Rhianna Rees, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Seaweed Industry Association (SSIA)/ WiSA Advisory Co-Chair

Rhianna is a leading voice in the UK seaweed sector, recently appointed CEO of the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association. With a background as a researcher, educator, and award-winning industry advocate—recipient of Aquaculture UK’s Rising Star Award—she brings deep expertise and unwavering passion to her role.
Her vision for the SSIA is bold and transformative: to support the coordinated growth of the seaweed sector and drive collective progress. Rhianna sees the SSIA as the organisation that aligns investment, visibility, representation, and communication—ensuring that every piece of the seaweed puzzle fits together. She champions storytelling that highlights the people and communities behind seaweed, making its environmental, economic, and social benefits impossible to ignore.
Under her leadership, the SSIA aims to amplify the sector’s contribution to a circular economy, discourage duplication, and foster shared innovation. Rhianna is committed to making seaweed not just known but celebrated—for its role in shaping a sustainable future.