PROGRAM
Explore the exciting sessions planned for both BlueFIN and SOS, featuring thought leaders and innovators in ocean sustainability and blue finance. These discussions will delve into the critical challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the future of the blue economy.
Whether it’s advancing sustainable practices or driving financial solutions to protect our oceans, this is your chance to connect with global experts and make an impact.
5 November: Day 1
Sustainable Ocean Summit
09.45-10.30
Ocean Executive Forum: The Signature SOS Multi-Sector Panel of CEOs
• What are your perspectives, as an ocean CEO, on the needs, opportunities and challenges re business leadership on ocean sustainability?
• How can greater progress be achieved by the private sector leadership to address ocean health, and the intertwined issues of climate and biodiversity?
• How do we better develop the collaboration between ocean sectors that is needed for increasing the speed and scale in tackling the complex, multi-sectoral challenges facing the global ocean ecosystem?
Moderator:
o Stewart Sarkozy, Managing Director, World Ocean Council
Panel:
o Alex Raventos, CEO and Co-Founder, X1 Wind
o Mark Ko, Managing Director, Tian San Shipping
o Donna Lanzetta, CEO, Manna Fish Farms
o Guillaume Durieux, CEO, Pacific Peering
o Santiago Garcia-Milà, Deputy General Manager of Innovation and Business Strategy, Port of Barcelona
10.30 – 11.15
Leadership in “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”: The Role of C-Suite Executives and Boards
• What are the ocean sustainability responsibilities of an ocean industry Senior Executive or Board Member?
• What can one Senior Executive or Board Member of one company in one sector do to best advance the collaboration needed between ocean sectors to increase the speed and scale of tackling the complex, multi-sectoral, global ocean challenges?
• How can and have you best engaged and inspired other Senior Executives and Board Members to participate in coordinated leadership, collaboration and action on ocean.
Moderator:
o Paul Holthus, Founding President and CEO, World Ocean Council
Keynote 1:
o Céline Gerson, Group Director, Americas; President, USA, Fugro
Keynote 2:
o Elisabeth (Heggelund) Tørstad, Board member, numerous companies and organizations; fmr CEO, Asplan Viak; fmr CEO, Oil and Gas, DNVGL; fmr CEO, DIgital Solutions, DNVGL
11.15 – 11.45
Coffee Break
11.45 -12.30
Ocean Smart: How to Radically Scale Up Ocean and Climate Data Collection from Vessels, Platforms and Cables
• What is the most effective way to coordinate between ocean scientists and ocean industry operators in order to engage industry in data collection and sharing (Ocean Indu Smart) in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science?
• What are the investment opportunities linked to greater industry involvement in data collection and sharing and how can these be developed?
• What are the priority incentives, locations, topics and technology to engage more ships and platforms in collecting data?
Moderator:
o Omer Poroy, SMART Ocean-SMART Industries Programme Manager, World Ocean Council
Panel:
o Noël Buttin, Cofounder – Deputy CEO, Pacific Peering
o Carles Castro Muniain, Co-Founder and CTO, Ocean Data Network
o Simon Bennett, fmr Sustainability Advisor, Swire Shipping; Global Sustainable Advisor, Priya Blue Green Ship Recycling
12.30 -13.30
Lunch Break
13.30 – 14.15
Data for Speed and Scale in Ocean Sustainability: The Digital Ocean, Big Ocean Data and Ocean (Internet) of Things
• What are the status, trends and forecasts for the development of the Digital Ocean, Big Ocean Data and the Ocean (Internet) of Things for ocean sustainable development?
• What are the benefits (economic, sustainability, maritime security, etc.) from a Digital Ocean that produces Big Ocean Data and harnesses connecting the ocean in support of the ocean, and what are the challenges to achieving these benefits?
• What are the business and investment opportunities for advancing the most beneficial progress in the Digital Ocean, Big Ocean Data and Ocean (Internet) of Things for ocean sustainable development – at national, regional and global scales?
