Day 1
24/02/2025
Day 2
25/02/2025
Day 3
26/02/2025
Day 4
27/02/2025
Day 5
28/02/2025
MC Welcome Address
Chris Lugoe
Master of Ceremonies
Goodwill Messages
Georges Mba Asseko
Head of Blue Economy Division, African Union Commission
Carol Mundle
Head of Cooperation of Canadian High Commission in Tanzania
Opening Address
Hon. Dr. Ashatu Kijaji
Honourable Minister of Livestock and Fisheries of the United Republic of Tanzania
Presentation of Bahari Accelerator
Adam Rowland
Chief Strategist, TAFIRI
Ismael Kimirei
Director General at TAFIRI
Launch of Bahari Accelerator
Hon. Dr. Ashatu Kijaji
Honourable Minister of Livestock and Fisheries of the United Republic of Tanzania
Keynote Address
David Obura
Director of CORDIO East Africa
High-level Panel: Roundtable on Bold Leadership for the Regenerative Blue Economy
Nuru Salum
Representative of Africa’s Marine Indigenous Persons and Local Communities
Hon. Paubert Mahatante
Minister of Fisheries and the Blue Economy for the Republic of Madagascar
Amb. Nicola Brennan
Hon. Shaaban Ali Othman
Minister of Blue Economy of Zanzibar
Hon. Dr. Ashatu Kijaji
Honourable Minister of Livestock and Fisheries of the United Republic of Tanzania
Luther Bois Anukur
Regional Director at IUCN ESARO
Driving Ocean Innovation through Collaboration: A Multi-Sector Perspective
Flavia Mbuki
Innovation Manager Bosch Innovation Hub
Lorna Mudegu
COO of Wavu
Thando Mazomba
Venture Development Lead at OceanHub Africa
Lamine Diallo
Head of Natural Resources at the European Delegation in Tanzania
Susanne Wanjiku
Innovation & Investment Fund Manager at GIZ SPARK
Olaf Seidel
Head of Project South at GIZ Make-IT in Africa
Fahd Al-Guthmy
Programme Director at Miamba Yethu: Sustainable Reef Finance, Wildlife Conservation Society
Seaside Chat - Science to Policy Showcase
El Hadji Fall
Ministry of Finance, Comoros
Alejandro Rivera Rojas
UNIDO Industrial Development Officer and Coordinator for Blue Industry Strategy
Sware Semesi
Director General of the NEMC
Seaside Chat: Powering Women in Blue Economy
Loubna Hamidi
Vice President, WIOMSA Women in Marine Science Network
Josheena Naggea
Blue Food Futures Program Manager, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Chairperson, National Steering Committee, GEF Small Grants Programme, Mauritius
Nancy Iraba
Marine Scientist, National Geographic Explorer
Magdalyne Were
Blue Economy Regional Lead, Mission Inclusion
Lunch & B2B Matchmaking
Breakout Sessions
Workshop Session: Enabling Science to Business for a Regenerative Blue Economy
Workshop Session: Accelerating Nature Based Solutions and Blue Carbon Action in the WIO Region – Seagrass, Seaweed and Mangroves
Workshop Session: Investing in IPLCs for Ocean Stewardship: Strengthening Rights, Finance, and Livelihoods in the WIO Region
Closed-Door Meeting: Aligning Ocean Acidification Regional Programme with AUC Blue Economy Goals
Closed-Door Meeting: Re-envisioning the Governance of Marine Migratory Biodiversity
Closed-Door Meeting: An Ocean of Possibilities: Envisioning the Future of Ocean Sustainability (1/3)
MC Welcome Address
Kirshia Govender
Programme Manager at the International Ocean Institute - Southern Africa
Keynote Address
Ronald Tardiff
Lighthouse Lead at 1000 Ocean Start Ups
Pecha Kucha Session: Youth & ECOP Presentation 1
Sharon Mutende
Environmental Policy Expert at Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP
Pecha Kucha Session: Youth & ECOP Presentation 2
Omar Farouk Yusuf
Marine Program Manager at REEfolution Kenya
Pecha Kucha Session: Youth & ECOP Presentation 3
Mathias Andreas
Ocean Activist at VSO
Seaside Chat: Regenerative Market Systems and Pathways of Change for the Blue Economy.
