Kelly is a PhD candidate with an interest in enabling knowledge resources that support ocean-based sustainable development. Kelly has first-hand experience of working in Africa and with various small island developing states and costal nations, across marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Coupled with her engagement with academic, government, private and non-governmental entities, this has led to her interest in transdisciplinary research and knowledge co-creation. Kelly’s research aims to bring together the key components of the blue economy and link these to complex decision-making processes to determine which factors will influence successful knowledge co-creation, empowered and responsive decision-making, effective policy, and adaptive management.