Moderator:
o Peter Fippinger, Founder, Blue Crescent Group
Panel:
o Luis Gutierrez, Executive Officer, EuroMarine
o Kortney Opshaug, CEO and Founder, Blue Ocean Gear
o Hannah Brocke, Co-founder and CSO, PlanBlue
o Pau Guasch, CEO, SeaBots
o Pooja Mahapatra, Board Member, World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC)
o Juan Peralta, Director of Business Development, Esri Spain
14.15 – 15.00
How can Space Support the Sustainable Blue Economy?
• How can space data and earth observations support the development of sustainable the Blue Economy?
• What are the key trends, technologies, challenges and opportunities in space data and earth observations, and associated analysis, outputs, etc. relevant to ocean industry and investors?
• What is needed to facilitate ocean industry and investment community interaction with space agencies and companies to achieve more speed and scale in addressing ocean sustainability challenges?
Moderator:
o Hermen Westerbeeke, Director, Responsible Alpha
Panel:
o Nil Angli, Business Applications and Partnerships Officer, European Space Agency (ESA)
o Pooja Mahapatra, Principal Advisor – Climate and Nature, Fugro
o Alan Wells, Emeritus Professor, Space Technology, University of Leicester; Co-Founder, National Space Centre, Leicester; Director, Redshift Associates
o Rainer Ressl, Head of Innovation for Climate and Biodiversity Solutions, EOMAP
15.00-15.30
Coffee Break
15.30 – 16.15
Advancing Coastal Infrastructure Resiliency and Adaptation
• How can the ocean business and investment community best ensure that ports and essential coastal infrastructure are being adapted to ensure resiliency to extreme events?
• How can the ocean business community best collaborate on this with other key stakeholders (g., multilateral development assistance, national governments, science community)?
• What is the best way to develop a global, business and investment leadership alliance to ensure ports and coastal infrastructure worldwide is ready, resilient to the impacts of extreme events?
Moderator:
o Janelle Kellman, Founder and CEO, The Center for Sea Rise Solutions
Panel:
o Bernhard Rannegger, fmr Head Sustainability Solutions, Swiss Re; Founder and CEO, ScyAI
o Théophile Bongarts, Head of Coastal Adaptation, Ocean and Climate Platform
o Joan Cabezas, CEO, Nactiva
o Geraldine Andrieux, Founder and CEO, BlueMorpho
o Nidia Martinez, Director, Climate and Resilience, Howden
16.15 -17.00
Private Sector Solutions for Ecosystem Restoration, Regeneration and Nature Based Solutions
• What is the state of the art in marine ecosystem restoration, regeneration and nature based solutions and how can this be scaled up?
• What are the barriers to scaling up and what should be done to address them?
• What do large ocean industry operators and investors need to know about partnering with or investing in ocean restoration, regeneration and nature based solution enterprises?
Moderator:
o Mehrnaz Ghojeh, Co-Founder, Okhtapus
Panel:
o Vriko Yu, Co-founder and CEO, Archireef
o David Washbrook, Founder, Red Sea Reef Builders
o Ari Greenberg, COO, Sea Forester
o Ignasi Ferrer, CEO, Ocean Ecostructures
o Jorge Gutiérrez Martínez, Global Head of Engineering, Econcrete
17.00 – 17.20
Hub Culture / Earth.One Atlantic Crossing
• What kinds of new coalitions and networks can accelerate speed and scale in addressing the challenges facing the ocean?
• Is it possible for the ocean to be represented on the boards of companies and organizations?
• Are there new public-private partnerships that can significantly advance the financing of ocean solutions to climate change?
Moderator:
o Paul Holthus, Founding President and CEO, World Ocean Council
Speaker:
o Stan Stalnaker, Founding Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Hub Culture
Day 2: 6 November
Sustainable Ocean Summit
09.45-11.15
The Green Maritime and Ports Transition Ecosystem
• How well is the comprehensive maritime and ports ecosystem (shipping, other vessels, fuels, infrastructure, ports, etc.) connecting and coordinating to advance the complex transition to decarbonization and reduced emissions?
