"I've always believed in the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change. I'm honored to contribute to such a vital cause," Darian McBain said of her arrival at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Photo: Darian McBain LinkedIn profile.
Through a post on her LinkedIn profile, well-known seafood sustainability leader Darian McBain announced that she was joining the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The non-profit organization is known for its Seafood Watch program, a sustainable seafood advisory list, which helps consumers, chefs, and industry professionals make purchasing decisions based on scientific recommendations.
"I am thrilled to announce that I've begun working as a Senior Fellow with the incredible team at Monterey Bay Aquarium to support their groundbreaking conservation efforts, focussed on a just transition and nature," McBain wrote.
"Their work to protect our oceans, both in the U.S. through their work in Monterey and in global markets for sustainable seafood production is both inspiring and critical to the future of healthy communities and vibrant ecosystems," she continued.
After a 20+ year career, Darian McBain is now CEO and founder of Outsourced Chief Sustainability Officer (OCSO Asia) - a service for organizations seeking sustainability advice without hiring a full time CSO -, as well as a corporate sustainability consultant, visiting scholar, venture capital investment advisor and board member of several non-profit organizations.
As she explains on her LinkedIn profile, much of her career has been about honing her knowledge of sustainability, supply chains, human rights in business, risk management and sustainable finance, which earned her the titles of UN SDG Pioneer for a Sustainable Ocean Economy 2021, A Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business 2020, and one of Asia's Top Sustainability Superwomen, among others.
Expert in advising companies and governments on communications, supply chain, procurement, and sustainability strategy, she was the inaugural Chief Sustainability Officer for the Monetary Authority of Singapore - the first central bank globally to appoint a CSO -. Previously, within the seafood industry, she held the position of Global Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Thai Union.
For the fast-moving Asian consumer goods company, she created a sustainability strategy that ranked first in the food category of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Seafood Stewardship Index for several years.
Speaking to WeAreAquaculture during her TalentView interview, Tracy Murai, the then Assistant Director, Global Fisheries - Sustainability at Thai Union, who had previously worked as Director of Responsible Sourcing for Europe on McBain's team, said her vision and leadership had been "instrumental in developing Thai Union's first global sustainability strategy."
In that interview, Murai described Monterey Bay Aquarium's new Senior Fellow as an "inspiring seafood sustainability leader," but she is not the only one of our TalentViews who finds her figure inspiring.
During her interview, Adriana Sánchez, Seafood Ninja founder, told WeAreAquaculture that the fact that Darian McBain had started her own company was what inspired her to create hers, offering sustainable seafood and marketing solutions for all seafood companies, whatever their size.
Now, in addition to her leadership of OCSO Asia, McBain's expertise in global sustainability consulting and strategic advisory will also serve Monterey Bay Aquarium's sustainable seafood programs.
"Throughout my career, I've always believed in the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change. I'm honored to contribute to such a vital cause and look forward to sharing updates on our progress," the new Senior Fellow concluded her announcement.
