One Ocean Youth Panel

The One Ocean Youth Panel is a group of young people aged 18-28 who are challenging today's decision makers and mobilizing global collaboration and action on key ocean issues. Members of the One Ocean Youth Panel come from all continents of the world and represent a diverse group with different backgrounds and areas of expertise. It includes scientists, activists, students and young leaders from coastal areas, all of whom share a deep affinity and responsibility for the ocean as crucial to our common future.

What is the One Ocean Youth Panel?

The One Ocean Youth Panel was established in 2024 and is inspired by the international ocean panel High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. One Ocean Youth Panel works in line with UN Decade of the Ocean with the goal of a sustainable ocean by 2030, and actively participates in international events such as One Ocean Week and One Ocean Summit, where the panel engages with key stakeholders from different sectors. The panel challenges leaders and politicians to take concrete actions to protect the ocean and promote sustainable solutions. The One Ocean Youth Panel also drafts statements to call for action and mobilize our awareness of ocean-related challenges and solutions.

What does the One Ocean Youth Panel want to achieve?

The One Ocean Youth Panel aims to:

Mobilize for action on critical ocean-related issues.
Promote global collaboration to achieve sustainable solutions.
Raise awareness of the importance of the ocean and the challenges it faces.
Engage young people in decision-making processes and give them a platform to express their views and ideas.

The One Ocean Youth Panel challenges the status quo and calls for more pace in the transition to a sustainable relationship with the Earth. They urge policymakers to prioritize scientific, activist and indigenous voices, highlighting the importance of values such as curiosity, knowledge, open dialogue and collaboration across sectors. The One Ocean Youth Panel calls for accountability from policymakers and emphasizes the need to include young voices in decision-making processes to ensure a sustainable future for the ocean.

Declaration

The One Ocean Youth Panel mobilizes action for the ocean and each year issues an official statement on the situation and recommendations during One Ocean Week.

Download the 2025 declaration "Global Youth Perspectives on Sea Level Rise" here.

Download the 2024 declaration "Young Voices for the Ocean: Our Time to Act!" here.

Contact

For all inquiries and requests for cooperation with One Ocean Youth Panel, write to us via e-mail: ocean.youth@bergen.kommune.no

Watch the video from 2025 and read about all the members below:

Members

Ingeborg Rønning

Norway

Biography

Ingeborg works at Keep Norway Clean, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing littering, with a special focus on marine pollution. She has a master's degree in marine sustainability, where she wrote her thesis on deep-sea mining in Norway, and has experience with research dissemination within sustainability and the ocean. For Ingeborg, the ocean has always been a lifelong companion, connecting her to the world and the incredible marine life. She sees the One Ocean Youth Panel as an arena for global collaboration and knowledge sharing on ocean challenges. Her hope is for a healthy, thriving ocean with a fair distribution of resources.

Laisa Nainoka

Fiji

Biography

Laisa is from Tailevu in Fiji and grew up on Taveuni. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Work, and is currently taking a postgraduate diploma in Development Studies. With a focus on social issues and community development, she is committed to driving positive change and sustainable development in her region. For Laisa, the ocean is deeply connected to her culture and identity. Through the One Ocean Youth Panel, she hopes to promote sustainable practices and ensure that Pacific Island communities are included in global discussions on ocean governance.

Daniel Cáceres Bartra

Peru

Biography

Daniel is a marine biologist, diving instructor and regional representative for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA). With expertise in marine conservation, ocean policy and youth leadership, he is passionate about creating marine protected areas and promoting climate and biodiversity solutions. For Daniel, the ocean is a central part of life, and through the One Ocean Youth Panel, he wants to elevate the voices of young people and work with global leaders to put ocean conservation higher on the agenda. He envisions a future where humanity restores its relationship with the ocean and creates healthy, thriving ecosystems.

Jahawi Bertolli

Kenya / Italy

Biography

Jahawi is a National Geographic Explorer, award-winning filmmaker, musician, photographer and TV presenter. His work focuses on environmental and ocean conservation, using storytelling to highlight the fragility and beauty of ecosystems. For Jahawi, the ocean is a source of inspiration and an essential element of conservation. As part of the One Ocean Youth Panel, he works to raise awareness and drive action for marine and environmental conservation through his storytelling.

