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108 | THE BLUE GENERATION

EDINBURGH OCEAN LEADERS

A NEW WAVE OF LEADERSHIP
FOR THE OCEAN

From the Pacific islands, the Indian Ocean or the seas
bordering Indonesia, South America or the United
Kingdom, Ocean Leaders - involved in the Edinburgh
Ocean Leaders (EOL) programme - shared their ex-
periences during a digital panel discussion at Monaco
Ocean Week. With a clear vision and tireless enthu-
siasm, these activists lead major actions to protect © Anouk Neuhaus
the ocean. These internationally recognised Ocean
Leaders invited inspiring speakers, growing the wave
of leadership on the most diverse coastlines.

As reiterated during the introduction by Olivier Wen-
den, deputy chair of the Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation, which supports this global initiative, “we
are at a turning point, we need to build new lea-
dership for the ocean in which young people must
play a part”. A pledge that resonated with the words
of Meriwether Wilson, co-founder and co-director of
the Edinburgh Ocean Leaders programme and as-
sociate professor of marine policy and science at PROFILE
Edinburgh University: “The goal of this programme is
to give more people the option to become ocean lea-
ders, particularly by helping working professionals to Launched and coordinated by Edinburgh
develop the skills and creative solutions”, explains the University and supported by the Prince Albert
professor, who has worked on the creation of marine II of Monaco Foundation as well as other
protected areas in over 30 countries and managed organisations, Edinburgh Ocean Leaders seeks
many sustainable ocean development projects in col- to accelerate leadership, creativity and influence
laboration with the United Nations, the World Bank amongst exceptional young professionals to have
and NGOs. Her drive is reflected in this programme, a significant positive impact on the health of the
which brings together even more leaders. world’s oceans.