Sydney will host a Blue Solutions Summit on Thursday, 10th March 2022, to elevate ocean focussed action by businesses, brands and government with a push to drive pledges to act on ocean health issues and opportunities as part of nation's response to the current UN Ocean Decade.
Staged by the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival and presented with Ocean Impact Organisation at the Australian National Maritime Museum, leading scientists will set the scene for the Ocean Decade opportunity for Australia, which holds the third largest exclusive ocean economic zone on the planet.
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley and her NSW counterpart James Griffin are scheduled to contribute to the discussions which will cover high impact industries of fashion, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and finance in the ocean space. High profile independent Zali Steggall and Shadow Assistant Minister for the Environment Josh Wilson will also present.
With sustainability leader as the Summit MC, panellists include Fashion Council chief Leila Naja Hibri and Sustainable Fashion authority Dr Lisa Lake, Zero Co-founder Mike Smith, Closed Loop's Robert Pascoe, Tony Worby from Minderoo Foundation, Nestle's Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Director Margaret Stuart, WLTH founder Drew Haupt, Piping Hot's Amy Low and Ocean Impact Organisation co-founder Nick Chiarelli.
Volvo Australia Managing Director Stephen Connor will highlight how global brands must investigate their impacts and align every aspect of their business with the values and expectations of their customers, through an era of rapidly evolving technology solutions and aspirations among consumers to see brands act and offer alternatives to planet damaging practices.
Scientists Tony Haymet, Adriana Verges, Martina Doblin and Gretta Pecl will join ocean influencers like Laura Wells advocating for action across industries to consider a blue focus. A youth representation at the Summit will keep ambitions focussed on the future with Plastic Free Boy and the 12-year-old Newcastle sustainable swimwear entrepreneurs Olivia Lorenz and Myla Tucker of Cinnamon Cove also having their say at the forum.
Australia's UN Ocean Decade convenor Jas Chambers will present on initiatives for the coming decade and coordinate a trackable impact pledge from participants to report to the UN Ocean Decade program and inspire the changes they want to see.
