The Island School is thrilled to announce Helena Janulis S13 as the 2025 Founders Alumni Award recipient. Helena joined us as a Semester student during The Island School’s Spring 2013 semester. Since her time with us, Helena has dedicated her life to ocean conservation and currently serves as the Director of Operations and Strategy at Investable Oceans.

Helena was passionate about the ocean from a young age, although growing up in New York City didn’t always allow her to engage with the natural world.  She was eager for a hands-on learning experience that extended beyond the classroom, and attending The Island School was the perfect opportunity for her. One of the most impactful parts of her Semester was studying juvenile green sea turtles and gathering baseline data on population numbers, predator interactions, and key habitat areas around Cape Eleuthera.

Lifelong Lessons Learned At The Island School

Reflecting on her experience working on research projects as an Island School student, Helena said, “Being out on the boat with my teammates and project advisors was a defining moment for me. It reinforced the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving in the field. But just as importantly, it showed me how bringing energy and enthusiasm into the work environment can make even the most challenging projects more rewarding. That experience helped solidify my passion for ocean conservation and showed me the value of blending serious research with a sense of adventure.”

Following her time at The Island School, Helena earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo and a Master’s of the Environment at the University of Colorado Boulder. She took on a variety of roles related to the environment, including serving as a divemaster in Hawai’i, a business development consultant for Outside Magazine, and a volunteer with multiple ocean-focused organizations. 

Embodying leadership That Affects change

In her role as Director of Operations and Strategy at Investable Oceans, an investment banking platform dedicated to accelerating the transition to a sustainable blue economy. The organization connects institutional and accredited individual investors with innovative early-stage companies, spanning all sectors of the blue economy, including blue foods, renewable energy, plastics & pollution, shipping & ports, and data & blue tech. While the blue economy is a newer term, it has quickly become an essential way to protect our oceans, by recognizing and practicing sustainable ways to use our ocean resources. 

Additionally, she serves as the Manager of the Ocean Pavilion at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) through Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, overseeing all pavilion activities, partnerships, and programming for the annual climate conference. The Pavilion is a global coalition that plays a key role in ensuring the ocean remains central to global climate negotiations, solutions, and decision-making.

Helena is also an active member of The Explorers Club, and serves on the World Oceans Week and Sustainability Committees. She chairs the Rising Explorer Grant Committee, which supports high school and undergraduate students worldwide as they embark on their field science careers.

Guided By The Island School’s Principles

Reflecting on how The Island School shaped her, Helena said, “The Island School was also my first real exposure to sustainability, which has had a lasting impact on all aspects of my life. It was there that I first understood the importance of environmental sustainability—not just as a concept, but as a way of living and working. The whole experience shaped my commitment to advancing ocean sustainability and regeneration, which has been the foundation of my career. This sense of community and teamwork has stayed with me, influencing how I function in teams and how I lead. These principles continue to guide me in my work, whether it’s building investment strategies for the sustainable blue economy, managing the Ocean Pavilion at COP, or mentoring future ocean leaders.”

Through these roles and more, Helena is uplifting the next generation of ocean leaders and advancing key projects that will influence our oceans and climate for generations to come.

We hope you will join us in congratulating Helena as our 2025 Founders Alumni Award recipient.