Alexandra Cousteau

Alexandra Cousteau is dedicated to advocating the importance of conservation and sustainable management of water resources in order to preserve a healthy planet. Her global initiative seeks to inspire and empower individuals to protect not only the ocean and its inhabitants, but the human communities that rely on the purity of our freshwater resources.

Because of Alexandra's tremendous work and relentless dedication towards these environmental issues, she was honored as a member of National Geographic's "Emerging Explorers" Class of 2008. The program is comprised of eleven visionaries and young trailblazers from around the world who have pushed the boundaries of discovery, adventure, and global problem solving. This group is recognized and supported for their inspiring and significant contribution to world knowledge through exploration while still early in their careers.

Granddaughter of legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Alexandra's first exploration took place at four months old with her father Philippe. She has grown up traveling the globe, feeding her passion for adventure and learning firsthand the value of conserving the natural world. When asked about the impact that her father and grandfather have had on her life, Alexandra explains, "the best example they gave me was the importance of living a life of consequence, value, and meaning. I honor their memories by creating a legacy of my own in speaking out for the preservation of our blue planet and all its waters."

Alexandra's most recent step in creating a legacy of her own came with the establishment of her own organization in 2008, Blue Legacy. The mission of Blue Legacy is to tell the story of our water planet to the world, to inspire people to take action on critical water issues in meaningful ways, and to help shape society's dialogue to include water as one of the defining issues of our century and the primary vehicle through which climate change will be felt.

In addition to Blue Legacy, Alexandra co-founded EarthEcho International with her brother Philippe in 2000. The non-profit organization is devoted to inspire concern and commitment for the environment in today's youth. EarthEcho uses dynamic and interactive media platforms combined with compelling story telling to empower people to take individual action for more sustainable lifestyles.

From 2005-2007, Alexandra spent two years living in Central America working with local
environmental groups on marine resource management with a special focus on shark fisheries. During that time, she worked with diverse stakeholder groups to strengthen fisheries management in the region through education, communication, legislation, and the safeguarding of marine protected areas.

Alexandra was honored as an Earth Trustee for the UN in 2007 for her work to protect the oceans. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of EarthEcho and Global Water Challenge, Dell's Regeneration Advisory Council, the International Advisory Board of Counterpart International and the Jolkona Foundation, the founding board of the Lebanese Center for Pollution Victims, and the steering committee of the Shark Alliance.

Alexandra holds a Political Science degree from Georgetown University and is fluent in English, French, and Spanish. She has been asked to speak regarding environmental issues at such organizations as the United Nations, National Geographic Explorer's Symposium, Harvard University, Smithsonian, Sea Rovers, the National Press Club, Aspen Institute's Environment Forum, and the Telluride Mountain Film Festival.

Currently she is preparing to launch the Blue Campaign: a global campaign that recognizes that the beauty, power and life-sustaining essence of our water planet is in danger. It also recognizes that we, as individuals and communities, have the power to protect and heal our most valuable resource. The Blue Campaign is the outgrowth of Alexandra's legacy toward preservation and care of our water planet-- it is a legacy she hopes will become a collective human legacy to future generations.