February 07 and 08, 2025, will mark the second edition of Bali Ocean Days – an international marine conservation conference seeking to develop an inclusive and sustainable “Blue Economy” in Indonesia as part of an existential global undertaking. As in 2024, the Conference will be headquartered at the InterContinental Bali Resort Jimbaran in partnership with the Archipelagic & Island States Forum.
Established in 2017, the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum is an association of 51 island states and archipelagic countries that, by their shared oceanic settings, are intricately and unifyingly focused on promoting a sustainable Blue Economy and protecting the marine environment from Ocean health degradation.
The 2nd Bali Ocean Days Conference is determined to raise international awareness of achieving the following critical goals for the future of the planet :
- Reducing marine pollution and ocean acidification.
- Protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems.
- Reversing the overfishing crisis.
- Increasing and enhancing the economic and social benefits of the sustainable use of marine resources.
The two-day conference in February 2025 will feature a stellar lineup of 30 leading Indonesian and international speakers, including government officials, financial institutions leaders, NGOs, sustainable economy stakeholders, and academics. The speakers traveling to Bali will share their key challenges, present potential policies and solutions, and explore synergies and long-term project concepts capable of helping to save our blue planet.
“Building on the success of our inaugural edition, we are renewing this event to support the expansion of an Indonesian Blue Economy, defined by the World Bank as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems,“ said Sky Blue Sea Foundation founder Paul Tanjung Tan. Continuing, Yoke Darmawan, chair of the organization, commented: ‘As the largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia plays a crucial role in the future of the world’s oceans, and considering environmental challenges that Bali has to face, the island is an appropriate host for an annual conference that puts marine conversation at its center.’”
The Sky Blue Sea Foundation is a philanthropic organization that actively supports and enables a range of impactful events and programs promoting ocean protection and ecological transition in Indonesia.
The Program
On Friday, 07 February 2025, the conference sessions will highlight topics essential to ocean protection and sustainable development:
- Marine Conservation Strategies & Public Policies.
- Financing a Sustainable Blue Economy.
- High Tech Solutions for Oceans.
On Saturday, 08 February 2025, the Conference will convene to discuss:
- Sustainable Aquaculture & Fisheries
- Marine Pollution Management
- Blue Carbon Ecosystems Conservation.
Two prominent news anchors from Indonesia’s METRO TV Channel will moderate both sessions – Marializia Hasni and Kania Sutisnawinata.
Elle Watson will serve as Master of Ceremonies over the two-day Conference in Bali. Elle is One.Bali Founder and Project leader is also an award-winning, global entrepreneur engaged in reducing plastic pollution in Bali through community-led recycling solutions.
Blue Ribbon Panel of Speakers
Subject to change before The Bali Ocean Day Conference convenes on 07 February, the current list of distinguished speakers slated to appear includes:
Opening Addresses
- Ir. Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Indonesia Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
- Dr. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Indonesia Minister of Environment.
Also Scheduled as Speakers
- General Maruli Simanjuntak, Chief of Staff, Indonesian Army.
- Vivi Yulaswati, Deputy on Maritime Affairs and Natural Resources at the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas).
- Dr. Pung Nugroho Saksono, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
- Dr. Novrizal Tahar. Ministry of Environment.
Key Representatives from Leading International Organizations
- Clarissa Arida, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity.
- David Aromokeye. The World Bank Group.
- Martin Koehring, UNIDO.
- Marco Garcia-Leon, UNODC.
- Anna Fink, Asian Development Bank.
Conservation Experts
- Dr. Britta Hardesty, CSIRO Environment.
- Rocky Pairunan, WRI Indonesia.
- Meizani Irmadhiany, Conservation International.
Leading Academicians
- Udhi Eko Hernawan, BRIN Oceanic Research Center.
- Dr. Sali Bache, Monash University.
- Dr. Benjamin Michael Brown, Charles Darwin University.
- Anna von Rebay, Ocean Vision Legal.
Impact Showcase
An Impact Showcase will feature organizations actively involved in the global ecological transition in conjunction with the Bali Ocean Day Conference. Eco-marine tourism stakeholders, green tech leaders, environmental NGOs, waste management operators, circular economy entrepreneurs, and local communities.
Key participants in the Impact Showcase include Anambas Foundation, Delterra, Jala, Kopernik, Ocean Gardener, Ocean Kita, One.Bali feat. Corsair & Plastic Odyssey, Pesisir Lestari, Rekosistem, Rotary Ubud, Social Impakt, The Searial Cleaners, and Wwwaste.io.
Among the showcase participants, the NGO Ocean Gardener will unveil a presentation on their recent discovery of a Galaxea Astreata Colony, which could be one of the largest coral gardens in the world, located off the coast of Nusa Penida, Bali.
Sky Blue Sea Foundation Awards
The 2nd Bali Ocean Days will close with The Sky Blue Sea Foundation Awards ceremony. Dr. Vincent Pieribone, the New York-based Co-CEO and Chief Science Officer of OceanX, will receive the Foundation’s top honor in recognition of the groundbreaking ‘Indonesia Mission 2024’ that was developed in cooperation with Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
The conference is sponsored by Pertamina, with expected representation by John Anis, the CEO of Pertamina New & Renewable Energy. InterContinental Bali Resort is also acting as a conference sponsor, with Media Group (Metro TV, Media Indonesia, Medcom.id) serving as the official Media Partner and La French Tech Indonesia and the London School of Public Relations as community partners.
Sky Blue Sea Foundation and Darmawan & Associates develop and organize the Bali Ocean Days Conference.
The Conference will operate from 08:30 AM to 5:00 PM on February 07 and 08, 2025, at The Imperial Ballrooms 3-4, in the Jimbaran Convention Center – InterContinental Bali Resort.
The Conference & Showcase is open to the public, with admission tickets now available online.
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