Cover Pollution, overfishing and climate change threaten vital marine ecosystems. The Blue Water Heroes awards seeks to recognise and amplify the works of advocates protecting our oceans and coastal communities (Photo: Getty Images)
Pollution, overfishing and climate change threaten vital marine ecosystems. The Blue Water Heroes awards seeks to recognise and amplify the works of advocates protecting our oceans and coastal communities (Photo: Getty Images)
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Southeast Asia’s premier marine conservation awards, Blue Water Heroes, honours champions protecting the region‘s diverse marine environments, coastlines and coastal communities
Since 2022, Blue Water EduFest, a marine conservation event by ONE°15 Events Management has been advocating for the protection and preservation of Southeast Asia’s waters. In line with the United Nations’ 2030 sustainability goals and Singapore’s Green Plan 2030, the event urges immediate action against factors threatening the health of these waters.
The key to these efforts has been recognising and supporting individuals using innovative solutions to tackle the most pressing challenges threatening the region’s marine and coastal ecosystems. Every year, three such individuals from Southeast Asia are recognised at the Blue Water Heroes, an award ceremony held in Singapore powered by Tatler Gen.T.
Now in its third year, nominations for 2024 are open.
Read more: Why youths care about climate change—and how we can galvanise them into action
Above Highlights of the Blue Water Heroes awards 2023
If you have dedicated your life to conserving the coastal or marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia or know someone who deserves the recognition, submit a nomination now.
Three winners will be selected for the Blue Water Heroes awards, each receiving a cash prize ranging from S$10,000 to S$25,000. They will also gain access to industry experts and collaboration opportunities with ONE°15 Marina and Tatler Gen.T that will help to catalyse their impact.
This year’s Blue Water EduFest will run from November 7 to 9, with the Blue Water Heroes awards ceremony on November 8.
Read more: Blue Water Heroes: Three changemakers recognised at the second edition of the awards
Calling all ocean advocates
The Blue Water Heroes 2024 is now accepting nominations. Ten finalists will be selected among the applicants, of which three will be announced winners.
Finalists will participate in a pitch competition on October 10 to showcase their organisation’s vision, impact and plans. They will face a panel of judges comprising environmental experts, marine conservationists and impact investors.
Above From left to right: The 2022 Blue Water Heroes winners Louisa Ponnampalam and Thanda Ko Gyi with 2023 finalists Made Merta, Oh Chu Xian, Swietenia Puspa Lestari, Jessica Novia, Kong Man Jing, Anna Oposa, Alvin Chelliah and Tom Peacock-Nazil
From left to right: The 2022 Blue Water Heroes winners Louisa Ponnampalam and Thanda Ko Gyi with 2023 finalists Made Merta, Oh Chu Xian, Swietenia Puspa Lestari, Jessica Novia, Kong Man Jing, Anna Oposa, Alvin Chelliah and Tom Peacock-Nazil
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Judges include Dr Toh Tai Chong, senior lecturer and associate director of studies at the National University of Singapore; Winston Chow, associate professor of Urban Climate at Singapore Management University; Christine Amour-Levar, founder of Her Planet Earth and Women On A Mission; Tianna Nguyen, founder of business consulting firm Alensia; environmentalist and host Paul Foster; Arthur Tay, CEO of SUTL Group of Companies, which owns ONE°15 Marina; and Tatler Gen.T’s Chong Seow Wei.
The pitch presentation will take place in a hybrid format—in-person at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove Singapore for finalists in Singapore and virtually for those outside of the country.
Read more: Arthur Tay on Asian hospitality and dealing with disruption
The awards criteria
An individual is eligible to apply for the award if the following applies to them:
- They have made a positive impact in advocating for and protecting marine life and the marine environment in the last 24 months.
- They are primarily based in Southeast Asia or have made a significant impact in the region.
- They are an individual advocate or leader of a non-profit or NGO advancing society’s awareness of ocean conservation through education or community to create scalable impact.
- They are the founder, co-founder or head of a social enterprise that is improving marine health and sustainability using technology-enabled solutions.
Arthur Tay, chairman and CEO, SUTL Group and 2023’s first place winner Tom Peacock-Nazil, CEO of Seven Clean Seas. His company aims to eradicate Southeast Asia’s ocean plastic pollution problem
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The winning prizes
- Cash prizes of S$25,000 (1st place), S$15,000 (2nd place) and S$10,000 (3rd place).
- Access to collaboration, mentorship, speaking and networking opportunities with industry leaders and experts within ONE°15 Marina and Gen.T’s networks across the region.
- PR and marketing support through ONE°15 Marina and Tatler Gen.T.
If you fit the selection criteria or know someone who does, we invite you to submit a nomination for the Blue Water Heroes 2024.
Nominations are open until 11.59pm GMT+8 on August 21, 2024.
Winners will be announced during the awards night at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove Singapore on November 8.
Beyond the awards
Also part of the ticketed Blue Water EduFest is the Blue Eco Summit, which is organised in partnership with Ocean Geographic. Prominent marine biologist Dr Sylvia Earle has been named the keynote speaker of the conference, which will bring together scientists, policymakers and other stakeholders across the marine conservation sector to discuss topics including the High Seas Treaty, blue carbon and deep-sea mining.
This year’s event will introduce a series of activation programmes leading up to the main event aimed at helping the community understand the challenges posed by marine pollution and declining ecosystems, to create sustainable and effective conservation efforts.
On November 9, a beach clean-up activity will be held as part of the long-running ONE°15 Eco Month.
The Blue Water EduFest is organised by ONE°15 Events Management, in partnership with Sentosa Development Corporation and Ocean Geographic. More information can be found on the Blue Water EduFest website.
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Credits
Photography: Adrian Lee and Max Chan
