51% of attendees were director-level and above
“The special speech of Prime Minister of Japan was the best feature of the event!”
Director, Finsulate
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The 13th annual World Ocean Summit comes at a turning point: the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ) has been ratified, the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is going to reshape seafood supply chains, and new science warns we have breached the planetary boundary on ocean acidification. At the same time, major philanthropic and financial investments are flowing into the ocean economy. The question is no longer why act, but how.
This summit will translate these global milestones into action for business, policy and finance. Sessions will ask:
- How can companies and investors turn new legal obligations into resilient growth strategies?
- What tools—digital twins, AI, blue bonds—are working, and which need to be redesigned?
- How can philanthropy, finance and corporate capital be combined to scale the ocean economy?
- What trade-offs must governments, industries and communities accept to protect and restore our ocean’s health?
Economist Impact brings the sharp debates, independent analysis and cross-sector convening power needed to challenge assumptions, bridge silos and shape the next decade of ocean governance and business strategy.
2026 topics will include:
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Shipping
Increasing the momentum for the shipping industry’s decarbonisation. What will spur the sector’s large-scale transition towards increased efficiencies, lower emissions and achieving net-zero targets?
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Aquaculture
Exploring how responsible aquaculture can meet rising seafood demand while minimising environmental impacts and supporting coastal economies.
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Fishing
Reforming fisheries management to ensure long-term stock health, fair livelihoods, and resilience in the face of climate and market pressures.
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Marine renewable energy
The power or marine-renewable energy. What are the latest technological advances and what is needed to ensure energy security and affordability during the clean-energy transition?
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Tourism
Can sustainable and regenerative coastal and marine tourism initiatives contribute to the restoration of ocean health as well as economic growth?
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Plastics
Turning commitments on plastic pollution into measurable action—what policies, innovations, and collaborations will drive systemic change?
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Marine protected areas
Working towards the 30 x 30 target for MPAs to protect 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. These sessions will assess how MPAs are efficiently and effectively managed and protected.
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Biodiversity
Safeguarding marine biodiversity through conservation, restoration, and governance strategies that address both climate change and human pressures.
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Nature-based solutions
Harnessing coastal and marine ecosystems for climate adaptation, carbon sequestration, and resilience-building.
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Blue finance
Mobilising capital for sustainable ocean industries and conservation projects, while ensuring returns for investors and benefits for communities.
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Innovation and data
Leveraging emerging technologies, ocean data, and AI to enable smarter, faster, and more transparent ocean decision-making.
2025 speakers included:
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View Profile Surangel Whipps Jr.
President, Palau
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Surangel Whipps Jr.
President, Palau
Surangel Whipps is president of the Republic of Palau. He was a two-term senator in the Palau National Congress from 2009 to 2016, and was elected to the presidency in 2020 with policy priorities of developing and promoting the country’s human resources and fostering its economy, while striking a balance with environmental protection. Mr Whipps has more than 30 years’ experience managing one of Palau’s largest businesses as chief executive officer and president of Surangel and Sons Company, whose growth he led from a one-floor store with 50 employees to a diversified company employing more than 600 people.
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View Profile Elina P. Akinaga
Secretary, department of resource & development, Micronesia
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Elina P. Akinaga
Secretary, department of resource & development, Micronesia
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View Profile Huang Hsiang-Wen
Deputy minister, Ocean Affairs Council, Taiwan
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Huang Hsiang-Wen
Deputy minister, Ocean Affairs Council, Taiwan
Ms Huang Hsiang-Wen holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University. Currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, he has also led as the Director-General of the Ocean Conservation Administration. Previously, he was the Director and Professor at the Institute of Marine Affairs and Resources Management, National Taiwan Ocean University. His expertise spans marine resource stock assessment, management, marine debris governance, and international ocean affairs. With extensive experience in ocean governance, conservation, and policy-making, he plays a crucial role in shaping Taiwan’s marine conservation strategies and international collaborations.
