Cindy Zipf uses her passion for science and advocacy to create campaigns and programs to drive public policy and reduce pollution.  Since its beginning in 1984, she has been at the helm of COA, the lean, green, ocean pollution fighting machine that is the only full-time ocean advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to the NY and NJ region. She reviews and evaluates regional, state, and federal policies for impacts to marine water quality and, through science, research and education, works toward solutions for issues of concern.

Kari originally joined the COA staff in 2000 as a graduate school summer intern. In 2001, she joined the staff full time, focusing on outreach and education. Over a span of 8 years, Kari served in assistant and director positions in education, policy, outreach, and communications. Having met her future husband while staffing a COA information & action table, Kari left her position in 2009 to raise a family. Later she joined COA’s Board of Trustees from 2015-2019. Kari resigned from the Board in 2019 to rejoin the staff to work on education programs. Kari returned to her advocacy and outreach position a short time later, and served in that role for 5 years engaging with elected officials, organizations, and residents of all ages and backgrounds and launching actions and initiatives to stop ocean pollution and harmful industrialization in the ocean. In 2024, she accepted the role of Management & Operations Director.

Swarna Muthukrishnan received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India, a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Florida and attended the Certificate Program in Biological Wastewater Treatment at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft, The Netherlands, She has many years of experience in research and development, analytical techniques, laboratory and field investigations, sampling and monitoring methods, quality practices (QA/QC), scientific data analyses, scientific communication, monitoring and management of innovative treatment technologies and best management practices (BMPs) in water, wastewater, stormwater, sediments, soils, and reclaimed water.