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OCEAN LOVERS TALKS
2025 Program Coming Soon
SAVING THE OCEAN WITH SCIENCE
Our Ocean Lovers Talks is a feature event of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival focused on solutions from the ocean and ways we can better protect our ocean, with FREE inspirational talks by leaders and luminaries, scientists, innovators and adventurers.
Festival-goers can literally turn-up in their swimmers to hear from the change makers and future proofers sharing hopeful and inspiring views for the future.
2024 PROGRAM
Ocean Lovers Talks
SATURDAY
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SURVIVING THE BEACH
Saturday 11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Panel: Steven Pearce, Felicity MacArther
The beach is at the heart of Australian culture and millions of us relish its beauty. But, before you hit the sand, join us to talk about how you and your loved ones can stay safe on Australia's beaches this year.
RESTORING SYDNEY HARBOUR
Saturday 12:30 - 1:00 pm
Speaker: Assoc Prof. Ziggy Marzinelli, Mitchell Brennan, Dr Paco Martinez-Baena, Professor Melanie Bishop
A Blueprint for Global Seascape Restoration!
Find out about about this exciting world first approach to seascape restoration. Project Restore focuses not only on individual habitats but also on fostering connections between habitats. This innovative approach aims to provide a blueprint for future seascape restoration globally.
CAN OUR REEFS SAVE THEMSELVES?
Saturday 1:15 - 1:45 pm
Panel: Dr. Elliot Scanes, Dr Emma Camp, Dr Cheng Chen
Hear from leading researchers as they discuss the survival strategies and evolutionary traits that help reefs survive during ongoing climate change and rapid heating events, and conversely, how science and conservation need to intervene to help protect them.
SOLUTIONS TO ENDING PLASTIC POLLUTION
Saturday 2:15 - 2:45 pm
Panel: Lottie Dalziel, Naomi Tarszisz, Sondra Beram, James Dorney
From practical tips to innovative solutions and the power of advocacy and collective action. Join us to gain valuable insights and inspiration on reducing the use of plastics allowing you to be a greater part of the solution.
SAVING OUR FRIENDS OF THE SEA
Saturday 3:30 - 4:00pm
Panel: Hannah Tait, Laura Simmons, Associate Prof. Rachael Gray
So much is impacting our much loved (megafauna) marine creatures – sharks, dolphins seals, sea lions and turtles. Come away enlightened by all the positive actions being done to help preserve their environments and numbers.
GOING WITH THE FLOW - EXPLORATION FROM THE RIVERS TO THE OPEN OCEAN
Saturday 12:15 -12:30 pm
Speaker: Tristan Salles
Earth’s surface is the living skin of our planet and connects the physical, chemical and biological systems. University of Sydney researcher Salles has explored from the rivers to the ocean to shed new light on how the systems, over hundreds of millions of years, drove diversification of marine life.
SAVING THE GREY NURSE SHARK
Saturday 2:45 - 3:15 pm
Panel: Valerie Taylor, Prof. Adam Stow, Capt. Gordon Scott, Sarah Han-De-Beaux
Join us to discuss this growing multidisciplinary community science project building towards Valerie Taylor's "String of Pearls" - a chain of connected Marine Sanctuaries to bring lasting protection to migration, resting and breeding environments for the critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark.
SUNDAY PROGRAM
SHARK NETS: WHAT'S NEXT?
Sunday 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Panel: Dr Chris Pepin-Neff, Lawrence Chlebeck, Steven Pearce, Hannah Tait
Hosted by ABC's Natasha Mitchell, our panel of experts, campaigners and innovators will unravel the highly contested debate on shark nets, false assumptions, impacts and what are the alternatives available now. Discussion will include science, policy, alternatives and eco barriers plus some campaigner perspectives.
ALGAE GOLD
Sunday 12:15 - 12:45 pm
Panel: Dr. Alex Thomson, Dr. Pia Winberg, Dr. Michael Askew
Is algae the new gold? ABC's Natasha Mitchell talks to researchers and innovators to find out what makes algae so valuable. Heralded as a key ingredient for a sustainable planet,
it’s being used for everything from animal feed to reduce methane, beer manufacturing to reduce CO2, bio-fuel, clothing and plastic substitutes to food and supplements.
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HIGH SEAS, DEEP SEAS
Sunday 1:00 - 1:30 pm
Panel: Sea Shepherd Captain Peter Hammarstedt, Matthieu Rytz, A/Prof. Aline Jaekel
Are the high seas the Wild West? ABC's Natasha Mitchell joins our panel of experts to discuss who owns the seas, who can exploit them, and how they are governed as the world sits at a crossroads of exploitation and preservation for future generations.
SEE SOLUTIONS
Sunday 1:45 - 2:00 pm
Speakers: Nik Robinson, Harry Robinson
Good Citizens is on a mission to ‘Untrash the planet®’ by turning a discarded single-use plastic bottle into 100% recycled eyewear frames in Sydney. Harry and Nik will share insights and anecdotes from the gut wrenching ‘almost lose everything moments’ to the highs of meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss recycling in Australia.
ONE TREE ISLAND 50 YEARS AND INTO THE FUTURE
Sunday 3:45 - 4:00 pm
Speaker: Prof. Ana Vila Concejo
Understanding the relationship between coral health and wave dissipation through ground-breaking research, come join the golden celebration of One Tree Island, the GBR Research Station proudly owned by the University of Sydney for the past 50 years.
DEMYSTIFYING SUSTAINABLE FOOD
Sunday 12:00 pm - 12:15 pm
Speaker: Alex Webb
Communications expert, Alex Webb, gets to the bottom of the many myths and claims surrounding sustainable seafood such as that all big boats are bad, that imported seafood is inferior and some species are more sustainable than others.
FISHTANK PRESENTATION
Sunday 2:00 - 2:30 pm
Presenter: Dr. Vanessa Pirotta
$10,000 in prize money will be awarded to the 3 winning ideas presented by the 10 finalists from our inaugural FishTank. This student led competition is searching for young eco innovators with bright ideas to help the ocean.
Prizes to be awarded IMC Foundation, Federal Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, Shadow Environment Minister, Kellie Sloane.
WHAT ARE WHALES TELLING US?
Sunday 3:15 - 3:45 pm
Panel: Dr. Vanessa Pirotta, Dr Olaf Meynecke
Are whales in trouble? What are these majestic creatures telling us and how can we help them?
This panel will share how researchers are deciphering whales bodies and their biology and share what this tells us about their health and wellbeing and how we can hear and support them.
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