Julia and Jordy Kay are the founders of Great Wrap, and 2nd Runners Up in Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021. Great Wrap is an Australian startup tackling the problem of plastic pollution and waste generated by cling wrap. It replaces petroleum-based cling wrap with a compostable alternative from food waste.

Simeon Pieterkosky and Liané Thompson are the founders of Aquaai, an innovative startup using robotics and biomimicry to gather critical data from the ocean and waterways. Aquaai’s technology has a unique, nature-inspired, ‘fish like’ design allowing for accurate data collection and reduced stress in certain settings like aquaculture.

In this Episode of our Pitchfest 2021 Series, Nathan Pyne-Carter talks about how Ace Aquatec has pioneered new technologies, how welfare can’t be put to one side, and about navigating the long road of building and leading a successful ocean impact startup.

Jeff Kirschner is the founder and CEO of Litterati, a startup on a mission to identify, map, and eliminate the world's litter. In this episode, Jeff talks about how Litterati found a business model that worked, how integrating machine learning made the app even better, and how data is driving change.

Mike Smith is the Founder and Chief ‘Used Pouch Salesman’ of Zero Co, an Australian startup on a mission to untrash the planet by stopping the production of new single use plastics in the home cleaning and personal care industries. An experienced entrepreneur and founder, Mike zeroed in on developing a solution to the plastic pollution problem after an 18-month adventure around the globe with his now wife, Alyssa. No matter where Mike and Alyssa trekked they couldn’t escape the scourge of discarded plastic.

With a fire ignited in Mike to develop a solution to the plastic problem it was in depth analysis of supermarket aisles that led him to the glaring opportunity of innovation in the home cleaning and personal care product categories. Mike, Alyssa and a new recruit Kate set about building Zero Co in April 2019, launching a Kickstarter campaign to launch the business in October 2019 that raised $740k in pre-sale orders. Fast forward to October 2021 and Zero Co launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on Birchal that raised $5m in 7 hours - the fastest and biggest equity crowdfunding campaign in Australia’s history.

Lisa Blair is an Australian adventurer, author, keynote speaker and multi world record holding sailor. After the passionate and rapid adoption of open ocean sailing and solo ocean sailing, Lisa set off from Albany, Western Australia in January 2017 in a bold effort to break the world record for a solo circumnavigation of Antarctica. 72 days into the adventure tragedy struck when a storm dismasted her vessel - Lisa was stranded 1000 nautical miles from land with no mast and enormous challenges ahead.

Limping back to land for repairs in Cape Town, South Africa it was clear Lisa wouldn’t break the speed record but by persevering through the remainder of the leg to set the record as the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica with one stop. Lisa’s competitive spirit and ambitious goals to break the speed record have led to her repeating the adventure, Lisa will depart Albany again in December 2021 for ‘Antarctica 2.0’ with a goal to break the solo speed record of 102 days. OIO will be closely following the journey and reporting back to our community as one of Lisa’s community partners.

Dr. Clinton Schultz is a surfer, clinical psychologist, proud Gamilaroi man and the co-founder of First Nations owned and operated business Sobah. Sobah are pioneers of the Australian non-alcoholic craft beer industry with a distinctive unique selling point in the use of Australian native plant ingredients in their growing range of beverages.

In this podcast recorded live on Instagram, Clinton shares some of his unique backstory that sets the stage for the mission behind Sobah. Having battled through his own challenges with alcohol and substance abuse, Clinton was driven to build a business that would enable bold positive impacts on the lives and livelihoods of many.

In this first Ocean Impact Podcast episode recorded with a First Nations owned and operated startup we discuss some of the challenges associated with the flourishing Australian native foods sector…

Dr Vanessa Pirotta is a wildlife scientist, science communicator and ‘Superstar of STEM’. Vanessa’s achievements in wildlife conservation, research and science communication have led to wide acclaim in recent years, including being the national Winner of FameLab (and 2nd globally); recognised as a Top 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review and a Superstar of STEM with Science and Technology Australia.

