Ocean Advocate Summit

Conservationists Bex Band and Catherine Edsell are teaming up to launch the Ocean Advocate Summit, the first event of its kind in the UK!

At this one-day summit, you will have a chance to reconnect to the ocean, discover more about marine life and the threats they face, and learn new confidence-building skills. This event is for swimmers, surfers, sea-lovers, artists, educators and anyone else who loves the ocean.

Although we will be celebrating international conservation efforts, the event will primarily focus on research and projects within the UK, highlighting how individuals here can take action.

Thank you to our sponsors for making the Ocean Advocate Summit Possible:

Attendees will have a wide variety of activities during the day to choose from:

Inspirational and educational talks: Hear from inspiring activists and founders who took their passion and turned it into action. Learn about marine life and the conservational issues they face from some of the UK’s leading experts.

Networking: Connect with other ocean-lovers throughout the event. Make the most of the large exhibitor space during breaks to meet with charities, artists, authors and entrepreneurs.

Skill-Building: Inspiration can only take you so far, which is why we’ve also factored in practical confidence-building workshops covering a variety of helpful topics from funding a project to citizen science.

More speakers and exhibitors announced soon!

Head of ocean advocacy and engagement | Environmental education and ocean literacy

Children’s author | Environmental storyteller | Teacher |

FAQ’s

What’s included in the ticket cost?
Your ticket includes all talks and workshops, plus access to the exhibitor space where you can network, see demonstrations and participate in interactive experiences. Tea, coffee and plant-based biscuits will be provided (gluten free options will also be available). You will need to bring your own lunch, or there will be a plant-based vendor on-site providing lunch options. There are cafes walking distance to the venue, although we suggest organising lunch on-site so you give yourself plenty of time to look around the exhibitor hall.

Do you have a reccommendation on where to stay overnight?
We have teamed up with The Bristol Hotel – Bristols leading hotel, known for their green initiatives and sustainability efforts. The Bristol Hotel have arranged a special discount for attendees of the Summit:

Friday 31^st January 2025 £149 B&B Classic bedrooms single or double occupancy
Saturday 1^st February 2025 £179 B&B Classic bedrooms single or double occupancy
Sunday 2^nd February 2025 £109 B&B Classic bedrooms single or double occupancy 

The rates above are on a per room per night basis and include full English buffet style breakfast, wi-fi, digital newspaper and VAT. Parking is available in the adjacent car park for a fee of £16.00 per night. Upgraded rooms to Deluxes and Suites are available for supplements ranging from £40-£150.

Guests are requested to phone reservations directly on 0117 9230333 – quoting Ocean Advocate Summit to receive the discounted rate.

Where is the Summit being held and how do I get there?
The Summit is taking place at Trinity Centre, Trinity Rd, St Juden’s, Bristol, BS2 0NW. Temple Meads train station is an 17 minute walk away or 6 minute taxi ride. The nearest bus stop is West Street. There is no parking on site.

Do you accept overseas delegates and speakers?
We are focusing on making this a UK-focused event, firstly to celebrate the great work that is being done here (which can often be overlooked in the ocean conservation space), but also to reduce the carbon footprint of the event. We welcome anyone from overseas who can get to us without flying!

 Bex Band is an award-winning adventurer, bestselling author and founder of Love Her Wild and Ocean Advocate. Her previous expeditions include hiking 1000km the length of Israel, kayaking the full width of the UK against plastic pollution and kick-scooting the length of the USA. She was named a Top Inspirational Entrepreneur.

www.bexband.com