The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is pleased to announce that Heather Ludemann has been named Ocean Initiative, Americas Director, and Sarah Hogan has been named Ocean Initiative, Asia Director. Both Heather and Sarah have been instrumental in the Foundation’s work since joining the Ocean team in 2008 and have made significant contributions to our global ocean conservation efforts.
“I am thrilled to witness Sarah and Heather’s continued leadership as they step into their new roles, helping to drive forward the Foundation’s work to protect and restore ocean ecosystems for people and nature, now and in the future.”
Sarah has been a driving force behind the Packard Foundation’s ocean conservation strategies for over a decade. From 2012 to 2022, she led the Foundation’s Global Seafood Markets and Japan Marine strategies, guiding them through transformative periods. In 2015, recognizing the urgent need to address human rights abuses in the seafood industry, Sarah spearheaded a pivotal shift in the Global Seafood Markets strategy to include a focus on labor rights. This expansion emphasized equity and sustainability, values Sarah holds at the core of her work.
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Political Science from University of California, San Diego.
Heather has been a leader in domestic conservation for two decades, leading the Foundation’s U.S. Marine Strategy, where she oversaw efforts that led to significant milestones, including the designation and management of California and federal marine protected areas, and the development of the first-ever U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan and Ocean Justice Strategy. As the Foundation’s work expanded globally, so has Heather’s role. She has played a critical part in shaping the new Ocean Initiative, particularly through her work on the Ocean Habitats and Communities portfolio, with the goal of protecting and restoring restore ocean habitats globally through equitable approaches to conservation and stewardship.
Heather holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies from Tufts University and a master’s degree in marine policy with a certificate in conservation biology policy from the University of Washington.