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View Profile Peter Thomson
UN secretary-general’s special envoy for the ocean
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Peter Thomson
UN secretary-general’s special envoy for the ocean
Peter Thomson was Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2010 to 2016, and served as president of the UN General Assembly in 2016-17. In 2014 he was president of the executive board of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office of Project Services. Ambassador Thomson was previously president of the Assembly and Council of the International Seabed Authority. In 2017 he became the first United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, in which role he drives implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda’s goal to conserve and sustainably use the resources of the ocean.
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View Profile Vidar Helgesen
Executive secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), UNESCO
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Vidar Helgesen
Executive secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), UNESCO
Vidar Helgesen is executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO) and assistant director-general of UNESCO. From 2021 to 2024 he was executive director of the Nobel Foundation in Sweden. An international lawyer by training, he has held several positions in the Norwegian government, as special representative for the ocean, minister of climate and environment, minister of European affairs and chief of staff to the prime minister, as well as deputy minister of foreign affairs.
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View Profile Miyuki Zeniya
Group chief sustainability officer, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and chief sustainability officer, MUFG Bank
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Miyuki Zeniya
Group chief sustainability officer, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and chief sustainability officer, MUFG Bank
Started career at Nomura Research Institute, worked in the asset management division at a foreign investment advisory firm. Joined a startup and served as the executive officer in charge of finance and business strategy. Subsequently, became the first female deputy president of a regional bank, and gained extensive experience as an outside director of a PE fund and a listed renewable energy company. At her previous position at Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc., she promoted the integration of global sustainability initiatives and business strategies, as well as impact investing. Joined MUFG in October 2022, currently serving as Group CSuO and CSuO of MUFG Bank.
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View Profile Yohei Sasakawa
Chairman, The Nippon Foundation
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Yohei Sasakawa
Chairman, The Nippon Foundation
Yohei Sasakawa is chairman of the Nippon Foundation, a private, non-profit foundation established in 1962 to carry out philanthropic activities, using revenue from motorboat racing. Mr Sasakawa joined the Nippon Foundation in 1981 after 20 years in the business sector. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, he is an expert at bringing together entities from the political, governmental, academic and private sectors to tackle diverse issues including public health, education, food security and ocean health. Passing on a sustainable ocean for future generations is a mission to which he has remained committed for more than three decades.
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View Profile Melissa Walsh
Blue finance and scaling director, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA)
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Melissa Walsh
Blue finance and scaling director, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA)
Dr. Melissa Walsh is a leading global expert in ocean finance and the blue economy with 24 years of experience in coral reef science, management, and conservation finance. She co-led the Ocean Finance paper in 2021 for the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. She held key leadership positions such as Head of Ocean Finance for the Minderoo Foundation, lead for the ocean finance program at the Asian Development Bank, and manager of the Pacific Ocean Finance Program for the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner. Dr. Walsh has worked across all sectors in marine conservation: government, private, academia, and NGOs. Melissa holds a BS in Chemistry & Marine Science, an MS in Oceanography, and a PhD in Marine Conservation Finance.
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View Profile Jerry Enoe
Ambassador and special envoy for ocean, Government of Grenada
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Jerry Enoe
Ambassador and special envoy for ocean, Government of Grenada
Jerry Enoe is Grenada’s Ambassador and Special Envoy for Oceans, leading national efforts in ocean governance, blue economy policy, and marine conservation. He played a key role in establishing Grenada’s Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Affairs, chairs the National Coastal and Ocean Governance Committee, and advises on blue economy initiatives. A candidate for a PhD in Geoinformatics, he holds a BSc in Marine Biology and a certificate in Ocean and Climate Science. His work spans marine spatial planning, GIS, and environmental policy, with consultancy roles for The Nature Conservancy, OAS, and CCCCC. He has authored peer-reviewed publications and research in international journals and reports, including on marine biodiversity, GIS applications, and coral reef conservation. He also serves as a CBD expert on ecologically significant marine areas. -
View Profile Laurent Ballesta
Founder and leader, Gombessa Expeditions, Andromède Océanologie
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Laurent Ballesta
Founder and leader, Gombessa Expeditions, Andromède Océanologie
Laurent Ballesta is a French photographer and the author of 13 books of underwater wildlife photography. The co-director of Andromède Océanologie, he has also led several large-scale expeditions over the past ten years. Mr Ballesta’s Gombessa Expeditions are based on three emblematic values: a scientific mystery, a diving challenge and the promise of never-before-seen images. From the first photographs of the coelacanth taken by a diver at a depth of 120m, to hunting the 700 sharks of Fakarava at night, to the longest and deepest dives in Antarctica, he illustrates the underwater world with a naturalistic and artistic eye.
