Ocean Access Project Coordinator

Manuela Díaz joined the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation in 2025 to support the California Ocean Access: Benefits and Barriers project. The social science research project explores the social dimensions of ocean access and marine protected areas (MPAs) across California’s coastal counties. Her work focuses on understanding how people — especially those from underserved communities — use, value, and experience coastal and ocean spaces. The ocean access project aims to help inform coastal management at both the state and federal levels. 

Manuela holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara, where she specialized in Business & Sustainability and Coastal Resources Management. She also holds a BA in Multidisciplinary Design from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and a certificate in Integrated Coastal Management.

Prior to joining CMSF, Manuela worked as a service design consultant, where she focused on sustainable tourism, customer experience, and business strategy. She has supported climate and ocean collaboration efforts through her work with the Chile-California Council and various Chilean foundations. Her work combines design thinking, stakeholder engagement, and environmental science to support more inclusive and responsive coastal management in both California and Chile.

Manuela is driven by a desire to create interdisciplinary, community-informed solutions that foster stronger and more harmonious relationships between people and the ocean.