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December 9-11, 2026  |  Santa Barbara, CA

Speakers & Participants

Additional speakers and participants are currently being confirmed. Check back for updates.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER

ESRI CHIEF SCIENTIST

Dawn Wright

Dr. Dawn Wright is Chief Scientist of ESRI and a globally recognized pioneer in geographic information systems (GIS) as applied to coasts and ocean. Also Professor of Geography and Oceanography at Oregon State University, she made history in 2022 as the first Black person to dive to  Challenger Deep, the deepest point on Earth. Her groundbreaking work has advanced ocean mapping, marine science, and the use of geospatial technology to better understand and protect our planet.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

CALIFORNIA’S NATURAL RESOURCES, SECRETARY

Wade Crowfoot

Wade Crowfoot leads efforts to conserve California’s environment and natural resources, stewarding forests, natural lands, rivers and water supplies, and coast and ocean. He has served as Secretary since 2019 and advises Governor Newsom as a member of his cabinet.
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SCIENCE, POLICY & INVESTMENT

Working Summit

The engine of the Summit, bringing together leaders across sectors to collaborate, build partnerships, and advance actionable solutions.
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EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT

Public Programming

Film, arts, storytelling, and community experiences designed to inspire the next wave of ocean leaders.

Summit Host

Michelle Li, Clever Carbon, Founder | Women and Climate, Co-Founder

Michelle Li is a global climate leader, keynote speaker, and experienced MC, moderator, and facilitator who makes complex environmental topics accessible, engaging, and actionable. After beginning her career in cancer genetics, Michelle moved to Silicon Valley, where she worked with leading technology companies including Salesforce and DocuSign before applying her skills in data, innovation, and communication to climate action. She is the founder of Clever Carbon, an organization advancing carbon and ocean literacy through creative educational content, corporate workshops, and global events. Michelle has moderated discussions on marine carbon removal and Arctic security at SXSW, and led a business and ocean action panel at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference. She has also developed ocean-literacy workshops exploring phytoplankton, whale ecosystems, ocean currents, and the ocean carbon cycle, and serves as an advisor to Oceanic Global’s Blue Standard. Across her work, Michelle brings together science, technology, business, investment, and public engagement to inspire a deeper understanding of our ocean and accelerate meaningful action.
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Featured Participants

Gregg Hart represents California’s 37th Assembly District, serving Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. A longtime public servant and environmental advocate, he has championed legislation to protect California’s coast, reduce marine pollution, and advance sustainable ocean and climate policy.

Gregg Hart

37TH DISTRICT ASSEMBLYMEMBER

Laura Francis is the Founder of the Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund, a collaborative philanthropic fund investing in ocean solutions. A former NOAA marine biologist with 27 years of service, she now pioneers innovative finance models to accelerate ocean impact.

Laura Francis

SEA FORWARD FUND, FOUNDER

Tom Quigley, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Superorganism, the first venture firm dedicated to biodiversity, investing at the intersection of nature, tech, and ocean innovation.

Tom Quigley

SUPERORGANISM

Peter Bryant, Managing Director, Philanthropy, Oceans, Builders Vision, a mission-driven impact platform combining philanthropy, investment, and influence to catalyze capital across the ocean and blue economy ecosystem.

Peter Bryant

BUILDERS VISION

Dr. Catherine (Cat) Burns, Managing Director, NatureVest (The Nature Conservancy), leading Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation and private investment in sustainable aquaculture private equity funds, spanning conservation debt and blue-economy venture.

Cat Burns

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

Matthew Stotts is Co-Founder and Partner at Cerulean Ventures, where he invests in early-stage companies building solutions for climate resilience, biodiversity, and a nature-positive economy. He is a former technology founder and professor of technology management at the University of California.

Mathew Stotts

CERULEAN VENTURES, CO-FOUNDER

Gracie White, Senior Director of Global Ocean Investments, Conservation International Ventures (CI Ventures), investing in early-stage, nature-positive enterprises across emerging markets.

Gracie White

CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL VENTURES

Robert Mazurek has spent over two decades leading national and international efforts to strengthen ocean governance, enhance marine policy, and create resilient coasts. As Executive Director of the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, he leads a team advancing conservation. He also founded the Secure Fisheries program at One Earth Future and co-founded the California Ocean Alliance, which he continues to chair.

Robert Mazurek

CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION

Amy Hutzel is Executive Officer at the State Coastal Conservancy, which works to protect and restore habitats, increase public access and recreation, and plan and implement nature-based climate change adaptation along the California Coast, in coastal watersheds, and in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Amy Hutzel

STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY

Michael Walker is the CEO of STAX Engineering, an emissions capture and control company, where he has led the company since 2019. Under his leadership, STAX developed a mobile emission treatment system that connects directly to maritime vessels, capturing up to 99% of harmful pollutants at port without costly retrofits.

Mike Walker

STAX ENGINEERING

Sarah is the Commission's longest-serving legislative director, and the only woman to serve in the role. She has represented the agency in Sacramento since 1999.

