Claire Nouvian
President and Founder of Bloom Association
A citizen of the world, raised on three continents, and a polyglot (she speaks six languages), Claire studied History at the Sorbonne. She spent 6 years traversing the world shooting wildlife documentaries for the French television production company Télé Images Nature. It was when on a reconnaissance mission for a documentary in 2001 that Claire discovered images of fabulous deep-sea creatures and so began her obsession with the deep sea. Apart from the oceans, Claire loves art, classical music and sailing, to name but a few of her inspirations.
Claire Girard
Director of Bloom Association, Paris office
After fifteen years working in documentary film production ((Allô la Terre , Archimède, Pi=3,14 ...) and six years as head of the Association Science & Télévision, an association of film producers, Claire Girard created the " Pariscience " International Science Film Festival at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. After having selected the film Expedition in the Abyss for the programme, she met its director Claire Nouvian.
She then left for the US to launch the science-themed fiction film festival " Imagine Science Film Festival " in New York. On her return to Paris in 2009, Claire Girard has decided to put her expertise in team and project management at BLOOM's service.
Andrew Rickards
Director of Bloom Association, Hong Kong office (opening soon)
Andrew Rickards is a former managing partner of Providence Equity and the chief executive of NM Rothschild & Sons in Hong Kong. He is also a keen sailor who had decided to take action upon the worrisome state of the planet when he met Claire Nouvian and realized that the oceans got even less attention than any other ecosystem, as the damage goes unseen. Andrew puts his professional skills and corporate savoir-faire at the service of BLOOM Association's projects, thereby providing precious guidance to our NGO.
Isabel Jarrett
Research Assistant
Although Isabel is new to the world of marine conservation, her work for BLOOM has seen her take a crash course in biodiversity and marine ecosystems. Before joining BLOOM in November 2008, Isabel spent the summer working for an education NGO in Tanzania. In July, she graduated from the Warwick University with a degree in English and French. A Londoner by birth, Isabel speaks French and Spanish.
Mylène Lebois
Production and Logistics
Having studied product design at the Boulle School in Paris, Mylène has since spent the past five years as a freelance illustrator, creating the designs for t-shirts, CD covers, posters and postcards. Mylène is a living example of the proverb that you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl! Although she has lived in Paris for more than 12 years, she tries to be environmentally-friendly in every aspect of her lifestyle. Working for BLOOM thus fulfils her desire to act for a sustainable environment. Mylène speaks English and German.
Julien Gaubert
Art Director & Graphic Design
Ever since he graduated from the prestigious Penninghen School of Graphic Art and Architecture in Paris, Julien has worked for the famous French fashion house, Courrèges, renowned for its 1960s geometric miniskirts and straight lines. His work has taken him to places like China and Japan. Julien makes use of his graphic design skills on other projects so that he can immerse himself in universes that he might not otherwise have an insight into. Julien is also a keen Spanish speaker and he joined BLOOM in 2007.
Thierry Pierre
Web Programmer/Developer
BLOOM boasts a very special webmaster in Thierry as he is both an astrophysicist (he studied Maths and Physics in France and in Germany) AND a part-time activist! Thierry hates routine so he is always involved in exciting projects all over the world. He developed the information technology for the first interactive, real-time film ever made using mobile phones in Japan, for example. When Thierry is not abroad or updating BLOOM’s website, you can find him working on his fascinating personal project: an astronomy website which will connect all telescope users to a single platform.
Virginia Crofts
Children’s Design
Virginia qualified in graphic art and illustration, after which she went on to design collections of children’s clothes and toys for several French high-street brands. Indeed, her specialty is children’s design, but she is expanding her repertoire to decorative accessories. Her new home collection, which features cushions and Japanese wall hangings, will be on sale in the Paris department store, BHV, in March 2009. She joined BLOOM in 2007 when she created the merchandize for the exhibition The Deep in Paris.
Martine Bertéa
Publishing / Foreign rights
Martine graduated with a Masters in French Literature. She has always worked in publishing, specializing in publishing rights. The international success enjoyed by the book The Deep is largely due to Martine’s tenacity, unequivocal dedication and belief in Claire’s extraordinary personality. With BLOOM, she has found a happy medium between her two passions: literature and the sea.
Thomas Sorrentino
Education & Conservation Marketing
Thomas studied at EDHEC Business School in Lille, France. After working in financial communication for a couple of years, he embarked on a road trip across Asia, making films and traveling more than 40,000 kilometers. Thomas then worked as a jack-of-all trades for Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the aerial photographer (The Earth from the Air), accompanying him wherever he went on his epic helicopter flights. Thomas speaks Russian, English and German. He is responsible for BLOOM’s research into the provision of marine conservation programs worldwide.
Our precious external resources
Columbia River Oregon
Producers and advisors
Claire Forest
Christophe Hébert
When Gérard d'Aboville decided to cross the Pacific Ocean in a rowboat in 1991, he contacted Christophe Hébert to help make his dream come true. The company is named after the river where d’Aboville completed his epic journey. Likewise, when Claire Nouvian decided to devote her time to protecting the deep-sea and encouraging the rest of the world to do so, Claire and Christophe were by her side to enable her to turn her vision into reality. Much of their work is marine-themed – they've also been involved in maritime sports projects – and their office is on a barge on the river Seine. Together, they have a wealth of more than forty years of experience in marketing, communication and project management.
Mark Schrope
Freelance writer and editor
Mark covers a broad range of subjects under the headings of science, medicine, technology, travel and adventure. His work has taken him into biomedical laboratories throughout the U.S; on a flight into the eye of a hurricane; to the seafloor, 1,700 feet deep by submersible; and around the world – from a remote Colombian island to the coral reefs of Indonesia and Fiji.
Peter Batson
PhD candidate at the Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, NZ
Peter has broad interests in deep-ocean life, but his research is focused on mapping habitats in New Zealand 's submarine canyons. As one of the lucky few to have experienced the wonders of the abyss firsthand in deep-diving submersibles, Peter feels a responsibility to promote this vast wilderness to a wider audience. He does this via various writing and teaching projects, and through his website.
Our scientific committee
Tamara Frank, Associate Research Professor, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
Steven Haddock, Scientist, Bioluminescence and Zooplankton, MBARI, USA
Samuel Iglésias, Natural History Museum in Paris, France
Brad Seibel, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, USA
Andrey Suntsov, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Tracey Sutton, Ichthyologist (Shark specialist), Virginia Institute of Marine Science, USA
Edith Widder, Marine Biologist (Bioluminescence and detection of marine pollution specialist), ORCA, USA
Marsh Youngbluth
Our invaluable volunteers
A big thank you goes to Djamel Agaoua for his help and problem-solving mind, both of which are priceless.
Many thanks to Hubwoo for welcoming us into their office.
We are so grateful to the photographer Hélène Hilaire for her professionalism, talent and generosity.
Thanks to Caroline Dickens for her contributions to our publications.
Thank you to Laura Stonebank, globe-trotter and lover of the deep sea, for giving her much-needed help to BLOOM for a short stint in 2009.
And last but not least, thanks to the Hong Kong team who are currently organizing the BLOOM fundraising dinner.
Trini Tambu
Patricia Tejedor
Sophie Biro-Rouillon
Valérie Despretz