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View Profile Myungjin Kim
Director-general, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, South Korea
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Myungjin Kim
Director-general, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, South Korea
Director-General Myungjin KIM holds a Ph.D. in Climate Change from the University of Southampton, an M.A. in Geography SPEP from Cardiff University, and a B.A. in Civil Engineering from Hanyang University. He currently serves as Director-General for the International Cooperation Policy Bureau and has held key positions in the Korean government, including Deputy Secretary at the Office of the President for Agriculture, Oceans, and Fisheries. He has also served as Director for Port Development, Port Policy, and Busan North Port Integrated Development, as well as Assistant Officer in the Office of the Presidential Secretary for Planning and Management.
Highlights from the 2025 event
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Countries represented
59
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Unique companies
446
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Attendees director level or above
51%
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Sessions
81
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Registered attendees
1,081
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Core sectors
18
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Speakers
166
Want to learn more about this event?
Download the brochure to receive a 15% discount code that can be used once registrations are live.
Latest sponsors include:
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Host sponsor
View Profile XIn Canada, connection and innovation come naturally—from coast to coast to coast. Destination Canada grows the country’s share of global business events, promoting meeting and incentive opportunities that leave a powerful legacy. Discover how Canada’s warm hospitality, thriving blue economy and stunning ocean destinations can make events unforgettable, naturally.
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Host sponsor
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Gold sponsor
View Profile XCanada’s Ocean Supercluster is an industry-led, national ocean cluster, and one of the world’s largest blue clusters with almost 1,000 members. The OSC accelerates the development and commercialization of Canadian ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, marine transport, and climate change. The OSC convenes members, partners, and networks to catalyze transformative growth to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035.
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Gold sponsor
View Profile XOceans North supports marine conservation and climate action in partnership with Indigenous and coastal communities. From the Arctic to the Atlantic and beyond, Oceans North develops solutions for marine conservation that ensure the long-term health of ocean ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
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Silver sponsor
View Profile XOcean 14 Capital is adviser to a leading €200M impact investment fund that invests in growth companies and technologies in the Blue Economy, which offers both environmental gains for our oceans and competitive financial gains for our investors.
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Bronze sponsor
View Profile XThe UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is one of the world’s top ocean research institutions. NOC’s scientists work globally, uncovering links between the ocean, climate change, and biodiversity loss. We solve challenging multidisciplinary, large-scale, marine science problems to underpin public policy and help every living thing on our planet flourish.
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Bronze sponsor
View Profile XFounded by HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Wave is a Collective Action Platform dedicated to restoring a thriving ocean by 2050.
Powered by the Future Investment Initiative Institute, Wave delivers impactful interventions across the foundational pillars of Engagement, Insights, Sectorial Activation, and Innovation, in order to achieve its objectives.
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How to session sponsor
View Profile XIberostar Hotels & Resorts is the hotel division and core business of Iberostar Group, a 100% family-owned Spanish multinational with 70 years of history in tourism, with its business origins dating back to 1877. Its portfolio features 31,500 rooms across 100 four- and five-star hotels in 13 countries, dedicated to delivering exceptional quality and heartfelt service. At the same time, it upholds a responsible tourism model that prioritizes the well-being of both people and nature.