Vanessa’s research efforts include a focus on whales, and how novel technologies can help capture new information about the biology and behaviour of these magnificent creatures. Vanessa has received global awareness and acclaim through a pioneering methodology that uses drones to capture whale ‘snot’, a technique that can replace more invasive approaches and lead to a range of new insights otherwise difficult to ascertain.

Courtney Boyd Myers (aka CBM) is the co-founder and CEO of AKUA, a US based startup on a mission to bring healthy, sustainable seagreens (kelp) products to markets across the world. AKUA launched their business with ‘kelp jerky’ via a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2017, and recently launched a new ‘kelp burger’ via an equity crowdfunding campaign that secured over $US1m on the Republic platform.

Each time we speak about seaweed and the remarkable opportunities to accelerate seaweed startups on the Ocean Impact Podcast we get a huge response, and that’s no surprise. Seaweed is a ‘zero input crop’ meaning that no water, fertilisers, pesticides or additives are required during the growing process and the result is a growing medium that is left in a better state than when it was found i.e. cleaner water.

Dr Easkey Britton is an Irish surfer, author, marine social scientist, artist and ocean leader. Easkey’s research, passion and writing explores human connection with the natural cycles of the environment and, in particular, with the ocean. In her new book, ‘Saltwater in the Blood’ Easkey has penned a memoir of her unique ocean story and adventures that have helped shape her own connection to the sea and enabled many others to generate their ocean story.

Easkey is part of a growing movement of academics and researchers exploring the role and enormous potential of water in healing and enhancing human beings. These include previous guests on the Ocean Impact Podcast: Wallace J. Nichols and Dr Cliff Kapono. ‘Blue Health’ and ‘Blue Care’ are themes that Easkey explores to help understand the role the ocean can perform in repairing the cycles of disconnect we often face and improving the lives and wellbeing of diverse groups, including those with disabilities.

Sarah Wilson is an award-winning author, minimalist, philanthropist and climate activist. After a career in the limelight of media and TV and as the founder of ‘I Quit Sugar’, Sarah has increasingly strengthened her voice to bring colour, understanding and lived experiences to many of the complex social, environmental and personal challenges that we face as a species.

Sarah’s most recent book, ‘This One Wild and Precious Life’ is a personal journey through understanding the climate crisis and what has led humanity to be in our current predicament. Notably, Sarah explores the perils of western capitalism and neo liberalism and how these systems have led to the crumbling of environmental, social and cultural structures and what needs to be done to piece a better version of the puzzle back together.

Emily Jateff is the Curator of Ocean Science and Technology at the Australian National Maritime Museum (Sea Museum) and a distinguished maritime archaeologist. Emily is a passionate science communicator on a mission to ensure the ocean is understood and appreciated for its vital role in shaping a better future.

In this podcast episode we learn all about Emily’s unique career that has seen her travel to far corners of the globe and to the depths of the ocean - exploring historical artefacts that provide a glimpse into where we have come from, where we are going and how to navigate challenges that may come our way. Notably, Emily was part of the team with James Cameron to explore the wreck of the Titanic in a deep MIR submersible - it’s not everyday you talk with someone who has explored the Titanic!

In this special episode of the Ocean Impact Podcast recorded live on Instagram, the Co-founders of OIO, Tim Silverwood and Nick Chiarelli, take a deep dive into the organisation and share all that has been happening in the past 12 months as they pursue their bold mission.

Tim and Nick also answer all of your burning questions about Pitchfest and this year’s new program, the HP Generation Impact Incubator. Specifically, the founders outline the eligibility criteria and features/ benefits for each category of the campaign this year and reiterate why anyone working in a startup or business that can help to improve ocean health should apply.

Applications for both The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2021 and the HP Generation Impact Incubator close on 21 September 2021.

Belinda Baggs is a professional surfer, mother, ocean lover and Co-founder of Surfers for Climate, a ‘sea-roots movement dedicated to climate action’. Belinda is also a ‘Global Surf Activist’ with Patagonia.

The question our host wanted to explore in this Instagram Live recording of the podcast with Belinda was: “what does it take to detour from the comfort of exotic surf holidays and a life of adventure and fun to put yourself on the frontline of climate action? Why would anyone do that?”

