WOC to Launch “Young Ocean Professionals” Network at Sustainable Ocean Summit 2016

The World Ocean Council is developing a global, multi-sectoral network of Young Professionals to advance sustainable development in the next generation of ocean industry leaders.

The Young Ocean Professionals initiative has arisen from the strong interest among up and coming managers in WOC member companies to meet their peers from different sectors and exchange information and ideas on industry responsibilities and practices in sustainability.

The network will connect Young Professionals (and students interested in ocean business careers) from around the world and across the sectors to:

• Improve their knowledge of ocean ecosystems and biodiversity, the state of the ocean and ocean economic activity, and the concerns of other ocean stakeholders
• Better understand the challenges, issues, opportunities and solutions for advancing responsible ocean business activities within and across the sectors
• Help ensure that their work and their company are a part of securing a healthy ocean and sustainable ocean economy
• Develop and participate in mentoring, exchange and other professional development opportunities

WOC will launch the Young Ocean Professionals network at the WOC Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS) 2016. A core team of Young Professionals from WOC member companies is working to develop the working version of the value, scope, terms, conditions and proposed areas of activity for the network.

An SOS 2016 session will be dedicated to the Young Ocean Professionals network. This session will gather senior and junior level managers around ocean sustainable development issues and challenges and consider and agree on how to best move forward with the network.