible for ensuring we meet our charitable obligations.
Executive Directors
International and UK CEO: Chris Butler-Stroud
Director of Strategy: Chris Vick
Director of Finance: Cally Moore
Director of Fundraising: Helen Mitchell
Director of Campaigns and Policy: Carla Boreham
Director of Human Resources: Sian Davies-Hamilton
Director of Marketing and Communications: Ed Fox
Executive Director North America: Regina Asmutis-Silvia
Executive Director Germany: Franziska Walter
Executive Director Australasia: Declan Andrews
WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, is the leading international charity dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins, and porpoises. WDC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin. We embrace diversity and equal opportunity and are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
WDC-North America Staff
Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Executive Director - North America
Regina is our fearless leader. She has her USCG 100-ton near coastal Master's License and has been involved in whale conservation for over 20 years. Besides running the office, she is also responsible for a lot of our policy and advocacy work. She is a Massachusetts native, a walking encyclopedia of whale information, and obsessed with Keith Richards.
Missy Walker, Deputy Director - North America
Missy first became part of the whamily when she collaborated with WDC on an education program in 2013. She came on board in 2014 and oversees all of the fundraising and communications for North America. Missy loves all of her bird and squirrel friends that visit the feeder outside her office window and she teaches us all about vegetables that we never knew existed!
Monica Pepe, Policy Manager - Conservation & Education
Monica has been in the WDC crew since 2009 when she started as a Field Research Intern. She came back the following year to volunteer and has been here ever since. She currently oversees WDC's three boater outreach programs. She is also a grammar queen and a Friends fanatic.
Michelle Collins, Program Manager - Science & Communications
Michelle started as a Field Research Intern with WDC in 2012. She couldn't get enough of whale conservation and came back in 2013 and hasn't left yet. She manages communications for WDC-North America, but always loves going on the boat to look for whales. She is proud of her midwest roots and has a freakishly good memory.
Sabrina Braunlich, Program Associate - Communications & Outreach
Sabrina fell in love with WDC and marine life in 2016 when she started as a Field Research Intern. She couldn't stay away and joined us as the Program Assistant in 2017. She is now our rockstar Program Associate who manages all the fun on social media. She has experience as a radio DJ and has never heard a corny joke she didn't like.
Autumn Hanscom, Philanthropy Officer
Autumn joined us in early 2021. She brings her years of experience in grant management and grant writing to provide new opportunities for WDC. When she isn't knee-deep in grants, she can be found talking local policy as an elected representative for her town of Groton, CT and is a quesadilla connoisseur.
Ed Maheigan, Vice Chair - Finance and Audit
We couldn't function without our Superstar Volunteer Ed! Ed joined us in 2016 and has become a permanent fixture in our office, helping with managing our finances. Ed is an avid scuba diver and has been working on his cooking skills with help from his WDC crew.
Sarah McCormack, Stranding Coordinator
Sarah joined the WDC team in 2021, excited to contribute to the conservation of seals, dolphins, and whales through the establishment of the Marine Animal Rescue and Response program. Though she enjoys life at sea level, you can find her snowboarding in the mountains in the wintertime or cheering on her beloved New York Mets from nosebleed seats in the summertime.
Lucie Baker, Office Manager
Lucie joined WDC in July of 2021. Since then, she has quickly been learning everything about marine mammals. She is a Plymouth-native and enjoys music, true crime podcasts, and horror movies when not overseeing office administration. She also is the one that sends out your whale adoptions!
Evan Silvia, Program Assistant
Evan started volunteering with WDC in the winter of 2019. He was later hired as the Program Assistant in February of 2021. He helps process and ship all orders, donations, and whale adoptions that come in. He is currently a Freshman at Bridgewater State University and is a big fan of the Bruins and Patriots.
Jen Kelly, Education Department Chair
Jen joined WDC in 2022 to revamp our Education Program with her experience in education and outreach. She fits in with the rest of us perfectly as she shares our love of being outside and is Team Coffee. Jen has her 50-ton captains license and for fun is taking tap classes again after dancing for 13 years as a kid.