Sarah Christie

CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION

Kim Selkoe, Ph.D. is a marine ecologist and co-founder/CEO of Marino Soil Foods, which turns marine and agricultural waste into soil amendments. She also serves as Executive Director of Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, leading market-supported kelp restoration and a blue economy initiative called the Ocean Collective.

Kim Selkoe

COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN OF SANTA BARBARA

Co-Founder of Seatrees, a non-profit innovator in marine ecosystem restoration. Kevin is a geologist with a long history working in climate change solutions.

Kevin Whilden

SEATREES

Liz focuses on the role science and knowledge play in uncovering solutions, informing policy, and accelerating progress toward a healthy ocean future for California and the U.S. West Coast. As Executive Director of the California Ocean Science Trust, she provides strategic direction around California’s science priorities. She also serves as Science Advisor to the California Ocean Protection Council, connecting ocean decision-making with California’s science community.

Liz Whiteman

CALIFORNIA OCEAN SCIENCE TRUST

Dr. Ben Halpern is the Executive Director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) and Professor in the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at UC Santa Barbara.

Ben Halpern

NATIONAL CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS & UCSB

John Roehl is Director of Marine Operations for APL/CMA CGM on the U.S. West Coast, bringing more than 25 years of maritime experience spanning vessel operations, terminal operations, logistics, and supply chain management. A California Maritime Academy graduate and former Merchant Marine Chief Officer, John has extensive global seagoing and shoreside experience and is focused on advancing safety, efficiency, reliability, and practical solutions across complex maritime operations.

John Roehl

CMA CGM

Virj Kan is a materials engineer, designer, and CEO of Primitives - a biodesign lab developing advanced materials to drive environmental and economic circularity. Its architectural surfaces brand MARBLIS, transforms ecologically destructive purple urchins into a regenerative stone that supports kelp forest restoration and ocean biodiversity.

Virj Kan

MARBLIS

Dr. Lance Morgan is a marine biologist and the President of Marine Conservation Institute.

Lance Morgan

MARINE CONSERVATION INSTITUTE

Jonathan LaRiviere is CEO and co-founder of Scoot Science, which builds ocean intelligence software for salmon farmers (SeaState) and commercial fishermen (SeaFarer). He holds a PhD in Ocean Sciences from UC Santa Cruz, taught at Santa Clara University before starting Scoot, and spends his free time surfing and kayak fishing on Monterey Bay.

Jon LaRiviere

SCOOT SCIENCE

Karla Mora is the Founder and Managing Partner of Alante Capital, a VC fund that invests to enable a circular and sustainable future for the fashion, home and outdoor industries. Alante investments aim to reduce waste throughout the value chain to prevent pollution of our water, air, soil, and bodies during the production of the everyday items we all rely on.

Karla Mora

ALANTE CAPITAL

Margaret Spring has been leading conservation and science at Monterey Bay Aquarium since 2013. She has served in NOAA leadership in the Obama Administration and also led the marine program at The Nature Conservancy of California. From 1999-2007 Margaret served as Counsel in US Senate Committee advising members on ocean and climate; also and in private legal practice focusing on environmental law around hazardous waste and water pollution.

Margaret Spring

MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM

Adam Bent leads Lonely Whale’s mission at the intersection of climate, ocean conservation, and market engagement. He is an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience building and scaling companies across technology, food systems, and mission-driven brands.

Adam Bent

LONELY WHALE

Luke Gardner is an Aquaculture Extension Specialist that works on a variety of aquaculture issues and opportunities that effect Californians. His work spans regulation to bucket science and everything in between. As an Extension Specialist Luke's job is to connect and work with different communities and researchers to provide needed and unbiased information to those interested in aquaculture in California.

Luke Gardner

CALIFORNIA SEA GRANT

Sean is the Policy, Information and Management Officer for NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and founded the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program to increase sustainable shipping along California’s coast. He is responsible for addressing industrial, military, commercial and recreational uses and impacts in the sanctuary region.

Sean Hastings

NOAA/CMSF

Alyson is a Professor at the University of California Santa Barbara and co-founder of Nereid Biomaterials, which designs sustainable materials for marine industries.

Alyson Santoro

NEREID BIOMATERIALS

Linda Krop is the Chief Counsel of the Environmental Defense Center, a nonprofit public interest law firm headquartered in Santa Barbara and serving the Tri-Counties area on the Central Coast. She specializes in cases addressing the protection of coastal, open space, and natural resources, as well as energy issues including oil, gas, wind, and solar development.

Linda Krop

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER

Dr. Erika Woolsey is a marine biologist, a National Geographic Explorer, and the Chief Scientist of The Hydrous, a nonprofit that uses emerging technologies like virtual reality to support science learning and marine conservation.

Erika Woolsey

THE HYDROUS

Andrew Zimmern has built a career exploring how food connects cultures and tells important stories. A cultural anthropologist, writer, Emmy-winning creator, executive producer, and host of acclaimed shows including Bizarre Foods and Wild Game Kitchen, he has become a trusted voice on global cuisines and food systems. A four-time James Beard Award winner, Zimmern is a leading advocate for cultural understanding through food storytelling and serves as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the UN World Food Programme.

