Oceanic Global activated across disciplines at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, kicking off with World Oceans Day. From panels to art and community engagement, explore highlights of how we brought ocean action to the global stage.
On World Oceans Day (8 June 2025), Oceanic Global hosted the Sea of Stars Reception on the rooftop of SEEN by Olivier in Nice, France. The evening brought together global ocean leaders, creatives, and corporate changemakers for a sunset celebration of ocean stewardship and cross-sector collaboration.
The event marked the ceremonial launch of the ReefLine Stars, symbolizing the convergence of art, science, and sustainability. Programming highlights included opening remarks by Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld of the UN Office of Legal Affairs, a powerful live performance by Whaia, a rooftop sunset DJ set, and custom gifted Yves Delorme towels.
With Gratitude to our Partners:
On World Oceans Day 2025, Oceanic Global and DOALOS raised the official World Oceans Day flag in a moment of global unity to celebrate the ocean as the greatest wonder of our world.
Global ocean leaders including Sylvia Earle and Fabien Cousteau were presented with the flags ahead of the World Oceans Day Parade of Boats. Fabien Cousteau marked the official raising of the World Oceans Day flag aboard the Fondation Tara Ocean while the parade traveled from Monaco to Nice. Cities and member states around the world subsequently raised flags in honor of the ocean’s wonder.
UN World Oceans Day 2025 was hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs in partnership with and made possible by Oceanic Global. Flags were made possible by Solgaard.
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On Monday, June 9, 2025, Oceanic Global’s Founder and Executive Director, Lea d’Auriol, moderated Art as Advocacy: Inspiring Cultural Transformation and Connection to Our Ocean, an intimate and powerful dinner event hosted by Ocean House during UNOC3. The evening explored the transformative role of the arts in fostering a global culture of ocean connection, conservation, and regeneration.
Featured speakers included: Celina Chien, Biologist, Storyteller, and Founder, Overstories; Zandi Ndhlovu, Author, Freediver and Founder, The Black Mermaid Foundation; Karim Iliya, Photographer and Founder, Kogia; Sam Lee, Folk Singer and Nature Activist; Xiye Bastida, Activist and Filmmaker.
In celebration of the UN Ocean Conference, Oceanic Global and I AM WATER hosted Ocean Connection, an embodied and immersive experience to return to the breath the body, and the sea.
The workshop opened with a soulful performance from WHAIA, Sonic Weaver, Indigeonous Elder, and Oceanic Global Board Member. The gathering then featured a guided breathwork session led by world-renowned freediver Hanli Prinsloo, and was followed by an Ocean immersion, breath-hold experience. The workshop concluded with a sharing circle for a moment of remembrance, community and reconnection with the ocean that sustains us all.
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On June 11, 2025, Oceanic Global’s Founder, Lea d’Auriol, joined a powerful panel of sustainability leaders to explore how corporate action can drive ocean revitalization and catalyze a thriving blue economy. As a part of The Startup Reef at La Baleine, the conversation highlighted ESG leadership, strategic investments in blue innovation, and how purpose-driven businesses are supporting marine biodiversity and systemic change.
Featured speakers included: Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer at Standard Chartered; Tim Christophersen, Vice President of Climate Action at Salesforce; Lea d’Auriol, Founder and Executive Director of Oceanic Global; and Michelle Li, Founder of Clever Carbon (Moderator).
Watch the DiscussionFollowing it premiere in New York City, Oceanic Global’s 2025 Short Film Festival has screened in over 13 countries, with a special debut in Nice during the UN Ocean Conference that engaged global ocean leaders. The screening event featured three of the five winning films at ‘La Baleine’ on Thursday, 11 June, 2025.
The event also included a thought-provoking panel discussion, Stories from the Deep: Art, Culture & the Ocean Connection, that explored how storytelling inspires environmental action. The conversation was moderated by Oceanic Global Board Member, Natasha Berg, as well as featured speakers: Zandi Ndhlovu, Author, Freediver and Founder, The Black Mermaid Foundation; Karim Iliya, Photographer and Founder, Kogia; Shari Sant, President and Founder of Code Blue Charitable Foundation.
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On 11 June, at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), Natasha Berg, Founding Board Member and Head of Communications at Oceanic Global, presented the 2025 UN World Oceans Day theme, Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us. The announcement was accompanied by the official video, narrated by renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, celebrating the ocean’s vital role in sustaining all life on Earth.
The screening took place at La Baleine and was made possible through a partnership with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, with film production by Kogia.
Learn MoreAs the official educational partner of Anthropocean, Oceanic Global contributed to this public installation in the lead-up to the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice. Supported by L’Université de Nice Côte d’Azur, La Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Le Conservatoire de Nice, and Le laboratoire RETINES, the exhibition—co-created by Frank and Lee Dufour, Luc Martinez, and Arnaud Maguet immersed visitors in the often-invisible impacts of underwater noise pollution. Oceanic Global’s educational space featured the Sounds of the Ocean film, blending real ocean recordings with music and poetry, alongside curated resources on marine bioacoustics and ocean health.
On May 30, Oceanic Global’s Director of Partnership Marketing & Events, Dawn Moore, joined Professor Michel André (LAB Barcelona) for the panel As Above, So Below, moderated by Frank Dufour, , to explore cross-sector solutions for protecting the ocean’s acoustic environment, furthering the exhibition’s aim to unite science, art, and public engagement.
Sounds of the Ocean
Oceanic Global’s Director of Partnership Marketing and Events, Dawn Moore, joined global leaders and youth advocates for this high-level side event spotlighting youth-led ocean action and cross-sector collaboration. The event introduced the Coalition of Emerging Ocean Leaders (CEOL) and explored inclusive pathways to accelerate ocean governance through intergenerational dialogue, policy engagement, and innovative programs like Peace Boat and regional ECOP initiatives.
The session featured opening keynotes, a formal coalition launch, two moderated panels, and a closing segment that highlighted tangible commitments and next steps for scaling collective action.
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