The Conduit’s panel of experts delved into the critical role of oceans in maintaining Earth’s climate and biodiversity, particularly in the context of the upcoming COP28. The Conduit, in collaboration with One Million Voices, highlighted the urgent issues surrounding marine conservation and the influential work of specialists in this field.

The event featured Clare Brook, CEO of Blue Marine Foundation, who brought her extensive experience in environmental finance to the table. Thomas Hickey from The Pew Charitable Trusts shared his expertise on coastal wetlands and coral reefs, while Puninda Thind from the UN Climate Champions Team provided a perspective on mobilising finance to address biodiversity loss. The session was moderated by Catia Dal Poz, the founder of One Million Voices, who has a rich background in amplifying change-makers’ voices.

The discussion underscored the economic benefits of protecting our seas and showcased successful strategies for nurturing and safeguarding marine life. It also emphasised the importance of building partnerships and fostering innovation among various stakeholders to achieve sustainable ocean management and protect our planet for future generations.

The Conduit’s partnership with One Million Voices served as a prelude to COP28, setting the stage for further conversations on the untapped potential of our oceans and the collective efforts needed to preserve this vital resource.

Speakers:

Clare Brook is the CEO of Blue Marine Foundation. Clare joined Blue Marine in 2014 as Chief Finance Officer and then became Chief Executive in 2015. Prior to joining Blue Marine, she worked for 24 years in environmental finance, managing the UK’s first green investment funds at Jupiter, then at NPI and Henderson. She set up Aviva’s sustainable investment division and co-founded WHEB Asset Management. Clare read history at Oxford and lived for two years in Paris.

Thomas Hickey is the Project Director, Coastal Wetlands at The Pew Charitable Trusts. Thomas supports Pew’s protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs project and is responsible for leading engagement with a range of stakeholders, including nongovernmental organizations, scientific partners, government representatives and delegates within international institutions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Hickey previously led Pew’s government relations work in the United Kingdom, supporting projects across a range of policy areas, including fisheries and marine protected areas. His previous roles included public affairs manager at the Marine Conservation Society and as a consultant with MHP Communications. He has a bachelor’s degree in politics from Durham University and a master’s in Environment, Society and Development from the University of Cambridge.

Puninda Thind is Finance Nature Lead with the UN Climate Champions Team focused on catalyzing and mobilizing finance sector action to address biodiversity loss and nature-related risks and opportunities.Puninda has contributed as a working group member to the UNFCCC Race to Zero criteria consultation process. She holds a Bachelors of Environment and Business (Honours) from the University of Waterloo and a MSc Sustainability, Enterprise, and Environment from the University of Oxford. She is also active in climate advocacy as a member of the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Puninda has been recognized as one of Canada’s top 30 under 30 sustainability leaders, one of Canada’s top 25 under 25 environmentalists, and as a Clean50 honouree for her contribution to the advancement of climate action.

Moderator:

Catia Dal Poz is the Founder of One Million Voices, a purpose-driven multimedia platform that champions individuals and organisations who are making a difference in the world. She has served in multiple leadership positions in various women’s organisations in the UK and has extensive experience in hosting flagship events with high profile speakers in institutions like BAFTA, the Royal Geographical Society, and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Catia holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and has previously worked as a senior producer of special news segments and programmes for some of the world’s major broadcasters (NBC, CBS, CNN, TV Globo).

About One Million Voices:

One Million Voices is a purpose-driven multimedia platform that champions individuals and organisations who are driving positive change in the world. Through a compelling blend of online content, interviews, and live events, it offers a unique opportunity for audiences to connect with the stories of changemakers and be inspired to make a difference themselves.

About Blue Marine Foundation:

Blue Marine Foundation aims to restore the ocean to health by addressing overfishing, one of the world’s biggest environmental problems, using a combination of top-down intervention to improve governance of our seas and bottom-up project delivery to help local communities who are at the front line of ocean conservation.

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