Karina Johnston is the Executive Director of Heal the Ocean, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Santa Barbara County, California. With over 16 years of experience in coastal science and community leadership, she has led numerous restoration and resilience projects across California’s coastline. Karina’s work focuses on nature-based climate adaptation, including dune and wetland restoration to combat sea level rise and coastal flooding. She previously served as Science Director at The Bay Foundation in Los Angeles and as Senior Restoration Ecologist at Tidal Influence, LLC, where she developed and managed large-scale coastal restoration projects.
She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where her research explores strategies to enhance coastal resilience. Karina holds a master’s degree in marine ecology and is a Board Certified Environmental Scientist. Her work bridges science, policy, and public engagement to advance sustainable, climate-resilient coastlines.