Our Staff

James Nikitine

Pacific IKI Project Manager

James is a marine conservation professional originally from the French Alps and based in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2019. Growing up in a mountain environment while developing a strong connection to the ocean shaped his perspective on protecting ecosystems from mountains to sea. With over a decade experience, James specializes in delivering collaborative conservation initiatives, administering multi-partner programmes, and managing grants and operational budgets. He has coordinated projects across the Pacific and Europe that bring together governments, NGOs, research institutions, and Indigenous communities to advance conservation outcomes and strengthen regional cooperation.

An interdisciplinary marine scientist and filmmaker by training, James holds an MSc in Marine Systems and Policies from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Film Studies from the University of Exeter. Alongside academic publications on ocean governance, he has directed and produced more than twenty ocean documentary films. He has collaborated with organisations including IUCN, UNESCO, and the European Commission. James is the Founder of the Blue Cradle Foundation, an NGO established in Aotearoa New Zealand supporting marine regeneration and ocean literacy across the Pacific. He also curates immersive exhibitions and is finishing a part-time PhD at the University of Canterbury on ocean literacy public engagement. Outside work, he enjoys hiking and snorkelling with his children.

James joined Island Conservation in March 2026 as Pacific IKI Project Manager, supporting island restoration and biodiversity protection initiatives across the Pacific.