About Wave Action

Wave Action is a boat-based partnership building on the wide-ranging professional experiences of Colin Speedie and Louise Johnson.

Founded in 2007, Wave Action provides research & consultancy services on wildlife conservation, responsible energy/extractives development, marine ecotourism and the public & commercial marine sector.

We also provide film, photographic and journalism services.

Colin Speedie

“I have had a lifelong involvement with the sea and its inhabitants as a professional sailor, researcher and educationalist. The marine world has given me so much, and it is my aim to repay that gift through images, action and words”.

Background: Colin has owned boats since childhood, and has spent over fifteen years working as a professional yacht skipper and team leader on yacht based research projects, including projects on whales and dolphins, basking sharks and turtles. Since 1999 he has been director of the Wildlife Trusts Basking Shark Project, and since 2002 has been Principal Investigator on an Earthwatch Institute (Europe) project “Britains Basking Sharks.” Together, he and the team covered in excess of 20,000 Km of effort based surveys between the English Channel and the Outer Hebrides aboard the 11.7m cutter Forever Changes. Colin also founded and is Director of the WiSe Scheme, the UK's national eco-tourism training and accrediation scheme.

When not sailing he enjoys writing and photography, covering a wide range of subject matters.

Louise Johnson

"Exploring the seas aboard a sailing boat is an exciting privilege – it provides very real opportunities to get off the beaten track and view life through a different filter. My work allows me to experience many different habitats and cultures, yet I’m often reminded of the tensions that arise when people and wilderness interact. Few unaltered land or seascapes remain, and those that do are sometimes under intense pressures; so I try to focus my consultancy and writing/photographic work on how to best help turn negative impacts into positive outcomes for both wildlife and people.

Background: Lou has spent her professional career ensuring reduction of energy-related environmental impacts and promoting biodiversity conservation from local to global levels. Since escaping the corporate industry’s version of the biodiversity world in 2004, she has rediscovered both marine and terrestrial conservation. Lou’s work now focuses primarily with international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), seeking to ensure energy and mining related impacts are managed responsibly, civil society is more effectively included, and Governments and companies make more informed decisions.

See our Consultancy work for more information.