Amber LeBlanc

Canada

Biography

Amber is Canadian and hails from the east coast, where she grew up near the ocean. She recently completed a Master's degree in Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University, focusing on microplastics research, particularly in the context of extreme weather events. With a strong interest in science communication and social activism, Amber believes in the power of collective action to create change. For her, the ocean is a central part of both her life and academic interests. Through the One Ocean Youth Panel, she aims to bring young voices into decision-making and promote compassionate leadership to address global challenges.

Miraflor Santos

USA / Philippines

Biography

Miraflor is a PhD candidate in Biological Oceanography at the MIT/WHOI Joint Program, where she researches how phytoplankton respond to climate change. She also has a strong interest in sustainable food systems and the alternative seafood industry. For Miraflor, the ocean is both a professional passion and a personal connection. Through the One Ocean Youth Panel, she wants to contribute to a change in how we relate to the ocean - from exploitation to management. She hopes to inspire responsible and sustainable actions for future generations.

Joshua Steib

Germany

Biography

Joshua Steib is a climate activist from Germany who works on climate action, youth engagement, and generational justice across global political arenas. He has represented youth perspectives at international forums, including as a delegate to the last four UN climate conferences (COP26–COP29) and as a German UN youth delegate to PreCOP26, where he co-authored the Global Youth Position Paper for COP26. As a UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellow, Joshua has developed and implemented a comprehensive youth project on future perspectives together with young people to contribute to UNICEF's annual flagship report, the Global Outlook Report on Children. He produces content for the European Commission as an EU Social Media Influencer and has been one of 30 EU Young Energy Ambassadors, representing his generation at EU level. He has also given keynote speeches at events such as EU Climate Diplomacy Week and TEDx. As an "artivist," he combines music, poetry, and activism, and performs regularly internationally at EU and UN summits. He studied political science at LMU Munich, environmental policy at Harvard University, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Environmental Change & Management as a Keith Murray Fellow at the University of Oxford.

Leno Ignatius

India

Biography

Leno is a coastal indigenous activist from the Mukkuvar community in Kerala. He works with Blue Green Coastal Resources to document indigenous knowledge and promote sustainable fishing practices. He also supports fishermen's movements against destructive fishing and coordinates the Coastal Indigenous Youth Network, which works for a plastic-free marine environment and better opportunities for coastal communities. For Leno, the ocean is inextricably linked to his indigenous identity. As indigenous voices are often overlooked in decision-making processes, he sees the One Ocean Youth Panel as an important platform for representation. He hopes to collaborate with other change agents to build a sustainable and healthy ocean.

Chineye Rebone Chikwado

South Africa

Biography

Chinenye is a feminist and women's rights advocate from West Johannesburg. Since the age of 13, she has been active in civil society, including through the Black Womxn Caucus to combat gender-based violence and femicide. For Chinenye, elevating marginalized voices is crucial. As a member of the One Ocean Youth Panel, she works to promote gender equality and policy change for a more just and inclusive future.

Valentin Brione

France

Biography

Valentin is currently pursuing a Master's degree in International Governance and Diplomacy at Sciences Po, where he is also co-president of the UN Society of Students. His academic focus is in the field of diplomacy, international negotiations and multilateralism to face global challenges. Valentin has already contributed in work on ocean-related topics, including in the run-up to the UN Ocean Conference, where, through seminars organized by the French UN Association, he wrote policy recommendation notes analyzing the role and resilience of multilateralism in ocean protection in light of existing geopolitical tensions. In addition, as Valentin is originally from Nice, where the third United Nations Ocean Conference will be held, ocean protection is close to his heart. In the long run, his ambition is to help overcome international divisions and promote a strong, collective response to the global challenges of the future.

Rofayda Fayed

Egypt

Biography

Rofayda is a student at United World College, with a passion for environmental justice. She has worked with various communities and activists to tackle climate change and sustainability challenges. For Rofayda, the ocean represents both a challenge and an opportunity for global collaboration. She works to contribute to the One Ocean Youth Panel to drive environmental change and support sustainable ocean management.

Members of the One Ocean Youth Panel in Håkonshallen during the One Ocean Summit in 2024. Photo: Ole Henning Bøe

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