Now in its seventh year, Ocean Talks is a face-to-face event that brings together the superyacht industry and the world of marine conservation via meaningful conversation, inspirational talks and networking. Held in partnership with Ocean Family Foundation, this year’s event featured three world-renowned keynote speakers and over a dozen exhibitors who showcase the best and latest ocean-saving projects, initiatives and products.
When is it?
Ocean Talks took place on 6 June 2024 - the week leading up to World Oceans Day.
Where is it?
Ocean Talks 2024 was held in London at The Magazine, the Serpentine North Gallery, 5-8pm.
How do I get a ticket?
Tickets to Ocean Talks are free but attendees must register their attendance.
Speakers
Keynote speaker: David Lang
Executive director of the Experiment Foundation and co-founder of Sofar Ocean Technologies, OpenROV and Open Explorer
David Lang, an entrepreneur and author, serves as the executive director of the Experiment Foundation, a foundation that helps fund small ocean conservation startups at speed. Before this role, he played a key role in founding Sofar Ocean Technologies and OpenROV, specialising in underwater drones that map the ocean floor. The author of "Zero to Maker", Lang's contributions have garnered attention from prestigious publications such as the New York Times, WIRED and Outside Magazine. As a Senior TED Fellow, his TED talks focusing on ocean technology and conservation have collectively amassed millions of views.
Keynote speech topic: Throughout history, amateur hobbyists have played a key role in scientific discovery. Nevertheless, many a yacht owner, builder or designer might still question if they can really make a significant difference. And where do they even start? Entrepreneur and ocean conservationist David Lang aims to inspire and inform in his talk on harnessing the collective power of the enthusiast, drawing on his own experiences of launching OpenROV from his backyard.
Keynote speaker: Laurent Ballesta
French underwater photographer and marine biologist, Laurent Ballesta has established himself as one of the most important figures in underwater photography working for National Geographic magazine and as an explorer for National Geographic Society. A pioneer in scuba techniques, Ballesta has been diving since the age of 13. He is famous for pushing to extreme depths. He is the author of 13 photography books dedicated to underwater wildlife and his work can be seen in everything from the National Geographic to Paris-Match. He is also the author of several award-winning documentary films including the Nat Geo Channel and Discovery Channel.
Keynote topic: Ballesta talks to Ocean Family Foundation's Lilly Barclay (below) about his groundbreaking career and his motivations for capturing the mysteries of the deep in the name of conservation.
Keynote speaker: Matthieu Rytz
Matthieu Rytz has devoted his life's work to bringing environmental issues to light. His 2008 documentary Anote's Ark (Sundance 2018), which focused on how rising sea levels were affecting the population of Kiribati in the central Pacific Ocean, was released to great critical acclaim and won dozens of awards. At Ocean Talks 2024, he presented his latest work, Deep Rising (Sundance 2023), which looks at the issue of deep seabed mining and is narrated by Jason Momoa. Matthieu also shared his experiences and insights behind the scenes of this complex story.
Lilly Barclay, founding member of Ocean Family Foundation
Lilly Barclay is a founding member of Ocean Family Foundation, which seeks out existing or start-up conservation projects that have a positive impact on marine life and ocean health. She is also co-founder of A Plastic Planet, an organisation that works directly with industry and governments to inspire the world to turn off the plastic tap.
Exhibitors
NLComp
Northern Lights Composites (nlcomp®) is the company behind rComposite - the revolutionary new eco-friendly alternative to GRP. Currently, 95% of fibreglass boats end up abandoned, so to address this issue, nlcomp® developed rComposite - a patented material with a thermoplastic matrix to offer a recyclable alternative. With this material, nlcomp® has built the world's first recyclable production boat, ecoracer30. Available for licensing, rComposite also holds potential in the superyacht industry for components such as hatches or doors.
Eva Mechler
As a master furniture maker with her own workshop in Switzerland, Eva Mechler designs and hand-crafts furniture using regional varieties of oak, ash, cherry, elm, walnut and chestnut, among others. Collaborating closely with world-class design studios, Mechler's works are featured in the owner quarters of award-winning sailing and motor yachts. Recently, she has been pioneering the use of superyacht decking off-cuts to make unique pieces of furniture that an owner can enjoy on or off the yacht.
Ocean Family Foundation
Founded by four sea-loving families who feel a responsibility to protect the world’s oceans, Ocean Family Foundation seeks out and donates to existing or start-up marine and ocean-orientated conservation projects. As well as Ocean Talks, Ocean Family Foundation supports Oceans Without Borders, Yachts for Science, Worldrise, Volvo Ocean Race, Save the Med, Trash Hero, UKSA and A Plastic Planet, among others.
A Plastic Planet
Igniting and inspiring the world to turn off the plastic tap. Its new platform, PlasticFree, is a resource for businesses and creators to find alternative solutions to plastic.
Yachts For Science
Yachts for Science connects superyachts with marine scientists and researchers to provide access to the oceans.
Rootfull
Rootfull is a material innovation company developing a highly novel textile by guiding plant root to “weave” unique artefacts and surfaces. It’s a disruptive innovation that fuses sustainability, creativity, and natural artistry, brought together by underwater photographer and bio-designer, Zena Holloway.
Love Brand & Co
Love Brand & Co specialise in men's and boy's swim shorts, linen shirts and polos - perfect for stylish superyacht owners, crew and guests! More than just luxury beachwear, Love Brand is focussed on caring for the planet, and everything they manufacture is done with this in mind. Since day one, they have also given a percentage of their revenues to charity, supporting a different endangered species with each new collection.
SHORE
SHORE is a design brand innovating in the fields of ergonomic rugs, soft furnishings, and footwear made from handwoven high-performance materials. Founded in 2015, every piece is handmade entirely in-house in their London, UK studio. Synchronizing rigorous material research with an experimental craft approach, SHORE creates highly sophisticated products of surprising beauty and usefulness. Founders Louie Rigano and Gil Muller met while studying at the Royal College of Art in London. They share a belief that merging technical innovation and beautifully crafted design can redefine traditional ideas of luxury, novelty, and ways of making.
All of SHORE's products are informed by the guiding principles of effortlessness, versatility, and feeling good. The brand's inaugural product, the Shore Rug, is a unique hybrid product merging the health benefits of an anti-fatigue mat with the luxury appeal of a fine handwoven carpet. This first-of-its-kind product engenders wellbeing through a uniquely luxurious experience of health, comfort, and craftsmanship. The product line has since expanded to encompass pillows and seat cushions, followed by furniture items including benches, lounge chairs, and sofas—all of which can be used both indoors and outdoors in any climate. Most recently, a collection of groundbreaking footwear was unveiled.
Paper London
Founded by Philippa Thackeray in 2011, Paper London is an environmentally conscious fashion brand that produces contemporary, yet classic, pieces with eco-friendly materials. Now a British Fashion Council Contemporary Award recipient two seasons in a row, the brand has garnered a loyal following with a number of high-profile names, such as Margot Robbie, Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid and Jennifer Lopez, to name a few.
For more information, please contact events@boatinternationalmedia.com or follow the hashtag #OceanTalks.