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How to session sponsor
View Profile XProtectedSeasʼ mission is to develop innovative technology solutions to support ocean conservation globally. ProtectedSeas has developed the most comprehensive resource of worldwide regulatory information of marine protected areas and offers a one-of-a-kind marine monitoring solution to enhance awareness of and compliance with ocean protections in near-shore protected areas.
Navigator provides the world’s first global view of legally implemented marine protections – it is a free spatial database and interactive map of regulatory information for over 25,000 managed saltwater and coastal areas worldwide, including the high seas.
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How to session sponsor
View Profile XThe Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is a global initiative to accelerate the complete mapping of the ocean floor by 2030, offering a freely available resource to support policy decisions, sustainable ocean management, and scientific research. In collaboration with international partners, Seabed 2030 drives transformative efforts to deepen our understanding of the ocean.
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Associate sponsor
View Profile XAn acknowledged world leader, Plymouth Marine Laboratory delivers pioneering research and solutions towards sustaining the global ocean, its ecosystems and resources for the benefit of society. Its award-winning expertise addresses global challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and food security whilst also advancing technology towards net zero oceanography.
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Associate sponsor
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Associate sponsor
View Profile XThe StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego, is a recipient of the Department of Commerce NOAA Ocean Enterprise Initiative Phase 2 award and designed to launch and scale the latest ocean observing technologies, tools, and information services into actionable, and commercially viable solutions to support the blue economy.
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Associate sponsor
View Profile XFlorida International University is Miami’s top-ranked Preeminent State Research University serving over 56,000 students and more than 340,000 alumni. FIU is proud to be a driver of talent and innovation locally and globally, with over $300 million in research expenditures. We offer a full range of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs awarded by 11 colleges and schools, including business, engineering, architecture, medicine, and law.
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Exhibitor
View Profile XThe World Maritime University (WMU) was founded in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, as its premier centre of excellence for maritime postgraduate education, research, and capacity building. The University offers unique postgraduate maritime and ocean educational programmes, provides professional training and undertakes wide-ranging research in maritime and ocean-related studies, and continues maritime capacity building in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The vision is to inspire leadership and innovation for a sustainable maritime and oceans future.
Download the 2025 post event summary
Thank you to those who helped shape this year’s summit. You can download and read the key takeaways from the summit in the event summary paper.
2025 event feedback
Event Format
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Wednesday, March 4th 2026
Montreal, Canada -
Thursday, March 5th 2026
Montreal, Canada
Palais des Congrès de Montréal
159, rue Saint-Antoine Ouest, 9e étage, Montréal, QC, H2Z 1H2 Métro Place-d'ArmesPlan your visit2026 Ocean Changemakers Challenge
2026 Ocean Changemakers Challenge
2026 Ocean Changemakers Challenge: The next wave of innovators
Are you working on cutting-edge solutions for a sustainable ocean economy? Apply to be an Ocean Changemaker and showcase your ideas on a global stage.
Deadline – December 30th 2025
Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative imagines an ocean in robust health, and with a vital economy. We foster a global conversation on the greatest challenges facing the seas, inspiring bold thinking, new partnerships, and the most effective action to build a sustainable ocean economy. Read more and sign up for our newsletter below.
Content from World Ocean Initiative
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The ocean flows through all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
While the ocean fits neatly into SDG14: Life Below Water, it also plays a vital role in achieving…
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Driving finance for coral reef resilience
Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean, yet they support more than a quarter of all marine…
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The Global Plastics Treaty risks failing if it doesn’t address waste management as a whole
Earlier this year, world leaders did something rare but hopeful: they endorsed a UN resolution to…
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Creating a better planet through better tourism
A blog by Luís Araújo, president of Turismo de Portugal and speaker at the upcoming World Ocean…
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COP15 dispatch: Will the new global biodiversity deal save the ocean?
Nearly 200 countries have committed to protect at least 30% of land and seas by 2030, but quality…
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