Jenna DiPaolo
Chief Brand and Communications Officer
Areas of expertise
- Strategic communications
- Branding and marketing
- Fundraising and development
Jenna DiPaolo is a strategic communications leader with two decades of experience building brands, trust and influence for mission-driven organizations. She joined Ocean Conservancy in 2024 as Chief Brand and Communications Officer, and in just two years has repositioned the organization with sharper visibility, a stronger public profile and a more compelling case for investment. Her work has included spearheading Ocean Conservancy’s organizational rebrand, elevating its voice with new and diverse audiences, and building a brand platform designed to resonate with philanthropic and corporate partners alike. She also leads Protect Where We Play, an award-winning initiative that partners with athletes, teams and brands to turn the collective joy of sports and entertainment fandom into a new generation of ocean advocates. In 2026, Jenna was named to PRWeek’s Women of Distinction, recognizing her leadership and impact in the field.
Prior to Ocean Conservancy, Jenna was Chief Communications Officer at Greenpeace USA, where she built the strategic communications infrastructure needed to drive climate action at the scale and speed the crisis demands. Before that, she spent a decade leading communications and development at the Rights and Resources Initiative, the global Secretariat supporting the rights of Indigenous Peoples across the world’s tropical forests. Her career also includes roles at the Alliance for Justice, the U.S. Navy’s international affairs office and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network — giving her a rare range of experience across human rights, environmental and public health advocacy.
Jenna is an institutionalist at heart: passionate about human rights, the environment and climate solutions, and deeply committed to building organizational cultures rooted in respect, accountability and excellence. She holds a BA in International Relations and Art History from Bucknell University and an MA in Human Rights from George Washington University. She grew up in Buffalo, NY, and now lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, son, and dog, Macaroon Cuddles—a name selected, unmistakably, by a child.
Education
- M.A., International Affairs, Human Rights, George Washington University
- B.A., International Relations, Art History, Bucknell University
- B.2 Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française, François Rabelais University
Favorite ocean animal
Dolphin or mantis shrimp. It’s a toss-up.