Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit October 22-24, 2019

Photographer: Louis Munk Klarup

Learn. Share. Act.

Our Ocean Conference theme this year is: Learning, Sharing, Acting. The Our Ocean conference will highlight the importance of knowledge as the basis of our actions and policies to ensure the protection of our oceans, responsible management of marine resources and sustainable future economic growth.

The aim of the Our Ocean conference is to trigger, amplify and accelerate action for the best of our oceans, and to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Our Ocean conferences are designed to spur significant and meaningful actions to increase ocean health. Previous conferences have resulted in nearly 1,000 commitments from governments, organisations and businesses, and we expect new far-reaching commitments at this year’s conference.

As in previous years, the theme will be centered around 6 topics: marine pollution, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economy, climate change, maritime security, marine protected areas and other area-based management measures.  

The intended theme for the Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit is “Co-creating the Sustainable Blue Economy”. Following Norway’s global leadership in integrated ocean management, the summit programming will intend to inspire, inform, and empower youth participants to build holistic solutions that better balance the needs of society, industry and the ocean environment. In preparation for themed breakout sessions, Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) and UiT the Arctic University of Norway will coordinate online bootcamps to frame the discussion and build foundational competency in the topics at hand, including eco-tourism, fishery management, the circular economy, amongst others. 

Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit program is concurrent to the main Our Ocean Conference. Through a design thinking bootcamp and informative lightning talks, participants will learn in real-time how they can build systemic solutions that bridge the needs of multiple stakeholders across government, the private sector and academia. Overall, participants will leave the summit ready to spur ocean action in their local community and be global agents of positive change.

Confirmed Speakers

Erna Solberg

Prime Minister
Government of Norway

Dag-Inge Ulstein

Minister of International Development
Government of Norway

Keith Krach

Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
U.S State Department

Peter Thomson

Special envoy for the ocean
United Nations

Afroz Shah

Champion of the Earth
UNEP

Anne Husebekk

Rector
UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Bård Borch Michalsen

Professor
UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Bjørn Tore Markussen

CEO
Ocean Data Platform

Daniela Fernandez

Founder and CEO
Sustainable Ocean Alliance

Ellie Mackay

CEO
Ellipsis Environmental