Sea Forward Events
Women in Ocean Impact:
Taking Action to Create Solutions
About the Event
Women in Ocean Impact: Taking Action to Create Solutions
Our ocean gives life to our planet, but some of its most important ecosystems are under threat. As we approached World Ocean Day 2024, we gathered for an online event to get inspired by four incredible women who are using their talents, passion and creativity to support a thriving and healthy ocean.
An engaging conversation and Q&A ensued (with lots of audience interaction) as they shared how their innovative work in impact investing, conservation, and community engagement is tackling some of the greatest challenges facing our ocean.
The rich panel discussion provided valuable insights and fresh perspectives on the possibilities and challenges in the ocean impact space, including:
- A glimpse into the evolving landscape of ocean impact investing
- The importance of collaboration between nonprofits, corporations, and government to address the ocean's challenges
- Frameworks for measuring and managing impact
- How to launch a career in ocean impact (or simply get more involved)
Panelists
Meet the Speakers
General Partner & Board Member · SeaAhead
Donna Hazard is General Partner and Board Member at SeaAhead, a Boston-based bluetech hub spurring innovation, building and investing in sustainable, high-growth, ocean-related companies through an accelerator, angel investor group, and corporate and venture advisory services. She leads SeaAhead's bluetech investor network, the Blue Angels.
CEO · Ocean Conservancy
Janis Searles Jones is CEO of Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit working internationally to solve the greatest challenges facing the ocean. Jones is fluent in marine conservation and policy, with deep expertise in Alaska, the Arctic and the intersection of ocean and climate issues, specifically offshore oil and gas, clean-ocean energy, zero-emissions shipping and ocean-plastic pollution.
Director, Global Ocean Investments · Conservation International Ventures LLC
Gracie White is Director of Global Ocean Investments at Conservation International Ventures LLC where she supports early-stage companies within emerging markets through a blend of debt and equity investment products. Her background has primarily centered around sustainable aquaculture, with a primary focus on seaweed, and she previously worked for Hatch Blue, NOAA, and the CREO Syndicate.
Moderator
Director · Sea Forward Fund
Laura Francis is Director of Sea Forward, an organization that supports innovative and effective solutions in the ocean space. She worked at NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary for 27 years in education and outreach before turning her focus to ocean philanthropy and impact investing.
Go Deeper
Additional Resources
Learn more about ocean impact and investing
- The Ocean Impact Navigator — 1000 Ocean Startups Coalition
- investableoceans.com — an investment hub that seeks to bring market-based capital to the oceans
- Ocean Finance Handbook — World Economic Forum
- How ocean-based startups are riding a wave of investments — Impact Alpha
- Using multi-donor funds as a creative architecture for collaborative, catalytic capital
Learn more about Sea Forward
- Ocean Philanthropy 101 — Laura's Seaze Podcast interview (Episode 24)
- Visit the Sea Forward website
- Women in Ocean Impact press release
Learn more about the panelists' organizations
-
Conservation International Ventures
- CIV 2023 Impact Report
- CIV's philanthropic businesses accelerator program — for female blue economy entrepreneurs in emerging markets
-
SeaAhead
- SeaAhead's 2023 Impact Summary
- Two whitepapers on investment opportunities — Aquafeed Innovation & Data Collection/AI in the Blue Economy