Blue Water Heroes finalists and judges at the 2022 awards ceremony

Blue Water EduFest, a non-profit marine conservation event organised by ONE15 Events Management, a subsidiary of SUTL Enterprise Limited, will return for a second edition at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove from November 2-4.

The second Blue Water EduFest will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, yacht owners, entrepreneurs, eco-visionaries, media influencers and ocean enthusiasts passionate about coastal and marine conservation.

The three-day event provides a platform for stakeholders to act and join in the mission to protect oceans and coastlines in this part of the world, with the aim of empowering young eco-champions in Southeast Asia.

Arthur Tay, CEO and Executive Director of SUTL Enterprise

Arthur Tay, CEO and Executive Director of SUTL Enterprise and founder of Blue Water EduFest, said: “At SUTL and ONE°15 Marina, the ocean lies at the very heart of our business and operations. We bear a profound responsibility to uphold the conservation of this precious marine ecosystem.

“Through the second edition of Blue Water EduFest, I would like to rally our business collaborators, stakeholders and the yachting community to unite and take action, to protect our oceans and coastlines for the well-being of future generations. By embracing the mindset of ‘leaving it to others’, we can never be a catalyst for change.”

The core of the event is The Ocean Collective Summit two-day conference, organised with The International SeaKeepers Society and The Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre. Featuring several keynote speeches, panel discussions and ‘fireside chats’, international and regional speakers will highlight the importance of marine conservation and protection.

Jay Wade (Seakeepers), Fabien Cousteau and Julian Chang (Seakeepers Asia)

Julian Chang, Board Member and President of The International SeaKeepers Society Asia, said: “We recognise a powerful synergy in fortifying ocean conservation initiatives through the conference. This gathering will unite changemakers, advocates and collaborators, empowering our community in the region to drive impactful change for our oceans.”

A second key feature is the Blue Water Heroes Awards, dedicated to honouring young, passionate individuals dedicated to marine preservation in Southeast Asia. Winners from last year will present accounts of their ongoing research and conservation work.

This year, youths from the Antarctic Climate Expedition, organised by Ocean Geographic Society in February, will share their transformational experiences during the event, which was spearheaded by Ocean Geographic founder Michael Aw and legendary oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle.

Dr Louisa Ponnampalam (third), Thanda Ko Gyi (second) and Melati Wijsen (winner)

For the second year, the Blue Water EduFest will conclude with a community beach clean-up featuring event attendees, esteemed partners, sponsors, ONE15 members and students.

Citi Private Bank is the presenting sponsor of the second Blue Water EduFest, which is supported by Sentosa Development Corporation and held in partnership with The International SeaKeepers Society.

Lee Lung-Nien, Chairman and Head of South Asia, Citi Private Bank, said: “We are pleased to support Blue Water EduFest again, to further strengthen community capacity building, which is essential to accelerate and scale-up ocean sustainability. Citi Private Bank’s commitment to this partnership is more relevant than ever in the global effort to address pressing sustainability challenges.”

The event’s new sponsors include K3 Ventures and KIN. K3 Ventures is a Singapore-based venture capital firm that invests in technology start-ups and supports sustainability efforts to fight climate change. KIN is a leading sports events management company that shares its passion to foster sustainability and environmental conservation.

www.bluewateredufest.com