Of course Belinda Baggs is not ‘anyone’. Throughout her career as a professional surfer she contributed to impactful causes and led from the front as a crew of impassioned ‘eco’ surfers chose to showcase both their surfing prowess and their vision for a better world in films, magazine features and their social media channels.

Titouan Bernicot is the founder and CEO of Coral Gardeners, a reef restoration project based in Mo’orea, French Polynesia with a mission to revolutionise ocean conservation and generate collaboration to save the reef.

Titouan has an incredible backstory that frames his passion and dedication for saving coral reefs. Growing up on isolated atolls with his pearl harvesting family, the ocean was entrenched in every aspect of his life where a healthy coral reef was essential to the survival of his family and the industry that sustained them.

Fast forward to Titouan as a young surfer who began witnessing the coral reefs he loved so dearly in a state of decline and death and you can understand his motivation in doing all in his power to protect and restore the underwater biomes surrounding his island home and beyond.

At 17 years of age, Solli Raphael is the youngest guest to appear on the Ocean Impact Podcast to date. An accomplished poet, author, conservationist and public speaker, Solli was just 12 years old when he was the youngest person ever to win the Australian National Slam Poetry Competition (against an all adult field).

Solli has since performed his mission-driven poetry at distinguished forums around Australia including the Commonwealth Games, TEDx Sydney and on The Project.

In the podcast Solli performs some of his poetry taken from the two books he has authored: Spotlight (2020) and Limelight (2018).

Julie Mathers is the founder and CEO of Flora and Fauna, Australia’s largest online eco retailer and the world’s largest vegan online marketplace.

A genuine impact entrepreneur, Julie is an inspiring example of how a business leader can build a ‘better business’ with deeply held values to care for people, places, animals and the planet. Julie’s accolades for building and leading Flora and Fauna are considerable, including being awarded No.1 in eCommerce in 2019 and 2021 and Top Sustainable Retailer in 2020 and 2021.

In this conversation Julie shares a wealth of insights into her background and career working with ecommerce for large corporations that led to the journey of building her own business (with her husband Tom) that embodied their values and goals of creating a positive impact.

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. This is a mantra that had been drilled into Paul De Gelder since the earliest days of his military training in the Australian Army. It’s a mantra that Paul has embodied throughout his unique life but in particular, since a Bull Shark tore through his flesh, resulting in the loss of his right forearm and right leg during a routine Navy drill in Sydney Harbour in 2009.

Since that fateful incident that almost took the Navy clearance diver’s life, Paul has been on a wild ride that has seen him become a highly accomplished public speaker, TV host, actor, author and leading voice for the conservation of the species that so nearly ended his stint on Planet Ocean: sharks.

In this podcast, recorded whilst Paul was in Australia filming for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, we take a journey that reveals the extent to which the very existence of sharks is threatened and the critical role they perform in the ocean.

Dr. Cliff Kapono is a professional surfer, chemist and journalist from Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. Amongst a broad and distinguished career, Bruddah Cliff (as he’s become known) has become a proud and profound voice for stronger focus and representation of indigenous voices in decision making for the planet.

In this episode, our host Tim plays the role of the active listener as Cliff shares deep insights into the reasons why Cliff, as a young Native Hawaiian from a disadvantaged community in the remote Pacific, chose academia and a Doctorate to help him have a voice at the table in decision-making and policies for the ocean in his backyard and across the world.

Jess Leitmanis is an Australian sculpture artist and conservationist with a deep connection to Planet Ocean. Through her work Jess explores ideas that encompass the environment, design, consumer culture, sustainability, sociology and philosophy. Jess is interested in our connection to the space around us – how we sculpt our environment, and how it sculpts us.

In this episode Jess shares the story of her artistic journey and her passion for sculpture using found objects, namely marine debris rope (ghost gear) that has been washed ashore on remote coastlines. If you tune in to the YouTube recording of the podcast you can even see a work in progress of the artwork she completed at sea during the voyage. The finished piece can also be viewed on Jess’s website and social media.

We would like to send a huge thank you to Jess and the team at Schmidt Ocean Institute for arranging this conversation and recording.