• What are the finance needs, opportunities and experience to date re the green maritime and ports transition?
• How can a Center of Excellence best accelerate and advance the green maritime and ports transition, with an initial focus on the Mediterranean?
Moderator:
o Steffen Knodt, Head of Business Development (Industry), Institute for Maritime Energy Systems, German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
Panel:
o Anne Katrine Bjerregaard, Head of Strategy and Sustainability, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
o Per Tunell, Vice President, Group Sustainability and Business Development, Wallenius
o Julie Green, Deputy Director General, CLIA Europe
o Phanthian Zuesongdham, Head of Division, Port Process Solution, Port of Hamburg
o Carlo Raucci, Director, Sustainable Fuels and Strategy, Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, Lloyds Register
o Noelia Ortega, CEO, Centro Tecnologico Naval y del Mar CT
11.15 – 11.45
Coffee Break
11.45 – 12.30
Moving the Global Supply Chain to Net Zero
• What are the current trends in green logistics, including growth areas, investor interest and emerging opportunities?
• What are the needs and opportunities for collaboration and coordination across the Blue Economy ecosystem to best advance sustainable logistics?
• What are the most promising investment areas of ocean-related green logistics and supply chain solutions?
Moderator:
o Anne Katrine Bjerregaard, Head of Strategy and Sustainability, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
Panel:
o David Alioto, President and CEO, Probity Enterprises, Inc.
o Martin Thaysen, CEO, Group Green Energy
o Ari Marjamaa, Founder and CEO, Raa Labs
12.30 -13.30
Lunch Break
13.30 – 14.15
Ocean/Blue Carbon Removal: Supply and Demand CO2 Removal Solutions at Scale
• Supply: What is the status of business development for coastal and ocean CO2 removal and creating the supply of marine carbon removal and what are the barriers to progress?
• Demand: How can ocean-related companies with net-zero commitments best support the emerging suppliers of ocean-based carbon removal?
• Ecosystem: What value can a business association bring in facilitating and accelerating the business of blue carbon and ocean CO2 removal, e.g. to develop best practices, standards, etc. to ensure confidence?
Moderator:
o Jill Storey, Ocean Carbon Removal Advisor, World Ocean Council
Panel:
o Sapir Markus-Alford, Co-Founder and CTO, Gigablue
o Raffael Jovine, Founder and Chief Scientist, Brilliant Planet
o Monica Larrazabal, Head of Commercialisation, SeaO2
o Boudewijn Pars, Carbon Portfolio and Sustainability Manager, FincoEnergies
o Jason Cole, Co-CEO, MacroCarbon
14.15 – 15.00
Coastal and Island Tourism: How to Build Business Leadership and Collaboration for Sustainability
• How can and must coastal and island tourism development address ocean sustainability issues and challenges, e.g. pollution impacts, habitat loss, etc.
• Can coastal and island tourism development become net positive for biodiversity, carbon, etc. and, if so, what are best ocean practices?
• Is there value in creating a high-level coastal and island tourism leadership network for the ocean to facilitate and accelerate the development, implementation, spread and scaling of best ocean practices?
Moderator:
o Lisa Simone de Grunt, Director of Programmes, World Ocean Council
Panel:
o Edie Rodriguez, Member of the Board of Directors, Saudi Tourism Authority and Cruise Industry CEO
o Marta Pascual, Spanish National Hub WestMED Initiative, EU WestMED Initiative
o Ramón Laguna, Strategy Consultant, Sun and Blue Congress
o Dolores Ordoñez, International Head of Unit, Crisis Management and Governance in Tourism, European Commission *
o Almotaz Abadi, Deputy Secretary General, Union for the Mediterranean *
o Oriana Romano, Head of Unit, Water Governance and Circular Economy, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE), OECD
15.00 -15.30
Coffee Break
15.30 – 16.15
Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Ocean Business Sustainability and the Blue Economy
• How can AI best support ocean industries to operate sustainably and responsibly?
• What ocean industry sectors have made the most progress in AI applications?
• What are the key trends and opportunities for ocean AI development and investment?
