Honouring Dr Kristina Gjerde, dedicated advocate for the ocean

The first time I met Kristina it was in a cosy coffee shop in London in the very early days of my career and my time at Synchronicity Earth. I was quite intimidated to meet this woman, who was so deeply respected by my colleagues and had provided invaluable advice on our early ocean funding. The person I met, however, was unbelievably kind and humble, and took time to patiently explain the complex world of global ocean policy (including spelling out countless acronyms!) to me over our coffees.

Kristina was then, and remained until her passing, a deeply trusted advisor of Synchronicity Earth. Kristina had an extraordinary capacity to look beyond the challenges of what is to truly focus on what could be. Sitting in that coffee shop, Kristina explained the work she and others were doing to advocate for a ‘High Seas Biodiversity Treaty’, which would see a legally binding UN agreement fully focused on protecting the biodiversity of our global ocean.

Kristina at the launch of the Ocean Stewardship Award at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025. Image © Geanie Cresswell/Synchronicity Earth

I found it hard to fathom when Kristina spoke about how this work had taken over a decade to even start the conversation at the UN about this treaty. In 2025, after over 20 years of work from Kristina and the many others who worked alongside her, this treaty was ratified and it will come into force in January 2026. To me, that is the definition of vision.

Kristina’s vision was not just about nature, it was about the people that work with and for nature.  My resounding memory of Kristina will always be the incredible way she worked with those around her. Kristina built up everyone she worked with (including me), and founded multiple organisations that were fundamentally focused on bringing people together to work towards a common goal.

Many of these organisations became long-term partners of Synchronicity Earth’s, and I have had the joy of watching them grow and thrive. This spirit of supporting others to achieve their potential lives on in the Ocean Stewardship Award, founded by Kristina, and which it has been Synchronicity Earth’s great honour to host.

Now a decade into my career, I cannot imagine a career I would want to emulate more than Kristina’s. She has had unbelievable conservation impact in her work, but more importantly, she has shared her expertise, her passion, her collaborative spirit, and her belief in those around her with countless people across the globe who have been lucky enough to be part of her life.