One Ocean Week Seattle 2026 Summit
One Ocean Summit
One ocean. One planet. One future.
Maritime Blue is one of the nation's leading innovation cluster organizations for a sustainable blue economy. On October 20, 2026, we're hosting the One Ocean Summit at Bell Harbor Conference Center, the flagship event of One Ocean Week Seattle.
This year, the Summit shifts the conversation from dialogue to Ocean Action. Expect fireside discussions, live music, audience interaction, and media spotlights, built around four themes.
What to expect
Navigating Diplomacy: How sub-national leaders, ports, and ocean clusters maintain climate and decarbonization momentum amid rising global instability and shifting federal priorities.
Unlocking the Flow: Moving beyond philanthropy to derisk ocean tech and blue infrastructure, mobilizing institutional capital at scale.
The Narrative Shift: Confronting the ocean's communications problem and translating complex marine science into mainstream urgency.
Beyond the MOU: What real collaboration looks like, reforming procurement, shared contracting, and joint development projects across sectors.
Who should attend?
Industry executives, policymakers, investors, researchers, Tribal and Indigenous leaders, international delegations, and startups.
DRAFT AGENDA Overview (subject to change)
1:00 pm Opening
1:05 pm Welcome and Summit Framing | Joshua Berger - CEO, Maritime Blue
1:15 pm Opening Remarks
Representatives Julia Reed & Greg Nance, WA State Legislature
Executive Girmay Zahilay, King County (invited)
Mayor Katie Wilson, City of Seattle
Maritime Lead, City of Busan
1:30 pm SESSION 1: Navigating Diplomacy: International Engagement During Geopolitical Unrest
How sub-national regions, ports, and ocean clusters maintain momentum, supply chain security, and climate commitments amidst rising global conflict and shifting US federal priorities.
Amanda Fisher - International Affairs, WA Governor Ferguson
Commissioner Sam Cho - Port of Seattle
Hyongmo Jeon - Director General, Korean Ministry of Oceans
Suzanne Johnson - Sr. Advisor for Maritime, UN Global Compact (invited)
2:00 pm SESSION 2: Unlocking the Flow: Bridging the Ocean Finance Gap with Impact Capital
How do we derisk ocean tech and blue infrastructure with impact capital to mobilize mainstream private equity, pension funds, and institutional capital at scale?
Aina Abiodun, CEO, VirtueLab
Gabriel Scheer - Sr. Director, Elemental Impact
Josh Cavanaugh, Board Member, The Russell Family Foundation
2:30 pm Mid-Point Reset: Video & Interactive Audience Pulse
2:45 pm SESSION 3: The Narrative Shift: Why Aren't Ocean and Maritime Issues Widely Known or Engaged?
Addressing the ocean's "PR problem." How media, tech platforms, pop culture, and storytellers can translate complex marine climate science into compelling mainstream narratives and economic urgency.
Lisa Stiffler - Journalist, Geekwire
Ricky Rhodes - Filmmaker and UN Division of Ocean Communications
David Hume - The Liquid Grid
3:15 pm SESSION 4: Beyond the MOU: What Does REAL Collaboration Look Like?
Shifting from dialogue to joint execution. A tactical discussion on reforming procurement, shared contracting, market-push initiatives, and Joint Innovation Projects (JIPs) across sectors.
Joshua Berger - CEO, Maritime Blue
Abigail Struxness - VP of Sustainability, SSA/Carrix
Marcelino Alvarez - CEO/Founder, Photon Marine
3:45 pm Call to Action & Closing
Closing remarks tying the afternoon's insights into the PNW as a Global Hub for Blue Economy and ongoing One Ocean Week initiatives.
4:00 pm Adjourn