SOA Blog

Spotlight: Patrick Cage, 27, California, United States

As an integral part of the Our Ocean Conference, Sustainable Ocean Alliance and the University of Tromsø will co-host in cooperation with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fourth Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit, which will take place in Oslo, Norway in just 45 days. The summit is an opportunity to inspire, inform, and empower youth participants to build holistic solutions that better balance the needs of society, industry and the ocean environment.

And speaking of inspiration, we are thrilled to introduce you to another inspiring young ocean leader, Patrick Cage.

Spotlight: Ifeoluwa Omoyeni, 24, Lagos State, Nigeria

Today’s oceans are a critically important component of the Earth system, supporting our ecosystem and human health. They regulate the weather and climate, provide food and other resources (like medicine), provide trade and migration routes and create jobs. Did you know that fisheries alone support 170+ million jobs? 

If you ask our founder and CEO, Daniela Fernandez, she will tell you, “The challenges that were promised to future generations, are taking place today.” With 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by oceans, we can’t wait on others to step up to the plate to do something. It’s up to us and that’s exactly what the young ocean leaders of Sustainable Ocean Alliance are doing. Without further ado, we are pleased to introduce you to Ifeoluwa Omoyeni! 

Spotlight: Marina Porto, 24, São Paulo, Brazil

We are just 65 days away from the Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit 2019 conference and we can hardly contain our excitement. The summit will bring together international leaders from governments, businesses, research institutions, universities and active, ocean leaders including young ocean leader, Marina Porto. She is just 24 years old,  hails from São Paulo, Brazil, and is absolutely committed to a sustainable future for our ocean. We can’t wait for you to meet her by reading her interview below.

Spotlight: Bryan Madera, Manila, Philippines

 Bank of the West / BNP Paribas and the Sustainable Ocean Alliance are excited to announce the launch of a major new initiative - the SOA Ocean Leadership Council - a network of private sector leaders committed to taking urgent action by supporting ocean technology, investing in the next generation of innovators, and influencing the ocean agenda on a global scale.

Partnering with Peace Boat

In the lead up to World Oceans Day on June 8, 2019, SOA Program Director,  Brandon Levy, served as a guest educator aboard Peace Boat’s 101st Global Voyage and as a mentor for the Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassadors, a group of young leaders from Small Island States in the Caribbean as well as the Pacific and Indian Oceans. During his week-long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, Brandon hosted workshops and seminars for the youth and the ship's passengers on conscious leadership, systems thinking, emergent strategy, and climate change.