Andrew Zimmern

FOOD WORKS, INC, PASSPORT HOSPITALITY, INTUITIVE CONTENT

Rosanna Xia is an author, documentary filmmaker, and environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times specializing in coastal and ocean issues. A 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist, her book California Against the Sea received the PEN America/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, a gold medal from the California Book Awards, and a special citation from the U.S. Library of Congress. Her latest project, the award-winning documentary Out of Plain Sight, expands on her investigation into a toxic dumpsite off the California coast.

Rosanna Xia

LA TIMES

Jennifer Bushman is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Fed by Blue and Executive Producer of Impact for the Emmy- and James Beard Award-nominated PBS docuseries Hope in the Water. An internationally recognized leader in sustainable seafood and blue food systems, she brings together storytelling, science, culinary innovation, and industry partnerships to transform how the world understands and values food from water.

Jennifer Bushman

FED BY BLUE

Susan Jordan is the Founder and Executive Director of the California Coastal Protection Network (CCPN), a non-profit that works to ensure coastal access and other critical statutory requirements of the landmark California Coastal Act are upheld. Over the last 30 years, Jordan has established a strong track record for defeating large scale precedent setting projects in California that pose significant adverse impacts to communities and the coastal zone environment.

Susan Jordan

CALIFORNIA COASTAL PROTECTION NETWORK

Matt Mulrennan is a climate and ocean investor who has supported over 150 companies with funding and acceleration. He has 18 years of interdisciplinary experience in the ocean field within science, policy, innovation prizes, impact investing and being a startup CEO with his resume including Scripps, Oceana, XPRIZE, EnVest, and SOA/Seabird Ventures.

Matt Mulrennan

SUSTAINABLE OCEAN ALLIANCE

Krystle Moody Wood is the founder and principal consultant of Materevolve, LLC., a company leading the evolution of our materials world. Founded in 2018, Materevolve develops and scales innovative regenerative textile systems through the lens of soil, sea, and circularity by designing nature-immersed experiential learning programs like the Textile x Ocean Connector Sail, providing cross-sector technical consulting, and fostering collaborations between innovation, science, industry, government, and non-profit.

Krystle Moody Wood

MATEREVOLVE, LLC

Julia Marsh is the CEO and co-founder of Sway, a material innovation company scaling compostable packaging made with seaweed. Julia spent over a decade designing brand and packaging systems for consumer goods companies, technology startups, and design studios around the world. Her work is driven by a deep passion for regenerative design and circularity.

Julia Marsh

SWAY

Lange Solberg leads Real Time Data, whose Deckhand platform modernizes how fisheries in three countries capture, utilize, and report catch data. He brings a fisherman’s perspective to the work, as a third-generation commercial fisherman who still runs his own operation in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

Lange Solberg

REAL TIME DATA NORTH AMERICA

Aeron Arlin Genet is Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer for the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD), which protects people and the environment from air pollution. As Director for the past eleven years, she supports SBCAPCD’s award-winning efforts to reduce marine shipping emissions through Blue Whales Blue Skies and expand alternative fuels and clean vehicle programs, building on her experience as founder of the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition.

Aeron Arlin Genet

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

Dr. Bob Miller is a marine ecologist and Research Biologist at UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute. He leads major long-term research programs focused on kelp forests, marine biodiversity, and the health of California’s coastal ecosystems.

Bob Miller, UCSB Marine Science

PROFESSOR, MARINE SCIENCE

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Roxanne Nanninga is a sustainability executive and advisor working at the intersection of ocean health, food systems, and climate impact. She brings over a decade of experience leading global initiatives across seafood supply chains, regenerative aquaculture, traceability, and human rights, with roles spanning nonprofits, startups, and multinational corporations.

Roxanne Nanning

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIC ADVISOR

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Gunnar Langenhuizen is a Senior District Representative for Assemblymember Gregg Hart in California's 37th District. He works closely with constituents, local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations on issues including environmental protection, transportation, energy, and housing, helping connect Central Coast communities with state resources and legislative priorities.

Gunnar Langenhuizen, Gregg Hart

SENIOR DESTRICT REPRESENTIVE

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Jaden Gill is a Storyteller and Strategic Communications Specialist for mission-driven nonprofits, with a focus on ocean and climate. She currently supports communications for the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund and has built her career around amplifying underrepresented voices and turning complex climate issues into -actionable narratives.

Jaden Gill, Sea Forward Fund

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

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Skylah Reis is a Marine Science PhD student at UC Santa Barbara, researching the ecology of offshore energy platforms and artificial reefs, with a focus on marine ecosystem dynamics in the context of climate change and energy transition. Skylah is also the founder and co-director of Captain’s Academy, a STEM mentorship program supporting young women pursuing marine science careers.

Skylah Reis, UCSB

MARINE SCIENCE PHD STUDENT

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