Denise is the Regional Manager for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems at IUCN ESARO.

In this role as part of the Great Blue Wall team, she leads the blue nature work leading the NbS application for climate adaptation in the Western Indian Ocean (WO) region.

With experience in policy development, mangrove research, communication for impact, environmental education, and program management, Denise is a key facilitator in fostering collaboration between governments, academia, the private sector, and local communities.

Denise is a co-author of several significant works, including the Global Mangrove Restoration Tracking Tool, the Historical Mangrove Map, and Mozambique's Ecosystems Redlist. Her contributions have also played a pivotal role in the designation of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), the development of the National Mangrove and Coral Strategies, the Biodiversity Offsets Decree, the expansion of marine protected areas, and the design of biodiversity financing mechanisms.

She is a member of the Western Indian Ocean Mangrove Network (WIOMN), the IUCN Impact Mitigation and Ecological Compensation Thematic Group, and part of the 2024 Re.Generation Future Leaders Program an initiative of the Prince Albert II de Monaco Foundation.
Beyond her conservation efforts, Denise is passionate about wildlife photography and was the winner of the 2023 USAID Photography Contest.