In 1993, Jamie Pollack took her first breath on Scuba underwater where she was preparing for her diving certification and she knew she was hooked. From then on, her world opened up and her passion was always for any creature living beneath the sea. For 17 years she has traveled the world diving and even in that short time span, she has witnessed the devastation of the ocean.
She then saw a film called Sharkwater, which changed her life. In this film, the viewer was taken on a journey that portrayed the sharks' plight and its destruction. So she was moved to do something. And she did. Along with 5 other scuba divers and environmentalists, she co-founded Shark Savers, a grassroots conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of sharks through awareness, education and action.
Since October 2009, she has been working as the New York State Representative with the Pew Charitable Trusts on a Federal Fisheries Reform Project to end overfishing in the Mid-Atlantic and on a Global Conservation campaign. For these campaigns she activates community and business leaders to advance environmental change. She meets with members of Congress to encourage the implementation of fishery management law and she develops support by engaging local community leaders through local events and presentations.
Jamie's background is in advertising, client management and graphic design. She studied art at Hofstra University and Parsons School of Design in Manhattan. She has worked in the business world for 15 years, gaining valuable experience building brands and creating marketing strategies for clients in the financial, retail and non-profit industries. She now uses this expertise to further her commitment to the oceans.
Jamie juggles her love of design and her passion for conservation. She still works as a freelance designer (www.jamielynncreative.com) creating websites and marketing materials, primarily working with ocean oriented organizations and non-profits. Jamie loves meeting new people and speaking about conservation to anyone who will listen.
