Who We Are
Regional Coordinators and Local Governance Committees
Meet our five Regional Coordinators
Hanna Mogensen, Upper North Shore Regional Coordinator
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
Hanna Mogensen serves as the Upper North Shore Regional Coordinator and as the Coastal Resources Planner at the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC). In her dual role Hanna supports a number of initiatives including water resource management, stormwater assessment and mitigation, coastal and estuarine habitat assessment and restoration, open space and recreation planning, and hazard mitigation planning. Importantly Hanna works to facilitate collaboration and promote protection of critical habitats and sustainable use of natural resources across the Upper North Shore. Before joining MassBays, Hanna worked with many coastal communities in the region, first as a research technician supporting the Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Grant in the Great Marsh, and then as the Chief Program Officer at Terracorps, a non-profit environmental organization based in Lowell. Hanna is reading for an MS in Marine Biology from the University of New Hampshire, where her research is focused on studying microplastic presence within New England estuaries. Hanna lives in Topsfield with her partner and their two crazy pups! When not working, you can find her lost in the garden, mountain biking, swimming, backcountry skiing, or adventuring around the region.
Barbara Warren, Lower North Shore Regional Coordinator
Salem Sound Coastwatch
Barbara Warren is the MassBays National Estuary Regional Coordinator for the Lower North Shore. She is also the Executive Director of Salem Sound Coastwatch, a non-profit organization based in Salem, MA. Over many years, Barbara has worked extensively with local municipalities on environmental issues on land and water. Her extensive knowledge of Salem Sound, as well as her intimate knowledge of the communities in her region and what makes them tick, make her one of the most sought-after partners, advisor, and speaker about the region. Her special areas of interest are climate resiliency and applying nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. Barbara holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, M.Ed. from Lesley University, and an M.S. in Environmental Science from Antioch College New England. She started her career in education and worked as a teacher, artist, and business owner before moving to the North Shore and discovering Salem Sound Coastwatch as a volunteer. The rest is history...
Diana Chin, Metro Boston Regional Coordinator
Northeastern University Marine Science Center
In 2023, Diana Chin Ph.D. became the MassBays Metro Boston Regional Coordinator. Diana is also an Associate Research Scientist at Northeastern University Marine Science Center. She previously worked as an environmental risk assessment consultant and completed her Ph.D. and postdoctoral research on mutually beneficial relationships between marine bivalve and seagrass species. Her ongoing research interests include the application of plant-animal-sediment interaction research - and benthic ecology more broadly - toward coastal conservation resilience, fisheries, aquaculture, and habitat restoration goals. Diana convenes the Boston Harbor Ecosystem Network (BHEN), a group of stakeholders from various backgrounds who meet regularly to share knowledge about the environment and issues surrounding Boston Harbor. Diana is also working with partners to identify priorities for coastal health and protection in the region.
Alex Mansfield, South Shore Regional Coordinator
North and South Rivers Watershed Association
Alex Mansfield is the new MassBays South Shore Regional Coordinator and the Watershed Ecologist for the North and South Rivers Watershed Association (NSRWA). He holds an MS in Environmental Sciences from UMass Boston. Prior to joining NSRWA Alex served as a Principal Research Scientist for Battelle Memorial Institute. For the past 20 years Alex has been designing and conducting environmental field programs from the tropics to the arctic. This included diving in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, tracking the Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, sampling around icebergs in the Chukchi Sea, and developing sustainable aquaculture programs following tsunami devastation in Chile. But Alex is a local boy at heart, so applying his experience to local problems has been a top priority. In 2007 Alex started up the Ecology Program at Jones River Watershed Association, a program focused on on-the-ground restoration projects including dam removal, river species monitoring, and salt marsh assessments. Alex served many years on NSRWA’s Advisory Council and is now excited to bring his expertise to protecting and restoring our coastal watersheds with NSRWA and MassBays.
April Wobst, Cape Cod Regional Coordinator
Association to Preserve Cape Cod
April Wobst is the Cape Cod Regional Coordinator and Restoration Program Manager for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC). APCC has served as the Regional Service Provider for the Cape Cod region since 2006 and April has taken over management of this role in 2024. Since 2015, April has managed APCC’s Ecosystem Restoration Program working with towns and communities on planning and implementation of restoration projects. APCC works with Cape communities to identify more than 170 restoration projects aimed at restoring impaired salt marshes, fish runs, and shellfish beds as well as improving water quality through stormwater remediation and addressing the impacts of climate change on our coastlines. April has close to 20 years of experience in environmental protection and project management and holds a B.S. in Biology and Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.S. degree in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland. Prior to working with APCC, April was the Whale Program Officer at the International Fund for Animal Welfare supporting protection and conservation of whales locally and globally.