Cosmas Fednand
Researcher at University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)
Karuna Rana
Founder of Big Ocean States Initiative
Margie Brand
Director of Vikara Institute
Ocean Innovation Africa Pitch Competition
Never Mwambela Zekeya
CEO of Plant Biodefenders
Samuel Kipsang
Data Architect at Seamo
Wadh-ha Nassor
Computer Science Student at State University of Zanzibar (SUZA)
Bridget Njenga
Co-Founder & CEO of Acquaden
Vahid Fotuhi
Founder & CEO of BlueForest
Ocean Innovation Africa Pitch Competition Winner Announcement
Kirshia Govender
Programme Manager at the International Ocean Institute - Southern Africa
Lunch & B2B Matchmaking
Breakout Sessions
Workshop Session: Scaling Aquatic Food Systems Solutions for an Inclusive and Sustainable Blue Economy
WorldFish
Workshop Session: From Growth to Regeneration: Unlocking the Full Potential of African Seaweed
C-Weed Mwani
Workshop Session: Making Ocean Technology Accessible for Coastal Community Resilience
Synchro
CoastPredict
CMCC
Closed-Door Meeting: Building on the WIO LMMA Forum: Strengthening Strategy and Amplifying Impact
Closed-Door Meeting: NORAD Blue Entrepreneurship Consortium Meeting
NORAD
Closed-Door Meeting: An Ocean of Possibilities: Envisioning the Future of Ocean Sustainability (2/3)
Ocean & Climate Platform
MC Welcome Address
Kirshia Govender
Programme Manager at the International Ocean Institute - Southern Africa
Keynote Address
Sean Nazerali
Director of Innovative Finance at BIOFUND Mozambique
Pecha Kucha Session 1: Outreach & Community Presentation 1
Paul Mutuku Kaluki
Executive Director of Keane International
Pecha Kucha Session 2: Outreach & Community Presentation 2
Richmond Kennedy Quarcoo
Executive Director of Plastic Punch
Pecha Kucha Session 3: Outreach & Community Presentation 3
Sandra Ruhizi
Founder & Managing Director of Kijana Factory
GIZ WE4D Programme Launch
Julian Henseli
WE4D Project Manager at GIZ
Julia Schappert
WE4D Team Leader at GIZ
Fatma Sobo
Fisheries and Coastal Management Consultant at COFAD
Aidan Conrad
Fisheries Coordinator at COFAD
Arnoud Meijberg
Technical Advisor Aqua & Mariculture at COFAD
OceanHub Africa Demo Session
Léon Grillet
Co-Founder & CEO of Blue Nose
Lavine Irvine
CEO of Coastal Biotech
Daniela Lengonsira
CEO of Yarsi
Shuwena Seif Salim
CEO & Founder of Refasha
Jeimila Donty
Co-Founder & CEO of Korai
Daniel Hugelmann
Co-Founder of Ocean Labs
Andrea Plos
Co-Founder & Head of Technical Operations of Bahari Labs
Mohamed Rammeh
Co-Founder & Director of Wayout
Lunch & B2B Matchmaking
Breakout Sessions
Workshop Session: Rethinking Plastics: Innovations in Management & Community Impact
C-Weed Mwani
Workshop Session: Revolutionizing Blue Finance for Regenerative Seascapes
ODISEA
Workshop Session: Unlocking the Potential of Blue-Tech Investments
1000 Ocean Start Ups
GIZ SPARK
Workshop Session: Nature-Positive Shipping
MarCOSIO
WIOMSA
Closed-Door Meeting: An Ocean of Possibilities: Envisioning the Future of Ocean Sustainability (3/3)
Ocean & Climate Platform
Showcasing Francophone Blue Economy Innovators from SIDS
MC Welcome Address
Marine Lecerf
Head of International Policy at Ocean & Climate Platform
Keynote Address
Kristian Teleki
CEO of Fauna & Flora
Workshop Feedback Session
Coffee Break
Panel Discussion: Unlocking the Potential of Blue Investments: Collaborative Solutions
Kai Mollel
Head, Business Incubator at Stanbic Bank Tanzania
David van Dijk
Co-Founder & Partner of African Angel Academy
Jumanne Mtambalike
CEO of Sahara Ventures
Joanne Muchai
Market Systems Development and Partnerships Manager at Technoserve
Joyce Klu
Circular Economy and Waste Expert at European Investment Bank
IUCN Workshop Outcome Session
Barkha Mossaë
Regenerative Blue Economy Manager at IUCN
OCP Interactive Session
Tatiana Antonelli
Chair of MENA Oceans Initiative
Pierre Bardoux
Director of Global Fund for Coral Reef
Cynthia Barzuna
Director of Ocean Action 2030 Coalition at World Resources Institute
Arthur Tuda
Executive Director of WIOMSA
Laura Pereira
Professor at University of the Witwatersrand
Loreley Picourt
Executive Director of Ocean & Climate Platform
Pecha Kucha: Cultural & Government Presentation 1
Amb. Nancy Karigithu
Advisor, Blue Economy to the Executive Office of the President of Kenya
Pecha Kucha: Cultural & Government Presentation 2
Sheila Babauta
Board Secretary of Our Commonwealth 670
Key Action Plan Session & Closing Statement
Thomas Sberna
Regional Head: Coastal & Ocean Resilience of IUCN
Alexis Grosskopf
CEO of OceanHub Africa
Loreley Picourt
Executive Director of Ocean & Climate Platform
Networking Excursions
*Program subject to change