Innovating for Impact: The Future of Ocean Entrepreneurship

WHAT: The New England Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series presents Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) Founder and CEO Daniela Fernandez, a pioneering ocean advocate and social entrepreneur. SOA is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to activating young people, developing and implementing innovative solutions, and mobilizing an ocean workforce to restore the health of the ocean in our lifetime.

Last year, SOA welcomed its Ecopreneur Network Class of 2023 with 11 startups committed to advancing sustainable ocean and climate solutions. To date, the 56 Ecopreneur Network members and their startups have raised some $460 million in total estimated investment capital and employ more than 700 individuals.

In her talk, Fernandez will examine how these innovative entrepreneurs are driving systemic change across five impact areas: blue carbon, ecosystem preservation, ocean pollution, sustainable fisheries, and ocean data and literacy, and why it matters.

The New England Aquarium Lecture Series is presented free to the public through the generosity of the Lowell Institute.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: In person at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre, 1 Central Wharf, Boston. The lecture will also be livestreamed via Zoom.

HOW: The public can register for the free event here.

WHO: Daniela Fernandez is a nonprofit leader and social entrepreneur who has made it her life’s mission to restore the health of the ocean. Born in Ecuador, she spent her early childhood surrounded by the incredible natural wonders of her home country. She immigrated to the United States at age seven and grew up in Chicago.

She founded Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) in her dorm room at Georgetown University when she was 19 years old, after attending a United Nations meeting on climate change and realizing she was the only young person in the room. Even then, Fernandez knew government and business leaders were not moving fast enough to prevent disaster. Since 2014, she has helped create the world’s largest network of young ocean leaders, establishing a presence in 186 countries, and accelerating over 420 solutions to heal, protect, and restore our ocean.

Fernandez is a Forbes 30 under 30 social entrepreneur, a LinkedIn Top Voices in Social Impact creator, and thought leader who has dedicated her life to empowering young leaders as they create a sustainable future.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jenn Seabolt, 808-372-9065; jenn@teakmedia.com