Engaging with the Blue Economy
Date
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An evening with leading finance and ocean conservation practitioners to define and examine the rapidly emerging Blue Economy, and explore how investors, entrepreneurs, existing businesses, and planning organizations are engaging in this new financial sector.
Event Description
Global ocean economic activity, including offshore oil and gas extraction, recreational and commercial fishing, open pen aquaculture, shipping, telecommunications, and coastal tourism, has been estimated between $3-6 trillion. However, the human relationship with the ocean is changing, and the old ocean economy is adapting to respond to new demands, ecological needs, and the dynamics of global climate change.
The new Blue Economy is an attempt to create a unified, global definition of economic industries and activities that relate to the ocean in order to build strong ocean driven business and investments without violating the other goals of sustainable development. The Blue Economy is transforming traditional ocean economic activity, and it includes a range of new industries and business opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors – including renewable energy, ecosystem remediation and restoration, biotechnology/biomimicry, blue carbon, and nutrition and nutraceuticals.
The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business will bring together four leading representatives from this rapidly growing sector to share their experiences engaging investors, entrepreneurs, and cutting-edge businesses in these exciting new opportunities. The evening will include a panel discussion to examine the results from specific actions carried out by each presenter, following by an extensive open conversation to allow all attendees an opportunity to raise questions and concerns, share experiences and ideas, and help shape this important business dialogue.
Please note that seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Panelists
Mark J. Spalding, PhD
President, The Ocean Foundation
Mark J. Spalding is a member of the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and serves on the Sargasso Sea Commission. Mark is a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Blue Economy of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. In addition, he serves as the CEO and President of SeaWeb, is the advisor to the Rockefeller Ocean Strategy (an unprecedented ocean-centric investment fund), and designed the first-ever blue carbon offset program, SeaGrass Grow. He is also a member of the Pool of Experts for the UN World Ocean Assessment. Mark is an expert on international environmental policy and law, as well as coastal and marine philanthropy.
Rolando Morillo
Vice President and Equity Analyst for Sustainability and Impact, Rockefeller Capital Management
Rolando Morillo has over 17 years of experience within the investment department of Rockefeller Capital Management and is currently. He is responsible for identifying and supporting the management of public equity investments for the Rockefeller Ocean Strategy and providing environmental, social and governance (ESG) research for the global investment team. His responsibilities include research and identification of solution-based companies that incorporate sustainability into their business models, and integrating ESG factors into the investment process. Rolando has also managed company holdings on the sustainable blue economy, water risk and efficiency, corporate governance and climate change. He has been instrumental in having Rockefeller Capital Management become a signatory to the Blue Economy Finance Principles, join the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Alliance and participated with various working groups and investor initiatives related to plastics, sustainable seafood and water through the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Rolando has authored thought pieces such as “A Sustainable Blue Economy”, “Water-Thirst for New Solutions”, “Health and Climate Change” and “The Ocean Agenda” via Rockefeller Capital Management’s website (rockco.com).
Edgar Westerhof
North America Director for Flood Risk and Resiliency, Arcadis Design for Natural and Built Assets
Edgar Westerhof is a water consultant with 20 years of experience in urban water management. Edgar has led the Arcadis participation in the international HUD Rebuild by Design competition, including the winning BIG U plan for the protection of Lower Manhattan. He functions as the climate change adaptation specialist regarding coastal and urban water management strategies. Edgar bridges the understanding and business opportunities on water management between the Netherlands and the US and plays a key role in the identification and implementation of our local and international flood proofing expertise. He is the Rockefeller Foundation 100RC participation lead for the US and involved in strategic initiatives regarding climate change adaptation and water resiliency concepts. Edgar has given master classes on climate adaptation at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Harvard and Columbia, and is the contributing author and technical editor of the book Adapting Cities to Sea Level Rise (Island Press).
