Ocean Advocate Summit

Trinity Centre, Bristol

1st Feb, 2025

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.

**SOLD OUT** If you’d like to be added to the waiting list, please email bex@loveherwild.com

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.

See the full schedule HERE.

Speakers

Founder & Director or Mindfully Wired

Deep-sea expert | Science advisor and contributor for BBC Blue Planet II

Award-winning conservation filmmaker | Director of Finally I Sea

Adventurer and multiple SUP World-Record holder | Ocean Activist of the Year 2023

Ocean Conservation Trust| Environmental education and ocean literacy

Student nurse, expedition medic and dive instructor | Founder Blue Bubble Immersive

EDI Manager at Surfers Against Sewage | Founder of Wave Wahines CIC

Marine mammal scientist | Orca Programme Lead for WDC

Founder of Sail Britain | Professional sailor

Brand Manager at OceanSaver

Founder of Ecotribo, ocean plastic pollution products | Award-winning creative director

Blue Health Coach | Outdoor leadership training

Adventurer, conservationist and TEDx speaker | Founder The Matriarch Adventure

Blue Marine Foundation | Specialist in Marine Protected Areas

Founder of Thalassophile Project| EU Young Ocean Advocate

Consultant Anaesthetist | Council Member and Sustainability Lead for the Royal College of Anaesthetists

Marine Biologist and Fish Ecologist | Ocean Optimist

Marine Research and Operations Manager at Operation Wallacea

Artists

Ocean(s) of Relativity

Artist in residence with Convex Seascape Survey and Blue Marine Foundation

Below and Beyond Art

A Plastic Ocean

Exhibitors

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.
You can see the full schedule HERE.

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

Will there be lunch and drinks available?
We’ve got lunch covered! Two fantastic food vendors, The Jamaican Hideaway and Chubby Vegans, will be on-site serving up delicious vegetarian and plant-based meals during the lunch break. Alternatively, feel free to bring your own packed lunch.

Tea and coffee will be provided free of charge, but don’t forget to bring your own thermos flask or mug. And be sure to pack a reusable water bottle—refilling stations are available on both floors.

Plus, thanks to D*MN Good and Ombar, you can enjoy some tasty plant-based snacks, available at the tea and coffee station during the break..

What time will the summit start and end?
The Summit will kick-off at 10am and will wrap up at 5pm.

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!

Summit Team

Catherine Edsell

Catherine Edsell FRGS, is an adventurer, conservationist and global expedition leader. Having worked in some of the remotest areas of the planet, she creates and leads transformational extreme wilderness expeditions. She’s a PADI Divemaster and Reef Check trainer, RYA Day Skipper, a qualified Field Guide of Southern Africa, mountain leader, a yoga teacher, a TEDx Speaker and published author.

www.cathadventure.com

Bex Band

 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