Moderator:
o Kai Pohlmann, Co-Founder, German Ocean Foundation and the AI for the Oceans Award; Co-Founder, MAI Marketing Automation Intelligence
Panel:
o Marcus Warrelmann, CEO, SEA A.I.
o Rita Sousa, Partner, Faber Ocean / Climate Tech
o Elisabeth Margarit, Head of ESG Services, Fujitsu Spain
16.15- 17.00
Natural Capital and the New Tools for Funding Ocean Regeneration and Conservation
• What is the role of business in nature, and what are the challenges marine operators are facing to ensure they can keep their Social License to Operate?
• How can we value the real contribution of nature to our society, and what type of tools can Companies use to give visibility to their sustainability and conservation efforts?
• What are the latest news on Biodiversity measuring standards?
• What are the real case studies on how to measure, value and certify the regeneration and conservation efforts?
Moderator:
o Stefano Pogutz, Professor of Corporate Sustainability, School of Management, SDA Bocconi
Panel:
o Isaac Najera, ESG Senior Manager / READS Product Owner, REPSOL
o Rafael Sardà, Senior Researcher, CSIC. Assoc. Professor, ESADE Business School
o David Álvarez, CEO, Ecoacsa
o Anna Lloveras, Chief Science Officer, Ocean Ecostructures
o Tomas Ostolaza, Natural Capital Lead, Worley
17.00 – 17.20
Atlantic Partnership: An Ocean-Basin Scale Approach to Sustainable Development
• What is the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation that brings together 42 coastal Atlantic countries to address common ocean and blue economy issues and opportunities?
• What is the process for Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and the Caribbean to engage in the Atlantic Partnership and what are the priorities for collaboration and action?
• How can the ocean business and finance community engage with the Atlantic Partnership and how can the World Ocean Council foster and facilitate this?
Moderator:
o Paul Holthus, Founding President and CEO, World Ocean Council
Speaker:
o Gregory Morrison, Senior Advisor for Atlantic Cooperation, U.S. State Department
Day 3: 7 November
Global Blue Finance Summit
09.30-10.30
Blue Finance Executive Forum: The BlueFIN High-Level Panel across the Finance Sectors
• What are the needs and opportunities for collaboration and coordination across the blue finance ecosystem to best achieve speed and scale in supporting a sustainable Blue Economy and the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus?
• What are the current trends in blue finance, including growth sectors, investor interest and emerging opportunities?
• What are the risk-return profiles of different blue economy investments and how do they compare to traditional investments.
Moderator:
o Jacques Demers, Investor; fmr Chair, Pension Board and Investment Committee, York University
Panel:
o Kris Atkinson, Fixed Income Portfolio Manager, Fidelity International
o Douglas Heske, CEO, NewDay Impact Investing
o Adonai Herrera-Martinez, Director, Environment and Sustainability, EBRD
o Kerstin Schmeiduch, Director, Corporate Communications and Sustainability, Nestlé Purina Petcare Europe
o Christopher Rex, Head of Sustainability and Research, Danish Ship Finance
o Karla Gallardo, Founder and CEO, Viwala; Representative, Meso-American Reef MAR+Invest Fund
o Alpa Bhattacharjee, Climate and Nature, Blue Economy Advisory, Fugro
10.30 – 11.15
De-Risking Investment and Accelerating Innovation: The Power of Early Collaboration Between Startups and Corporates for Prototyping and Pilot Testing
• How do corporates identify and choose which startups to collaborate with for pilot testing?
• What internal barriers do corporates face when working with startups, and how are they addressed?
• What challenges do startups face when approaching large corporations for collaboration?
• How has early collaboration with corporates helped startups refine their product or scale?
• What guidance or best practices have emerged for startups trying to navigate corporate partnerships?