Antonio DiMeglio
Founder and CEO of SeaStraws.co
Antonio DiMeglio is a skilled sustainability professional that believes in entrepreneurs’ ability to pioneer innovative solutions with social impact. Antonio is the Founder and CEO of SeaStraws.co, a paper straw company that has quickly become one of the leaders in the rapidly developing sustainable disposable products industry. SeaStraws’ partners have included the United Nations HQ, the US Open tennis tournament, and New York University Dining Services. Antonio’s role with SeaStraws encompasses managing his company’s relationships with ocean-friendly non-profits such as the Surfrider and Lonely Whale foundations, and he advocates for non-profit collaboration with startups to create scalable social ventures. Prior to starting SeaStraws, Antonio was the Chief Revenue Officer at a sustainability-focused coffee company called Luxbeverage.
Moderator
Jim Tolisano
Director, Innovations in Conservation, LLC (ICONS), Adjunct Professor, New York University
Jim Tolisano has designed and implemented natural resource and biodiversity conservation projects in more than 40 countries to integrate applied work in nature conservation, sustainable finance, and strategic planning. From 2006-2012, he served as the Executive Director of the Kinship Conservation Fellows, an environmental leadership program that provides training and guidance in conservation finance strategies, business management, and economic tools. From 2012-2016 he was global lead in the Conservation Markets program for the Wildlife Conservation Society assisting in the development of conservation trusts in the Western Indian Ocean region and central Africa, and leading the engagement of banks and corporate interests in nature conservation programs. At present, Jim is the Director of Innovations in Conservation LLC (www.icons-group.com), a consulting consortium that works globally with conservation planning, sustainable finance, and applied science for biodiversity and climate adaptation initiatives. He is a senior advisor to the IUCN Conservation Finance Incubator, and technical advisor to the Caribbean Marine Science and Policy Association (CariMar). Jim is also an advisor to NYU’s Center for Sustainable Business, and Adjunct Professor in the Gallatin School and Environmental Studies programs at New York University, where he teaches conservation biology and conservation finance.
An evening with leading finance and ocean conservation practitioners to define and examine the rapidly emerging Blue Economy, and explore how investors, entrepreneurs, existing businesses, and planning organizations are engaging in this new financial sector.
Event Description
Global ocean economic activity, including offshore oil and gas extraction, recreational and commercial fishing, open pen aquaculture, shipping, telecommunications, and coastal tourism, has been estimated between $3-6 trillion. However, the human relationship with the ocean is changing, and the old ocean economy is adapting to respond to new demands, ecological needs, and the dynamics of global climate change.
The new Blue Economy is an attempt to create a unified, global definition of economic industries and activities that relate to the ocean in order to build strong ocean driven business and investments without violating the other goals of sustainable development. The Blue Economy is transforming traditional ocean economic activity, and it includes a range of new industries and business opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors – including renewable energy, ecosystem remediation and restoration, biotechnology/biomimicry, blue carbon, and nutrition and nutraceuticals.
The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business will bring together four leading representatives from this rapidly growing sector to share their experiences engaging investors, entrepreneurs, and cutting-edge businesses in these exciting new opportunities. The evening will include a panel discussion to examine the results from specific actions carried out by each presenter, following by an extensive open conversation to allow all attendees an opportunity to raise questions and concerns, share experiences and ideas, and help shape this important business dialogue.
Please note that seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Panelists
Mark J. Spalding, PhD
President, The Ocean Foundation
Mark J. Spalding is a member of the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and serves on the Sargasso Sea Commission. Mark is a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Blue Economy of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. In addition, he serves as the CEO and President of SeaWeb, is the advisor to the Rockefeller Ocean Strategy (an unprecedented ocean-centric investment fund), and designed the first-ever blue carbon offset program, SeaGrass Grow. He is also a member of the Pool of Experts for the UN World Ocean Assessment. Mark is an expert on international environmental policy and law, as well as coastal and marine philanthropy.
