25th September Webinar “Framing the Challenge: The State of the Ocean Economy”
25th September Webinar “Framing the Challenge: The State of the Ocean Economy” https://pharosproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/meet-the-oceanpreneur-webinar-2.png 800 600 PHAROS Project https://pharosproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/meet-the-oceanpreneur-webinar-2.png“Meet the Oceanpreneur” is a Webinar Series Showcasing Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.
As part of PHAROS’ Citizen Litter Entrepreneur program, Impact Hub Athens is launching “Meet the Oceanpreneur”: an engaging 8-part webinar series running from September 2025 to November 2026. Each session will tackle a key topic: ranging from plastic pollution to sustainable tourism, aligned with EU priorities and co-curated with a fellow Mission Ocean project, whose representative will moderate the discussion.
Format
Each 50-minute webinar follows a dynamic fireside chat format centered on storytelling, real-world insights, and meaningful exchange.
Two speakers share their work in concise 10-minute segments, followed by a 20-minute moderated dialogue and a 10-minute live Q&A.
The structure is fast-paced, focused, and designed for impact.
Who It’s For
Innovators, researchers, and changemakers across the blue economy, startups, academics, students, local authorities, policymakers, private sector leaders, educators, and civil society.
Spotlight on the Kick-off Session
Framing the Challenge: The State of the Ocean Economy
September 25th, 2025 | 11:00 CET | 50 minutes
This opening session sets the stage for the series, addressing critical questions: Where is the ocean economy today, and where must it go? In the face of climate impacts, pollution, and fragmented governance, this webinar provides a strategic overview of the forces shaping ocean health and blue economic activity.
Key topics include:
- Who owns and stewards the ocean commons?
- Which systems must be protected, reimagined, or left behind?
- How can data, technology, and civic engagement drive ocean regeneration?
Innovative concepts such as digital ocean twins, blue finance, citizen science, and circular economy solutions will be introduced to establish a shared foundation for the sessions to follow.
Speakers
Kęstutis Sadauskas
Deputy Director-General, DG MARE (European Commission) – Opening Remarks
Kęstutis Sadauskas is the Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). A Lithuanian diplomat by background, he previously headed the EC Representation in Vilnius, served as Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta, and directed Circular Economy and Green Growth at DG Environment. With Master’s degrees in Political Science/International Relations and Geography from Vilnius University, he has been a key figure in advancing EU policies on sustainability, the circular economy, and ocean governance.
Stefania Campogianni
Project Manager Plastic Pollution, WWF Mediterranean – Moderator
Stefania Campogianni is a multilingual, passionate communications and sustainability expert with over 10 years progressive international experience in media, communications, campaigning and advocacy working with a variety of NGOs, political and business partners. She loves travelling and discovering people’s stories and cultures and explore community-based models of living that are more in harmony with nature.
Henk van Dalen
Director of Oceans at The Ocean Cleanup – Speaker
Henk van Dalen serves as the Director of the Pacific team at The Ocean Cleanup, leading the organization’s mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic and the strategic development of ocean cleanup operations. With a Master’s in Business of Energy Systems from Delft University of Technology (2014), a BSc in Meteorology & Oceanography from the University of East Anglia (2005), and executive training from THNK School of Creative Leadership (2019), Henk brings over 17 years of experience across both for-profit and nonprofit sectors – including senior roles at Heerema Marine Contractors and Fugro – into the mission to clean and restore the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Dr. Gordon Dalton PhD
Project Coordinator – Speaker
Dr. Gordon Dalton is the PHAROS Project Coordinator and a Renewable Energy Economics Engineer, senior research fellow at PLOCAN Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands. Gordon’s work covers the broad economic and socio-economic analysis of the emerging ocean energy industry in Europe, as well as creating business models for emerging technologies. Gordon is coordinator in the following European projects: PHAROS, H2Heat, SECURE, OPUS, MUSICA, RRING, GRRIP, BG5 MARIBE.
Lisa Simone de Grunt
Director of Programmes at World Ocean Council – Speaker
Lisa Simone de Grunt is the Director of Programmes at the World Ocean Council (WOC), where she oversees programme management, project acquisition, stakeholder engagement, and financial administration. With an academic background in Maritime Spatial Planning and an MBA, she brings deep expertise in ocean governance, blue economy, and sustainable development to her role. Lisa has led numerous European and global initiatives—spanning Interreg, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, the EC Maritime and Fisheries Fund, and more—working across interdisciplinary teams and fostering collaboration across public and private sectors. Before joining WOC, she served as European Affairs Advisor at the Council and held leadership roles at s.Pro – sustainable projects and the SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth, where she managed international projects and stakeholder forums.
Dimitris Kokkinakis
Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer, Impact Hub Athens – Event Host
Dimitris Kokkinakis is a social entrepreneur and community-builder, he co-founded Impact Hub Athens in 2013, an ever-growing ecosystem of social innovators and entrepreneurs driving change through responsible, inclusive, and sustainability-driven initiatives. Impact Hub Athens is part of the global Impact Hub network, present in over 110 cities worldwide, connecting people, places, and programs to inspire, support, and catalyze impact. Since a young age he has been actively involved in national and international organizations and networks, working with diverse communities across sectors including entrepreneurship, the arts, and environment. Under his co-leadership, Impact Hub Athens has implemented large-scale initiatives at local, national, and EU levels, focusing on sustainability, inclusion, and climate resilience.
At the webinar, key concepts like digital ocean twins, blue finance, citizen science, and circular economy solutions will be introduced, setting a shared foundation for the sessions ahead.
Register here:
Upcoming webinars at a glance
Across eight sessions, Meet the Oceanpreneur explores the key challenges and bold opportunities shaping a sustainable blue economy:
- Framing the Challenge: The State of the Ocean Economy – September 2025
- Eyes on the Ocean: Tracking Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution – November 2025
- From Waste to Worth: (Micro)plastics Reduction & Valorisation – January 2026
- Cleaner Seas Begin on Land: Prevention, Zero Waste & Community Action – March 2026
- Blue Growth, Green Balance: Sustainable Aquaculture & Biodiversity -May 2026
- Greening the Gateway: Smart Ports & Blue Logistics – July 2026
- Blue Horizons: Eco-Tourism for Ocean Protection – September 2026
- Scaling Impact: The Ocean Sustainability Movement in Action – November 2026
Webinar Format:
Each 50-minute webinar follows a fireside chat format featuring storytelling, real-world insights, and meaningful exchange. Two speakers present their work in 10-minute segments, followed by a 20-minute moderated discussion and a 10-minute live Q&A. The sessions are fast-paced, focused, and designed to maximize impact.
Who Should Attend:
Innovators, researchers, and changemakers across the blue economy, including startups, academics, students, local authorities, policymakers, private sector leaders, educators, and civil society.
