Kevin Iro is Ambassador of Marae Moana, the world’s largest multiple-use marine-protected area spanning the Cook Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). As a member of Marae Moana Technical Advisory Group, Kevin facilitates stakeholder partnerships, builds awareness, and highlights the importance of sustainably managing ocean resources, specifically tuna.

In 2009, as a concerned citizen, Kevin approached the Cook Islands government with a proposal to designate at least half of the Cook Islands EEZ as Marine Reserve. This idea eventually led to the creation of Te Marae Moana, a ‘whole domain’ approach to managing the entire 2 million square kilometers of the Cook Islands ocean jurisdiction. The Marae Moana Act was legislated in 2017, after several years of island consultations and community awareness projects.

Outside the Office —  Kevin spent over a decade in the U.K, Australia and New Zealand as a professional rugby player. After returning home, he founded the Cook Islands Sports Academy (CISA), which mentors youth disconnected from the main-stream education system and guides them toward a National Certificate in Sports. The program also includes community outreach in the form of coaching clinics and work experience initiatives.