Rolando Morillo
Vice President and Equity Analyst for Sustainability and Impact, Rockefeller Capital Management
Rolando Morillo has over 17 years of experience within the investment department of Rockefeller Capital Management and is currently. He is responsible for identifying and supporting the management of public equity investments for the Rockefeller Ocean Strategy and providing environmental, social and governance (ESG) research for the global investment team. His responsibilities include research and identification of solution-based companies that incorporate sustainability into their business models, and integrating ESG factors into the investment process. Rolando has also managed company holdings on the sustainable blue economy, water risk and efficiency, corporate governance and climate change. He has been instrumental in having Rockefeller Capital Management become a signatory to the Blue Economy Finance Principles, join the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Alliance and participated with various working groups and investor initiatives related to plastics, sustainable seafood and water through the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Rolando has authored thought pieces such as “A Sustainable Blue Economy”, “Water-Thirst for New Solutions”, “Health and Climate Change” and “The Ocean Agenda” via Rockefeller Capital Management’s website (rockco.com).
Edgar Westerhof
North America Director for Flood Risk and Resiliency, Arcadis Design for Natural and Built Assets
Edgar Westerhof is a water consultant with 20 years of experience in urban water management. Edgar has led the Arcadis participation in the international HUD Rebuild by Design competition, including the winning BIG U plan for the protection of Lower Manhattan. He functions as the climate change adaptation specialist regarding coastal and urban water management strategies. Edgar bridges the understanding and business opportunities on water management between the Netherlands and the US and plays a key role in the identification and implementation of our local and international flood proofing expertise. He is the Rockefeller Foundation 100RC participation lead for the US and involved in strategic initiatives regarding climate change adaptation and water resiliency concepts. Edgar has given master classes on climate adaptation at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Harvard and Columbia, and is the contributing author and technical editor of the book Adapting Cities to Sea Level Rise (Island Press).
Antonio DiMeglio
Founder and CEO of SeaStraws.co
Antonio DiMeglio is a skilled sustainability professional that believes in entrepreneurs’ ability to pioneer innovative solutions with social impact. Antonio is the Founder and CEO of SeaStraws.co, a paper straw company that has quickly become one of the leaders in the rapidly developing sustainable disposable products industry. SeaStraws’ partners have included the United Nations HQ, the US Open tennis tournament, and New York University Dining Services. Antonio’s role with SeaStraws encompasses managing his company’s relationships with ocean-friendly non-profits such as the Surfrider and Lonely Whale foundations, and he advocates for non-profit collaboration with startups to create scalable social ventures. Prior to starting SeaStraws, Antonio was the Chief Revenue Officer at a sustainability-focused coffee company called Luxbeverage.
Moderator
Jim Tolisano
Director, Innovations in Conservation, LLC (ICONS), Adjunct Professor, New York University
Jim Tolisano has designed and implemented natural resource and biodiversity conservation projects in more than 40 countries to integrate applied work in nature conservation, sustainable finance, and strategic planning. From 2006-2012, he served as the Executive Director of the Kinship Conservation Fellows, an environmental leadership program that provides training and guidance in conservation finance strategies, business management, and economic tools. From 2012-2016 he was global lead in the Conservation Markets program for the Wildlife Conservation Society assisting in the development of conservation trusts in the Western Indian Ocean region and central Africa, and leading the engagement of banks and corporate interests in nature conservation programs. At present, Jim is the Director of Innovations in Conservation LLC (www.icons-group.com), a consulting consortium that works globally with conservation planning, sustainable finance, and applied science for biodiversity and climate adaptation initiatives. He is a senior advisor to the IUCN Conservation Finance Incubator, and technical advisor to the Caribbean Marine Science and Policy Association (CariMar). Jim is also an advisor to NYU’s Center for Sustainable Business, and Adjunct Professor in the Gallatin School and Environmental Studies programs at New York University, where he teaches conservation biology and conservation finance.