The inaugural Gulf Response Alliance (GRA) conference hosted over 500 emergency response professionals, government agencies, environmental organizations, wildlife experts, academic institutions, and industry leaders on September 28-30 in Austin, Texas. Todd Staples, President of Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA), delivered the keynote address, setting the stage for three days of training, live demonstrations, and […]
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TAMU-CC and the Oceans and Wildlife Institute Team Up to Train TPWD Crews on Dolphin Disentanglement
When Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) received permits to resume gillnet sampling in Texas bays, the authorization came with an important requirement — TPWD crews needed detailed training in responding to dolphin entanglement. When TPWD turned to Dr. Dara Orbach, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Associate Professor of Marine Biology, to design and lead the […]
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The Oceans and Wildlife Institute (OWI) is pleased to announce the promotion of Jennifer Vela to Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer of OWI and the Texas State Aquarium (TSA). In this expanded role, Vela will provide executive leadership and organizational strategy across government affairs, public affairs, communications, development, marketing, and branding. She […]
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The Oceans and Wildlife Institute (OWI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jackson Walker LLP as its special legal counsel, effective immediately. Jackson Walker will provide comprehensive legal guidance to support OWI’s expanding initiatives, including governance, regulatory compliance, contracts, risk management, and strategic partnerships. OWI is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2025 […]
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