Hilary Kennedy is a biogeochemist with over 20 years research experience focussed on wetland carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emissions and removals, with particular interest in coastal ecosystems and their role in mitigating climate change. She was lead author for the International Panel for Climate Change Wetlands Supplement 2013 and is committed to using evidence-based science to drive policy. She is participating in projects, to advance knowledge and understanding of Blue Carbon and widen the implementation of the IPCC Wetland Supplement as well as to better understand how the disturbance associated with bottom trawling modifies sediment carbon storage, cycling and air/sea exchange. Hilary is currently chair of the UK Blue Carbon forum, which aims to be a positive, solutions-focused group committed to cross-sector collaboration and the incorporation of blue carbon into the UK’s climate mitigation strategy.