Hybrid, Europe House - European Commission Representation in Malta, Valletta
As part of the annual IOI Training Programme on Regional Ocean Governance for the Mediterranean, Black, Baltic, and Caspian Seas, held in Malta, the IOI, supported by the European Commission Representation in Malta, hosted its 2024 Special Seminar at Europe House, Valletta.
The seminar was also offered to a global audience joining online as part of the IOI’s programme for its Alumni and other early career Ocean professionals - the IOI Alumni Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme series, offered quarterly through the year.
This year's seminar, titled "From Promises to Practice: Addressing the Disconnect Between Global Ocean Goals and Effective Implementation", was organised in a fireside chat format that encouraged dynamic and interactive discussions, exploring the persistent challenges in translating global Ocean commitments into meaningful actions. It examined systemic barriers such as political inertia, fragmented governance, and the knowledge-action gap, while emphasising solutions grounded in collaborative, inclusive governance frameworks and practical strategies.
The first fireside chat titled "The Gap Between Expectations and Delivery", was moderated by Antonella Vassallo, Managing Director, IOI, and critically analysed the barriers preventing effective implementation of Ocean governance goals. This session set the stage for constructive dialogue by exploring systemic shortcomings and laying the groundwork for actionable strategies. Expert contributors were:
- Abigail Cutajar, CEO of the Climate Action Authority, Malta, who highlighted the policy, financial, and social implications of addressing gaps between global aspirations and practical outcomes, drawing insights from her participation in COP29.
- Alan Deidun, Ocean Ambassador for Malta and Director of the IOI Malta Training Centre, who underscored the concerns around Deep Seabed Mining and the role of education, knowledge and innovative strategies in bridging the gap between commitments and action.
- Margaret Mangion, Director of The Edward de Bono Institute for Creative Thinking and Innovation, who shared perspectives on transformative thinking and creative leadership in fostering new approaches to governance.
The second fireside chat titled "Moving from Rhetoric to Action – Success Stories and Pathways for Change” was moderated by Cosmin Chivu, Project Officer, IOI. This session emphasised practical solutions and success stories, aiming to inspire action by highlighting innovative governance models, the integration of science into policy making, and the importance of community-driven solutions. Speakers included:
- Ludovic Arnaud, Associate Expert (JPO) at UNCTAD, who showcased governance models driving sustainable Ocean economies.
- Rosalyn Kamp, Policy Lead, SOA Malta Hub, who discussed the importance of stakeholder collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches in achieving measurable results.
- Conor Savage, Student Representative from the IOI Malta Class of 2024, who shared insights on the role of early-career Ocean professionals in driving transformative change.
This seminar was attended by the faculty and participants of the Malta Training Programme class of 2024 and provided an opportunity for IOI Alumni and other ECOPs from around the world who joined online.
The Malta Training Programme class of 2024 prepared a powerful message - presented on behalf of the class of 2024 by Aybuke Uysal and Jingping Wang - emphasising that Ocean conservation is not only an environmental issue, but a social imperative. They highlighted education as the cornerstone of the transformative shift needed to protect the Ocean, calling for integrated approaches to inspire change at all levels of society.
The message may be read in full by downloading the file below.
