Riding the Wave: Blue Finance for Restoring Ocean Health

Closing the Gap: Blue Finance for Restoring Ocean Health is a practitioner-level convening addressing the most urgent capital gap facing our blue planet. It is a focused conversation on how capital across the full spectrum, from philanthropy and catalytic capital to program-related and market-rate investment, can be better aligned to deliver regenerative, community-centered ocean outcomes.

Participants will explore how blended finance structures, outcome-based instruments, and cross-sector collaboration can catalyze the next generation of ocean investment, and leave with concrete connections, frameworks, and next steps.

What to Expect

The morning opens with a fireside chat on the state of ocean health and the blue economy opportunity, setting the context for the capital conversation that follows.

A practitioner panel explores Blue Finance in Practice, covering the full spectrum from philanthropic and catalytic capital to blended structures, outcome-based instruments, and market-rate investment.

The morning closes with facilitated breakout conversations designed to go deeper and surface concrete next steps.

Who Should Attend

Impact investors, philanthropists, family offices, and fund managers with an active or emerging interest in ocean finance. If you deploy or advise on capital and care about ocean health, this gathering is for you.

​Event Policies

Participating Organizations

• Builders Vision/Project Wave

• ImpactAssets

• Investable Oceans

• Oceanic Global

• Sea Forward

*subject to update

Who's in the Room

*The RSVP list will be updated on an ongoing basis. If you prefer to keep your name private, contact Jaclyn at jaclynl@foundationhousect.org

Noelle H Bannister, Columbia Climate School

Natasha Berg, Oceanic Global

Dana K. Bezerra, CREO Syndicate

Joanna Bingham, Phire

Sarabeth Brockley, Wild Assets

Peter Bryant, Builders Vision

Jessica Chalmers, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Benjamin Chan, Phire | Yale

Olivia Childs, J.P. Morgan

Liam Considine, Hillspire

Gemma Corrigan, Danu Advisory

Lea d'Auriol, Oceanic Global

Brittany DeGirolamo, Phocus Creative Group

Sarah Douglis, SolTide Consulting

Anna Dukor, Oceanic Global

Chris Erickson, Riverstone Earth

Daniela Fernandez, VELAMAR

Vicki Ferrini, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University

Ilana Fogelman, Toniic

Laura Francis, SeaForward

Tim Freundlich, ImpactAsssets Capital Partners

Kara Frisina, Island Conservation

Dale Galvin, Deliberate Capital, LLC

Chris Gorell Barnes, Ocean 14 Capital

Peter Hall, Ambition Loop & Frontier Innovations Foundation

Amy Harr, Independent Investor

Leslie Harwell, Alante Capital

Donna Hazard, Vital Ocean Ventures

Jim Healy, Capra Ibex Advisors

Sebastien Heimann, VELAMAR

Catherine Jadot, Elemental Solutions

Helena Janulis, Investable Oceans

Ted Janulis, Investable Oceans

Brett Jenks, Rare

Sandra Kartt, ImpactAsssets Capital Partners

Aaron Kinnari, The Future Forum

Rajan Kundra, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Aishwarya Kuruttukulam, ClimateHaven | Water Innovation Hub

Kate Landon, Ban Ki-moon Foundation

Gabriela Leslie, CREO Syndicate

John Levinson, Westway Capital

Lily Starling Louis, DAF Commons

Madeleine MacGillivray, Lonely Whale

Vicki Maler, Center for Sustainable Finance & Private Wealth (CSP)

Annie McCluskey, Superorganism

Emilie McGlone, Peace Boat US

Jackie Moe, Envest

Erika Montague, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners

Rolando Morillo, The Ocean Foundation

Matt Mulrennan, Sustainable Ocean Alliance & Seabird Ventures

Gwen Nero, Columbia University

John O'Brien, Deloitte

Trip O'Shea, Ensenada Partners

Reece Pacheco, Propeller Ventures

Chintan Panchal, RPCK

Mark Panella, SeaForward

Sue Panella, SeaForward

Chloe Payne, Ponderosa Ventures

Jameela Pedicini, Formerly Bloomberg

Alissa Peterson, SeaAhead

Michelle L Petock, W Greig & Company

Maya Poncelet, Una Terra & USA FO

Julie Pullen, Ocean Visions

Jean Rogers, Pegasus Capital Advisors

Gaelin Rosenwaks, Global Ocean Exploration

Carolyn Savoldelli, World Resources Institute

Mark Schrope, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners

Sally Shanker, AiiM Partners

Shashank Singh, WWF-US

Deborah Spalding, Conservation International

Mark J. Spalding, The Ocean Foundation

James Sternlicht, Blue Investment Group

Matthew Stotts, Cerulean.vc

Karen Sunderam, ImpactAssets Capital Partners

Desiree Tavera, Far Away Projects

Sam Teicher, Coral Vita

Dr. Fatima Vahlsing, Ocean Conservancy

Kevin Webb, Superorganism

Leigh Whelpton, Connecticut Green Bank

Richard Zimmerman, Foundation House