Kelly is an environmental and ocean stewardship professional with cross-sector experience spanning academia, government, and industry. Her work focuses on enabling knowledge systems, capacity strengthening, and resource mobilization to support the development of sustainable ocean economies. She has worked directly in Africa and with Small Island Developing States and coastal nations, contributing to multinational initiatives across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Oceania, the Americas, Canada, and Europe. Her collaborative approach is rooted in transdisciplinary research and knowledge co-creation, shaped through partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, private sector actors, and NGOs. Kelly continues to advance inclusive approaches to the blue economy through her work at global, regional, and local levels.