Cynthia Wigren

Co-Founder and CHief Executive Officer

Cynthia is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, which she and her husband Ben established in 2012 to support groundbreaking white shark research and to champion education and community engagement. She leads strategy, partnerships, and organizational growth, with overall responsibility for AWSC's staff, programs, and execution of the nonprofit's mission. Her path to conservation was unconventional. After twelve years in the energy industry focused on project management and strategic planning, a cage diving experience with great white sharks in South Africa changed everything. That encounter sparked a deep respect for the species and ultimately compelled her to leave the corporate world and dedicate herself to their research and conservation. An avid traveler and scuba diver, her experiences observing wildlife around the world fuel her commitment to the mission. Cynthia holds a Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from the University of New Hampshire,