The Ocean Conference
5-9 June 2017, New York, United States of America
The high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 - 'Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development' - is being held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the United States, from 5-9 June 2017.
Coinciding with World Oceans Day, this one-off event will bring together attendees from government, academia and the scientific community, the private and financial sectors, and civil society and advocacy groups to advance implementation of SDG14 - sharing best practice and learnings from each of their sectors around the world.
The SDGs, agreed in 2015, are ambitious - SDG14 alone covers issues of climate change, biodiversity, pollution, sustainable economic development and technology. The Ocean Conference is therefore aiming "to be the game changer" to make achieving SDG14 actually doable.
As well as attending the conference itself, our delegates will visit New York-based NGOs and other stakeholders, where they'll have the chance to discuss SDG14 and find out what challenges lie ahead.
KEY INFO
DEPARTS AKL - 27 May
ARRIVES BACK IN AKL - 13 June
TRAINING WEEKEND - 6-7 May
APPLICATIONS DUE - 14 April
$1500 DEPOSIT DUE - 24 April
DELEGATION FEE - $5290
Head Delegate
EMILY FROST
Emily has had a specific interest in oceanography, marine biology and climate change for most of her life, and has worked on ocean acidification and the status of the ocean for the past eight years. She is incredibly passionate about research involving many key aspects of the ocean, particularly the physiological, molecular and ecological effects of climate change on marine organisms from across the globe. In addition to research, she has been an active member of the broader scientific and political community for some time, including being a scientific policy author for UNEP, and a member of the New Zealand Ocean Acidification Research Group, the Otago Institute for Arts and Science (a branch of The Royal Society of New Zealand), an International Graduate Scholar for the Fifth International Conference on Climate Change, and the International Council for Science: Auckland, 2014 – General Assembly. At the conference she looks forward to broadening her knowledge on essential scientific techniques, upcoming novel experiments and the ability to meet and collaborate with a large range of delegates from a plethora of backgrounds which will provide her with a larger understanding of the role of the ocean and the importance of such work from across the world.
Delegates
DANIEL DAVIS
A vagrant soul, Daniel has spread his way around the world through all he can. Sport, adventure, academia and a need to know. Currently doing a BSc in Ecology and Biodiversity, and Environmental Studies at Victoria, he cares deeply for the world and the way it is being treated. Daniel has spent his life working on understanding the world, the cultures, people, environment, and the connections that hold everything together.
SIOBHAN PATIA
Siobhan is of Samoan and Cook Islands Maori descent with a background in health policy and law. She is currently a management graduate at CMDHB and is working on various projects and interests in Pacific health and social enterprise. Being of Pacific Island descent, sustainable ocean health is a issue close to her and her families in the Pacific.
DANNIE CULLEN
Dannie Cullen qualified with a Bachelor of Science majoring in both Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences. She has since worked at Auckland Council, Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium and is a board member of the Zoological Society of Auckland. No matter what she is doing she is always connected and contributing to the underwater world in some way and hopes to gain a better understanding of how she can help protect it by attending The Ocean Conference.
LUCY UNDERWOOD
Lucy is an environmental scientist with a passion for nature. She recently graduated with a degree in environmental management and ecology, now working as a consultant at AR & Associates Auckland. Everyday she is faced with the challenges of managing the environment where increasing development pressures and conflicting values can detriment achieving positive outcomes. The ocean is part of all aspects of her life, recreationally and academically. It has continually challenged, entertained, and been appreciated by Lucy. She strongly believes in the sustainable management of the ocean.
KATIE KYUNG
Katie is a Korea born Kiwi. She is in her final years of studying a conjoint programme of LLB / Arts double majoring in Chinese and FTVMS. She was interested in this conference as she was involved in a climate change project during her internship with the Government Legal Network at the Ministry of Transport's legal team. During this experience she took part in the domestic implementation of ICAO's GMBM project. Since then, she grew her passion for climate change action. Her ambition lies in being able to use her trilingual skills to act as a bridge for nations to solve international legal disputes.
ANT VAVIA
Antony is of Cook Island and Fijian decent. He currently holds a BSc in Marine Biology and Environmental Science and is in the process of completing his BSc (Hon) this year (2017) at AUT. One day he wants to be a "Hero Marine Biologist" - he has the aspiration, the motivation, the support, maybe a bit too much confidence, and the drive to help do great things in this world. He knows the ocean not only isolates us, but more importantly, connects us. Ant wants to maximise his learning and truly help make a positive global impact. With the right character, mindset and like-minded community, he believes good things can happen.
JAMES TREMLETT
James’ life revolves around advocacy for (and immersion in) the ocean. He has worked at sea on industrial fishing vessels, on local marine conservation projects in Aotearoa and the wider Pacific, and for central government on national marine protection policy. For this conference, he is interested in how SDG14 can help shape meaningful, practical solutions: on the ground or in the water. He feels strongly about the oceanic history and cultures of Aotearoa, and our responsibility as a Pacific archipelago to take part in the collective global response to the crises in our oceans.
TEGAN ARNOLD
Growing up in such a beautiful country has fostered Tegan’s love of nature and the outdoors. Tegan graduated from Vic Uni in 2015 with a BSc in Environmental Science and Geography. Since then Tegan has been working at the forefront of policy making for the New Zealand government. Her passion lies in anything to do with the environment, particularly marine and freshwater conservation. Tegan also takes an interest in how environmental policy decisions affect the developing world, after volunteering in rural Cambodia. In her spare time you will find her skiing, tramping and adventuring.
AIMEE CLARK
Aimee is studying a BSc in Marine Biology and Environmental Studies at Victoria University with the goal of becoming a marine research scientist. She has always been fascinated with the flora and fauna of the oceans, and science communication between scientists, politicians and NGOs. Aimee thinks conferences that involve these parties working together are vital to tackle the multifaceted issues of the oceans. She is excited to gain valuable experience at The Ocean Conference as a future scientist, and to get a better understanding of how SDG14 might bring about environmental solutions.