Championing tomorrow’s ocean change-makers
The Ocean Stewardship Award identifies and empowers the next generation of ocean leaders, with a focus on protecting the high and deep seas. It builds on the legacy of Kristina Gjerde, ensuring that knowledge, networks, and expertise are passed to future stewards.
The award
The Ocean Stewardship Award is a gift for the future, grown out of our collective ocean past. It encourages the scientists, lawyers, advocates, campaigners, communicators, and activists who have brought the high seas and deep ocean to the forefront of ocean defence and action, to help identify and nurture the next generation of ocean defenders and champions.
Hosted by Synchronicity Earth and run by the Ocean Stewardship Award Steering Committee, this annual award will provide financial support to early-career conservationists as well as mentoring and training from experienced environmentalists and an opportunity to join a global network of awardees as the community grows.
2Ocean Stewardship Award Launch with Kristina Gjerde Jessica Sweidan and Adam Sweidan at IUCN Congress
© Geanie Cresswell/Synchronicity Earth
Kristina Gjerde launches the award at the IUCN Congress alongside Adam and Jessica Sweidan.
Who is eligible?
The awardees will be early-career academics and advocates (under 35 years of age, or less than five years of professional experience) from around the world, in any field relevant to the stewardship of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Potential awardees will be invited to apply for the award by nominators, who will be selected each year from a pool of individuals or organisations focused on advancing marine conservation in the remote high seas and deep ocean.
The nominations will then be considered by the Selection Committee, made up of Steering Committee members Dr. Kristina Gjerde, Dr. Harriet Harden Davies and Dr. Diva Amon, Kristina’s son Darius Pool, Kristina’s husband Adam de Sola Pool, Anna Heath of Synchronicity Earth, and outside experts.
The award aims to recognise innovation and initiative, recognising the potential of people committed to defending two thirds of our planet and empowering them to step up their efforts in a time when action for our ocean has never been more important. Selection criteria will include:
- Dedication to advancing the stewardship of the shared global ocean;
- Proven interest and ability to work across boundaries of disciplines, knowledge systems, networks, and nations;
- Commitment to collaboration, growing community, and strengthening coalitions;
- Thoughtful ideas for proposed use of funds; and
- At least one significant accomplishment. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Advised governments or international organisations at key meetings;
- Published impactful research or articles influencing ocean policy;
- Energised existing coalitions or founded new collaborations;
- Played a significant role in the advocacy or establishment of marine protected areas in areas beyond national jurisdiction;
- Raised awareness of emerging threats to marine biodiversity;
- Inspired others through powerful insights, narratives, or innovative initiatives; and
- Broadened stakeholder participation in marine stewardship.
NOAA
Octocoral © NOAA OER
“The younger generation are the greatest hope for the planet, and I would like to help reward, nurture and support early career global ocean advocates through this new award.”
Kristina Gjerde, Founder of the Ocean Stewardship Award
The founder of the award, Kristina Gjerde
Kristina at the 1st Session of the BBNJ Preparatory Committee, April 2016 Photo by IISD ENB Francis Dejon 2 copy
Kristina advocating for the High Seas Treaty in 2016 © IISD ENB Francis Dejon
Kristina Gjerde is a renowned ocean advocate who has worked with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and co-founded five coalitions for international ocean conservation over a career that has surpassed three decades of environmental advocacy.
Her work has advanced the 2023 Agreement for Marine Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (also known as the High Seas Treaty, a landmark United Nations agreement for protection of the seas beyond national borders), established marine protected areas in the high seas, and progressed the fight for moratoria on harmful practices such as bottom trawling and deep-sea mining. More recently, Kristina’s attention has broadened to the need to better govern marine geoengineering research and to protect the ocean twilight zone (mid-ocean ecosystems that connect the high seas and deep seabed below).
She works closely with scientists to inform her work and to empower them to reach policy audiences, and serves on multiple advisory boards, such as the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the early planning Committee for the Decade of Ocean Science. Most recently, she joined the One Ocean Science Committee to prepare the One Ocean Science Congress and develop recommendations for the UN Ocean Congress in Nice, France, in June 2025.
Now, as she looks towards the legacy her work will leave, she has decided to invest in the next generation of ocean leaders.
The Ocean Stewardship Award was launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in October 2025. To stay updated on further announcements about the award, follow Synchronicity Earth on social media and subscribe to our email updates.
If you are interested in becoming a supporter of the award, please get in touch.