Karenne Tun

Singapore

Director (Coastal and Marine)/National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board . Dr Karenne Tun is the Director of the Coastal and Marine Environment Branch at the National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board (NParks). She joined NParks in 2013, after a 18-year circuit within academia, non-profit organisation and private environmental consultancy, and during which time she obtained her PhD from the National University of Singapore where she focussed on developing tools for coral reef monitoring and management. Karenne’s interest in the marine environment was ignited as an undergraduate, where, over the years, her fascination turned to concern at their rapid decline, particularly in the region. Karenne subsequent work at NUS focussed on studying the impacts of anthropogenic activities on coral reefs, before moving onto coordinating coral reef monitoring efforts in the Southeast Asian region. Karenne’s current work at NParks covers issues related to the management and conservation of Singapore’s coastal and marine environment (CME) and the biodiversity they support. She leads a team that serves as Secretariat for the Technical Committee on Coastal and Marine Environment, an inter-agency committee that undertakes studies, provides technical inputs for policy making, and builds capacity in CME related issues. Her team also oversees the establishment and operation of Singapore’s first Marine Park – the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park.