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Register for Sea Forward's 2025 Webinar
Women in Ocean Impact: Hope, Inspiration and Action for Our Blue Planet
The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet—regulating climate, sustaining biodiversity, and supporting communities worldwide. Yet, it faces unprecedented threats. Join Sea Forward on Wednesday, May 28, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. PST for an inspiring conversation with leading ocean innovators and changemakers who are turning challenges into action.
From pioneering marine conservation efforts and sustainable solutions to fostering climate literacy and community-driven impact, this webinar, hosted on Zoom, will explore bold strategies to protect and restore our blue planet.
Moderator and Sea Forward Fund Director Laura Francis will be joined by an incredible panel of women leading the way in ocean and climate conservation. Together, they’ll share valuable insights and fresh perspectives on the possibilities and challenges in the ocean impact space, including:
🌊 The power of ocean impact investing – How strategic funding is fueling innovation across the blue economy and creating long-term change in marine conservation and climate resilience
🌍 Advocacy in action – Practical steps we can take to care for our blue planet and ways to make the ocean impact space more accessible and inclusive.
🗺️ Navigating the ocean-climate nexus – Why the future of our planet depends on ocean health, and how cross-sector solutions are rising to the challenge
🚀 Innovation in motion – Inspiring stories from women driving impact through entrepreneurship, science, policy, and community-led solutions
In the face of complex environmental challenges—where roadblocks often feel overwhelming—it’s more important than ever to come together in pursuit of solutions. This webinar is designed to be a source of optimism, a space to reconnect with our shared purpose, and a reminder that collective action drives real change. Register below to join us.
Panelists



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Dr. Catherine Jadot, CEO, Elemental Solutions
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Dr. Catherine Jadot is an environmental scientist, author, and CEO of Elemental Solutions Caribbean, specializing in marine conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development. With over 25 years of experience, she has led initiatives in coral reef restoration, biodiversity protection, and environmental impact assessments across the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. She is also the founder of the Spirulina Academy and a passionate advocate for climate action. Her upcoming book, How It Doesn't End: Empowering Solutions to Climate Change, highlights tangible solutions for protecting our planet’s future.
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Aly Rose, Director of Ocean Strategy, Millbor Foundation
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Aly Rose is an ocean advocate who brings together deep research expertise, strong relationship-building skills, and a finance-forward approach to advancing innovation in the blue economy. As Director of Ocean Strategy at the Millbor Foundation, she works to advance ocean health through catalytic philanthropy and strategic partnerships. Her career spans roles at CREO Syndicate, where she connected climate-focused investors with regenerative ocean solutions, and SeaAhead, where she supported bluetech startups and impact investing efforts. With a multidisciplinary academic background, Aly brings a global and systems-level perspective to ocean sustainability.
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Michelle Li, Founder, Clever Carbon
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Michelle Li is a globally recognized climate champion and thought leader, dedicated to advancing carbon literacy and sustainability. She began her career in Silicon Valley, working with tech giants like Salesforce and DocuSign, before founding Clever Carbon, an initiative that educates individuals on understanding and reducing their carbon footprints. Michelle also established Women and Climate, a non-profit organization that fosters climate action by creating supportive spaces for women to engage in environmental discussions. As a sought-after keynote speaker, she has shared her insights on prestigious platforms such as TEDx, SXSW, Bloomberg, and COP28, emphasizing the transformative power of a carbon-literate society in driving effective climate solutions.
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Moderated by Laura Francis, Sea Forward Fund Director
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Laura Francis is the Director of Sea Forward, an organization that supports innovative and effective solutions in the ocean space. Her 27-year career in education and outreach at NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary sparked a growing interest in ocean philanthropy and impact investing, which has since become her full-time focus.
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Additional Resources
Learn more about the topics we'll discuss and our panelists' work.
Learn more about ocean impact and investing
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Check out The Ocean Impact Navigator from the 1000 Ocean Startups Coalition
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Explore Builder Vision’s Ocean Strategy: A Case Study for Systemic Investing
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Learn more about Unlocking Climate Tech Capital for Blue Economy Ventures
Learn more about Sea Forward
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Visit our website
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Read the April 2025 edition of our Newsletter "The Current"
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Read our latest blog on our co-investment with Heading for Change into Circulate Capital
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Listen to Laura’s Seaze podcast interview, Ocean Philanthropy 101 (Episode 24)
Learn more about the panelists and their organizations
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Catherine Jadot (Elemental Solutions)
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Watch Dr. Catherine Jadot's lecture on the Blue Economy
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Stay tuned for details around Dr. Jadot's upcoming book release: How Does it End: Finally Empowering Solutions for Climate Change
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Unpack Aly Rose's Ocean Positive Investment Market Snapshot research covering the ocean impact landscape
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Read Aly Rose's article Blue Carbon and its Role in Combatting Climate Change
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Check out the case study Aly Rose developed around Providing Insect-Based Alternatives to Aquaculture Fishmeal
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Learn more about carbon footprint literacy for a net-zero future
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Watch Michelle Li's TedX Talk on the carbon literacy revolution
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Watch our 2024 Webinar Now On Demand
View recording alongside chat here: bit.ly/womeninoceanimpact