Secretariat

With extensive experience ranging from coastal and marine resource sustainable development, conservation and public policy to international business development and strategy, the World Ocean Council team is passionate about furthering “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”.

Paul Holthus – Founding President & CEO

Paul is founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Ocean Council. He works with the private sector and market forces to develop practical solutions for achieving sustainable development and addressing environmental concerns, especially for marine areas and resources.

His experience ranges from working with the global industry associations or directors of UN agencies to working with fishers in small island villages. He has been involved in coastal and marine resource sustainable development and conservation work in over 30 countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, Central...

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Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy – Managing Director

Stewart is Managing Director for World Ocean Council, most recently the acting executive director for the Ocean Sewage Alliance, where he remains as Steering Committee Chair. Stewart is also part of the Ocean Fellows team at the Center for Ocean Policy and Economics at Northeast Maritime Institute, member and advisor for Global Island Partnership, advisory committee member and BlueSwell mentor for SeaAhead, lead rapporteur for SMILO-the small island organization, and vice chair of Four Bands Community Fund’s board of directors. He also teaches resilience ​ finance, innovation and storytelling at the International University of Catalunya’s School of Architecture.

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Tina Liu – Operations Director

Tina is the Operations Director for WOC. Before joining WOC Secretariat, she facilitated WOC's outreach in Chinese Speaking Regions and was one of the first WOC Associates. She was the Vice President of Elane Inc. in charge of Big Data Product. Prior to Elane Inc., Tina worked in Drewry Shipping Consultant and established Drewry China operation. Tina worked in the UK, Singapore, China and Israel.

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Lisa Simone de Grunt – Programmes Director

Lisa serves as the Programmes Director at the WOC, bringing extensive expertise in project management, specializing in the Blue Economy, Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), sustainable development, ocean governance and environmental matters. Her experience includes successful leadership of many international and interdisciplinary teams, adept management of diverse projects, and a strong focus on stakeholder engagement and client relations .

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Jill Storey – Ocean Carbon Removal Advisor

Jill is the WOC Associate for Ocean CO2 Removal (CDR) and Blue Carbon, working with WOC to facilitate the advance of Ocean CDR business, investment and marketplace developments to accelerate […]

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Fred Meitz – Programme Manager, SMART Ocean-SMART Industries

Fred is WOC’s Associate for the Smart Ocean-Smart Industries Program which is focused on engaging industry leaders in collecting and sharing standardized oceanic and atmospheric data to better understand ocean, weather and climate conditions, improve ocean health and management, and enhance the safety and sustainability of commercial activities at sea. Fred brings to SO-SI over 40 years of broad industry experience with BP and Chevron. This experience includes the sponsoring and co-leadership of the Deep-ocean Environmental Long-term Observing System (DELOS) which was a consortium of industry and science. DELOS successfully installed two ocean observation platforms in 1400 M of water off the coast of West Africa which will provide valuable ocean data for 25 or more years. 

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Peter Fippinger – Associate, Middle East

Peter facilitates the development of WOC membership, strategic alliances, and outreach in Middle East. He has been a strategic leader and policy advisor in ocean governance, marine policy, and biodiversity […]

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Ibukun Jacob Adewumi – Associate, West Africa

Ibukun facilitates WOC’s outreach and partnership activities and the Young Ocean Professionals Initiative in West Africa, with the aim to engage young professionals and foster discourse on Blue Economy sustainability in the Sub-region. Ibukun is the Director of Programs and International Partnerships with the African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative.

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Chris Allen – Associate, West Coast US and Canada

Chris is the WOC Associate for West Coast US and Canada, and works to advance membership, strategic alliances, and project development in the region. Chris has 30 years consulting experience in sustainable development specializing in helping to create innovative and strategic approaches for multi-disciplinary project teams working on complex opportunities and challenges.

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Carine Cavallier – Associate, Blue Finance, Marine Recreation & Tourism in Europe

Carine facilitates the development of WOC membership strategic alliances and outreach in Europe especially in the area of finance and nautical sports.Her project portfolio includes collaboration with the financial sector […]

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Jack Dyer – Associate, Ocean Innovation

Dr Jack Dyer, has been involved in researching as an academic, researcher, lecturer, entrepreneur and consultant to improve the prospects in creating a sustainable and profitable; oceanic eco-conscious destiny for the future of the blue economy and Earth, forever prioritising fundamental priorities such as futureproofing against global climate change and other disruption, responding to trends. He’s founded a website www.blueeconomyfuture.org.za and LinkedIn network of contacts/movement committed to this end.

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Peter Glazebrook – Associate, Australia

Peter is WOC’s Associate for Australia with its extensive coastlines with the Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans.  With qualifications in both science (PhD, marine pollution) and law (Masters, international environment, health, criminal and humanitarian laws, Law of the Sea), his focus has always been on the value delivered to both communities and businesses when sound science informs regulatory developments.  This stewardship enables him to help facilitate the WOC mission in Australia.

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Peter Hinchliffe OBE – Associate for BBNJ, Shipping, Arctic

Peter is WOC’s Associate for key working areas: BBNJ, Shipping and Arctic with his expertise in the field. Peter was awarded the IMO International Maritime Prize for 2019, and served as Secretary General of International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) from 2010 until 2018 when he retired. Now Peter is predominantly working on the environmental performance of shipping, security and migrant protection with various ocean organisations.

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Sophie Masipa – Associate, Southern and East Africa

Sophie facilitates the development of WOC membership, strategic alliances and outreach in Southern and East Africa. She is the Chairperson of Saldehco, a joint-venture established to build and operate South Africa’s first offshore supply base (OSSB) at the Port of Saldanha Bay, and the Co-Founder of Kgommu International, which develops and invests in infrastructure projects across the continent.

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Shanti Moganti – Associate, Asia

Shanti facilitates the outreach and visibility of WOC in Asia, and works to develop WOC membership and alliances in the region. Following a brief career in academia, she realized her interests in ocean sustainability and resource management, and joined the shipping industry, overseeing environmental compliance regulations in the maritime industry for one of the world’s largest ship management companies.

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Gina Panayiotou – Associate, Law & Ocean Sustainable Development

Gina facilitates WOC's Legal program. She is a maritime lawyer and strategist; the Founder and CVO of Oceans Arena, a consultancy practise offering bespoke legal supports and brand strategies to startups, NGO’s, SMEs and corporates, especially those with ESG focus.

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Charlotte Durup De Baleine – Associate, Law and Economics of the Sea

Specialising in Law and Economics of the Sea – Ocean Governance, Charlotte is dedicated to facilitating cooperation among international actors to advance ocean protection and sustainable ocean development. Most recently, […]

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Omer Poroy – Associate, Ocean Technology

Omer brings over 25 years of ocean technology experience spanning the oceanographic, offshore energy and naval defense industries, with extensive background in maritime autonomy, subsea robotics, integrated ocean sensors, naval […]

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