Mat Rosa

Author, consultant, executive, and founder for our oceans and coasts.

I like telling the story of my first job at sea, walking up to the Captain of a wooden schooner and asking for work, not knowing the bow from the stern. Soon after learning my first knot, I was rigging aloft with a marlinspike. The following years of seatime on ocean passages, luxury charters, and competitive race crews earned a 100-ton Captain license.

I brought the knowledge gained as crew into the boardroom as Executive Director of a community boating organization. I developed an award-winning new strategic model of skills training for disadvantaged communities that is still a success today. I have held advisory roles for the Volvo Ocean Race, Boston Harbor Waterfront Development, and Team USA Paralympic Sailing.

Understanding the marine industry as an executive and a sailor, I have lately taken on the roles of writer, consultant, and startup founder. My master’s in Marine Affairs focused on coastal management, combining the science and policy of ocean conservation. After grad school, I wrote a book on the effects of climate change on marine resources in the Caribbean, and consulted local governments in Southeast Asia how coastal ecotourism can help their economy, environment, and cultural heritage.

Along with professional expertise, my seafaring heritage from the Azores islands keeps me connected to rewarding work by the sea. I recently combined all these experiences to build Coastalero, promoting adventure sports entrepreneurs in over 25 countries. When not off exploring new kitesurfing spots, I can be found on my liveaboard trawler, or in the shop renovating vans into adventure vehicles.