Moderator:
o Carlos Esteban, Partner, Faber (Ocean/Climate VC)
Panel:
o Alejandro Samaniego, CEO, Titanium Technology
o Miquel de la Mano, Technical Director, Barcelona Port Innovation
o Jean-Francois Trecco, Co-Founder and General Partner, BluKap
o Alvaro Martin, Innovation Manager, Astican
o Andrew Smith, Executive Director, Greenbackers *
11.15 – 11.45
Coffee Break
11.45 – 12.30
Investing in Ocean CO2 Removal and Blue Carbon: The Role of Private Finance in Marine and Coastal Carbon Sequestration
• What is the state of private financing for ocean CO2 removal and blue carbon and what are the challenges that financiers are facing?
• What can be done to attract more investors to the opportunities that ocean CO2 removal and blue carbon present?
• Is there a need and value in having a blue/ocean carbon “buyers’ community” to support and scale market development, e.g., by engaging leading ocean industry companies in shipping, ports, dredging, etc.?
Moderator:
o Rupert Robinson, Climate-Related Structured Finance Solutions, Artemeter
Keynote:
o Gabrielle Walker, Co-Founder, CUR8 and Rethinking Removals
Panel:
o Laura Penrose, CDR Sourcing Manager and Science Lead, CarbonX
o Ram Amar, CEO, Rewind Earth
o Zach Cockrum, Vice President, Policy and Partnerships, Vesta
o Sarabeth Brockley, Senior Director, Climate Services, CarbonBetteru
12.30 -13.30
Lunch Break
13.30-14.15
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD): What does it mean for ocean companies?
• What are Nature-related Financial Disclosures?
• How will these disclosures be developed and applied to the ocean context?
• How can ocean industries and blue finance best engage and collaborate in the development and implementation of Nature-related Financial Disclosures?
Moderator:
o Wei Ng, Senior Advisor, Green Digital Finance Alliance; Senior Advisor, Barka Fund *
Keynote:
o Tony Goldner, Executive Director, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
Keynote:
Gerrit Sindermann, Executive Director, Green Digital FinanceAlliance(GDFA); President, Green Fintech Network (GFN)
Panel:
o Chris Perceval, Global Head of Market Engagement, S&P Global Sustainable; Member, TNFD
o Ezrah Schraven, Global Lead, Marine Resources, PWC ; Lead, TNFD Marine Working Group
14.15 – 14.45
Coffee Break
14.45 -15.30
Unlocking Capital for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Blue Economy
• What are the challenges and opportunities in financing SMEs that operate in the Blue Economy?
• How well are innovative financing options (e.g. microfinance, crowdfunding and venture capital) working for SMEs and how can the support ecosystems (incubators, accelerators, etc.) help SMEs thrive in the Blue Economy?
• With SMEs representing 90% of economic activity and 70% of jobs in emerging markets, why do SMEs lack access to finance and what can be done about it and what can we learn from successful emerging market investment strategies to attract more capital to the Blue Economy?
Moderator:
o D. Michael Adams, President, Ocean Assets Group
Panel:
o Antoine Rougier, ESG and Impact Manager, Deliberate Capital
o Paul Martin, Partner, Aquamarine Impact Capital Partners
o Pierre Rousseau, Board Member, Blue Alliance; Executive Chairman, Nomad Plastic
o Joris Kil, Investment Director, Rotterdam Port Fund
15.30-16.15
How to Scaleup Impact Investing for the Blue Economy
• How well is impact investing driving change in the Blue Economy and does impact investing for the ocean differ from the broader world of impact investing?
• How can more speed and scale be achieved in ocean impact investing and how to best “mainstream” ocean impact investing?
• What lessons have been learned in the initial years of developing ocean impact investing funds and how can these can contribute to accelerating and scaling success?
Moderator:
o Michael Malling, Chairman, SeaForester AS
Keynote 1:
o Jennifer Pryce, President and CEO, Calvert Impact
Keynote 2:
o Chris Gorell Barnes, Co-Founder, Ocean 14 Capital
Panel:
o Anton Gigov, Managing Partner, Aquamarine Impact Capital Partners
o Brian Fairhurst, Head of Product and Business Development, NewDay Impact Investing
o Susana Lopez, Investment Director, Climate Fund Managers; Partner, REAL Infrastructure