Ocean Advocate and Marine Science Student

Kenia Marcano is a marine science student ocean advocate from Trinidad and Tobago passionate about connecting science, innovation and storytelling to create a healthier ocean.

Born in Ecuador to Trinidadian parents and raised across six countries, Kenia developed a global perspective from an early age and a deep appreciation for the ocean and the communities that depend on it. Her experiences living internationally sparked her interest in entrepreneurship and innovation, which she now applies to ocean and environmental challenges.

Kenia is the former World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council representative for Trinidad and Tobago in which she participated as a youth delegate at international ocean and climate events, including the UN Ocean Conference in Nice and the UN High-level Political Forum in New York. She is also the founder of Ocean Break, a youth-led initiative exploring solutions to plastic pollution and marine debris in Trinidad and Tobago.

Through eXXpedition, Kenia is excited to contribute to scientific research on plastic pollution in the Antarctic Peninsula while documenting the journey and findings with audiences back home and across the Caribbean. As the first person from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean selected for eXXpedition Antarctica, she hopes to highlight the connections between seemingly distant ecosystems and inspire greater participation from Caribbean and Small Island Developing State communities in ocean science and exploration.

Research Student

Chevelle Gollop is a recent University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) BASc graduate (2020) and has been a research intern in the FREE lab since 2019, where she is dedicated to doing marine research. In the lab, she identifies and preserves fishes for the collection, teaching and research purposes. Chevelle helps organize the lab and associated field and lab activities. Her research interests are mapping marine benthic features in Buccoo Reef, Tobago using underwater photogrammetry for educational purposes and for her PhD research project looking at examining the key factors of the calcium carbonate sequestration of Tobago’s reefs.

Marine Scientist & Lecturer

Dr. La Daana Kanhai is a Marine Scientist and Lecturer in Marine Biology/Ecology that is currently based at the Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad. Her research is multidisciplinary, and it is focused on understanding human impact on coastal/marine ecosystems, to advance the development of context-specific interventions that will contribute to ecosystem health and human well-being. She has conducted research in Trinidad and Tobago, the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Dr. Kanhai represented Trinidad and Tobago on the Scientific Advisory Committee on Marine Litter and Microplastics (2019 – 2022, UNEP). Dr. Kanhai published on the issue of marine debris and plastic pollution in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME). She was also one of the Lead Authors on the Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment. Dr. Kanhai is presently the Co-Principal Investigator of projects focused on (i) The Human Dimension of Plastic Pollution in Trinidad and Tobago and, (ii) Abandoned, Lost and Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) in Trinidad and Tobago, (iii) Marine Megafauna in Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Kanhai served as a member of the National Sea Turtle Task Force of Trinidad and Tobago and was a member of the National Steering Committee to guide the execution of the UNEP project “Capacity development to catalyze actions and commitments at the national and global level to reduce plastic pollution including in the marine environment” in Trinidad and Tobago.

Most recently, in July 2026, Dr. Kanhai was one of the Co-Principal Investigators of one of the 2026 Schmidt Ocean Institute expeditions, Deep Wonders of Trinidad and Tobago, onboard the RV Falkor (Too). Dr. Kanhai teaches undergraduate courses focused on coastal and marine ecosystems, science communication and environmental impact assessments. Dr. Kanhai is currently supervising several postgraduate students pursuing research on coastal/marine issues. She serves as a member on several local, regional and international working groups and committees that are focused on marine conservation and pollution. Beyond research, Dr. Kanhai is involved in science communication and outreach.

La Daana has previously bee a crew member on the Caribbean leg of eXXpedition, raising awareness among Small Island Developing States (SIDS) about the issue of plastic pollution in the Caribbean Sea. She now joins us Mission Leader on our Caribbean 2026-27 legs.

Geography Teacher

Leah Fouchong is from the small island of Trinidad and Tobago. She has been a Geography teacher for the past twelve years and protecting and preserving the Earth and our environment has always been a priority.

Leah is passionate and actively seeks to address environmental issues in her country and help members of her society develop and promote a more eco conscious lifestyle that is geared towards the preservation of our environment and its resources.

Leah was a scholarship recipient of the Caribbean Pacific Island Mobility Scheme where she completed a Masters in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean with a focus on the marine environment. This has led her to develop her passion and advocacy for ocean literacy and environmental conservation.

This advocacy has allowed her to create a community group by the name of Changemakers for the Environment which seeks to empower the public to learn, advocate and actively volunteer in environmental initiatives such as tree planting exercises and beach cleanups.

She also actively volunteers and partners with like minded organisations in her country such as Eco divers TT, Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists and Caribbean Youth Environmental Network. This helps to fulfil her mission of promoting environmental awareness, education and creating advocates for our environment.