The 2025 Ocean Innovation Conference sails into the University of North Carolina Wilmington next week, featuring speakers and sessions expected to be attended by more than 320 participants.

The conference, first held in 2023, is scheduled to take place at UNCW’s Burney Center, starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. 

“The 2025 conference really emphasizes collaboration. The geographic reach of panelists, speakers and attendees is broader than in past years, bringing together expertise from across the region and beyond,” said Lydia Thomas, program manager for UNCW’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, in an email Thursday. “For example, one of the panels, Building the Blue, features blue economy leaders with experience in building blue hubs in Mississippi, Virginia, Michigan and Nevada, and even as far as Norway. A key takeaway from this discussion is learning about how these ‘hubs’ have thrived through collaboration.”

She said the morning keynote speaker, author Deborah Westphal, “will set the tone by challenging the audience to think critically about the decisions shaping our shared future.”

The conference is organized by the CIE and the Alliance for the Blue Economy.

Thomas said this year, organizers have also incorporated the Whova app to allow attendees to connect before, during and after the conference. “So again, another way we are encouraging collaboration, and building lasting connections that turn ideas into impact,” she said.

The luncheon keynote speaker is Shaun Tomson, a world champion surfer, bestselling author and leadership expert with over 20 years of speaking experience, according to the conference’s website, which also lists the day's entire itinerary.

“He developed the Code Method, a transformative framework that empowers individuals and teams to build resilience, foster engagement and lead with purpose. Shaun has inspired organizations like Google, Disney and General Motors through his authentic storytelling and actionable strategies,” the website states.

Thomas said what makes this conference special is "the incredible range of stakeholders in the room, people from different fields, backgrounds and ages, all coming together with a shared passion for the ocean. It’s not just scientists or entrepreneurs; it’s students, educators, policymakers, community leaders and industry experts, all eager to contribute. The energy is contagious because everyone is here for the same reason – to make an impact.”