Meet the Team - Eithne Tynan
November 2022
Eithne at Darwin’s Arch, Galapagos Islands.
Eithne Tynan is the Manta Trust’s first full-time fundraising manager, and she has shared with us all of the insights into her background, her passions, and what inspired her to get involved in manta ray conservation…
‘Growing up in the mountains in the Basque Country in the north of Spain, I have often wondered how I ended up with such a deep love for the ocean. It must have been the summers spent camping on the beach: I remember endless hours jumping in the Atlantic waves and playing in the rockpools, where time just seemed to stop and nothing was ever boring. Even though I didn’t realize it then, I was hooked for life.
I studied science at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland (I am half-Basque, half-Irish) and it was there I joined the university’s sub-aqua Club and started diving. My first ever open-water dive was in a chilly March morning in the cold waters of the west coast of Ireland, and lasted an incredible 20 minutes. I’ll never forget it, it was absolutely freezing but wonderful! The tall kelp forests there remain one of my most cherished dives.’
Eithne doing survey transects in Marchena, Galapagos Islands.
‘Combining my love for science and the sea, I worked for several years as an oceanographer, doing research in ocean acidification in the Arctic Ocean. This took me to some of the most amazing and remote places on our planet, but also some of the most fragile, and fuelled my desire for protecting our natural world. After deciding to leave research, I found myself in warmer latitudes in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, starting a new career in fundraising and development for the conservation sector. Living in a place so connected to the ocean strengthened my passion for sharing the beauty of the marine world with others and advocating for its protection.’
Eithne sampling under the sea ice in Svalbard.
Fundraising is very much about creating connections with people, sharing the importance of our work and inspiring them to support us in any way they can. The work is incredibly varied, from developing proposals with project leaders to send to funding bodies, to building long-lasting partnerships with corporate businesses whose values and mission align with ours.
Hammerhead sharks, Galapagos Islands. Image credit: Eithne Tynan
‘This is the first time the Manta Trust has employed a full-time position dedicated to fundraising, and this is testament to the amazing work and ethos of the team that has enabled the charity to grow so much in recent years. Everyday I love to hear the fascinating stories from our team of dedicated researchers and educators worldwide. I am incredibly happy to have joined such a wonderful and varied group of passionate people and hope together we can inspire you to discover, love and protect our beautiful oceans!’
Eithne Tynan
Fundraising Manager