Thanks for joining us at
Blue Economy
and Sustainable Islands Forum
We look forward to seeing you at the Virtual Island Summit!
About the event
At the Blue Economy and Sustainable Islands Forum in Madeira, Portugal, we explored the potential of sustainable ocean-based industries to drive economic growth while preserving the health of our planet, and our attendees were part of the conversation on building a sustainable blue economy for the future.
This exciting event brought together industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and experts to share insights and innovative solutions for financing blue economy projects. Through engaging panel discussions, informative keynote speeches, and interactive networking opportunities, participants gained a deep understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges facing the blue economy sector.
With a focus on sustainable development, the Blue Economy and Sustainable Islands Forum provided a platform for stakeholders to collaborate and discuss the role of finance in supporting ocean-based industries that promote economic growth and environmental stewardship.
Event Venue
The event was held at the Fórum Machico in the Madeira island in Portugal. Some of our team members were present at the venue: James Ellsmoor, Kata Magyar & Maria J. Aguiar.
Photo Gallery
Thank you for joining us in Madeira for the Blue Economy and Sustainable Islands Forum. We had 2 wonderful days of sharing insights and innovative solutions for sustainable ocean-based industries in island communities!
Attendees
Sessions
Networking Sessions
Meet the Speakers
João Fonseca Ribeiro
Former General Director of Sea Policies of the Government of Portugal
Founder & Partner of Blue Geo Lighthouse, Lda. (www.bigle.pt)
Naval Officer by background, former Director-General Maritime Policy for Portugal, and currently entrepreneur with projects and consultancy on Ocean and Coastal Zones development and sustainability.
João Fonseca Ribeiro
Former General Director of Sea Policies of the Government of Portugal
Founder & Partner of Blue Geo Lighthouse, Lda. (www.bigle.pt)
Naval Officer by background, former Director-General Maritime Policy for Portugal, and currently entrepreneur with projects and consultancy on Ocean and Coastal Zones development and sustainability.
Former General Director of Sea Policies of the Government of Portugal
Mafalda Freitas
Regional Director for the Sea, Government of Madeira
Mafalda Freitas is a marine biologist, with a Msc in Business Administration (Management of MPA’s). Since 2020, she assumed the Regional Directorate for the Sea (DRM) of the Madeira Government, working in ocean governance, sustainable blue economy, marine spatial planning, deep sea resources and ocean literacy and representing the Madeira Government in several consultative commissions. The mission of DRM is to propose regional policies for the sea of Madeira Outermost Region and to coordinate the development of the Madeira Blue Economy Strategy, considering the valorization and sustainability of marine resources and the exploration, preservation and research of the sea.
Mafalda Freitas
Regional Director for the Sea, Government of Madeira
Mafalda Freitas is a marine biologist, with a Msc in Business Administration (Management of MPA’s). Since 2020, she assumed the Regional Directorate for the Sea (DRM) of the Madeira Government, working in ocean governance, sustainable blue economy, marine spatial planning, deep sea resources and ocean literacy and representing the Madeira Government in several consultative commissions. The mission of DRM is to propose regional policies for the sea of Madeira Outermost Region and to coordinate the development of the Madeira Blue Economy Strategy, considering the valorization and sustainability of marine resources and the exploration, preservation and research of the sea.
Regional Director for the Sea, Government of Madeira
Hon. Steven Myers
Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, Prince Edward Island
Steven Myers was first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, 2019, and 2023. In May 2019, Myers was appointed Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy. In February 2021, Myers was sworn in as Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.
Steven has served as Leader of the Opposition, Opposition House Leader and Opposition Critic for Education, Economic Development and Tourism, Transportation, and Rural Development. As Opposition Education Critic, he was instrumental in helping prevent the closure of several schools across Prince Edward Island, including Georgetown Elementary.
Steven’s community involvement includes being Past-President of Cardigan Minor Ball and Montague Minor Hockey, Chair of the Cardigan Ball Field Renovations Committee and the 2011 Midget Female Atlantics Host Committee, as well as a Board Member of the Cardigan Communities Development Association and the PEI Minor Hockey Council.
Steven has four children, Brad, Luke and twins Mila and Arthur, and lives with his partner Sheryl in Burnt Point.
Steven was re-elected as the MLA for District 2, Georgetown- Pownal, on April 3rd, 2023.
Hon. Steven Myers
Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, Prince Edward Island
Steven Myers was first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, 2019, and 2023. In May 2019, Myers was appointed Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy. In February 2021, Myers was sworn in as Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.
Steven has served as Leader of the Opposition, Opposition House Leader and Opposition Critic for Education, Economic Development and Tourism, Transportation, and Rural Development. As Opposition Education Critic, he was instrumental in helping prevent the closure of several schools across Prince Edward Island, including Georgetown Elementary.
Steven’s community involvement includes being Past-President of Cardigan Minor Ball and Montague Minor Hockey, Chair of the Cardigan Ball Field Renovations Committee and the 2011 Midget Female Atlantics Host Committee, as well as a Board Member of the Cardigan Communities Development Association and the PEI Minor Hockey Council.
Steven has four children, Brad, Luke and twins Mila and Arthur, and lives with his partner Sheryl in Burnt Point.
Steven was re-elected as the MLA for District 2, Georgetown- Pownal, on April 3rd, 2023.
Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, Prince Edward Island
Dr. Teófilo Cunha
Regional Secretary for Sea and Fisheries, Madeira
Born in Venezuela, on January 26, 1969. He did primary education ( 1st Cycle of Basic Education ) at the São Jorge Primary School. He attended the Jaime Moniz High School from the 8th to the 12th year.
He has a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto – 1991/1996.
1997/2000 – Beginning of pharmaceutical activity, in community pharmacy, in Porto ( Farmácia Mafalda ) and in the city of Maia ( Central Pharmacy of Catassol ).
In 2000 he returned to Madeira and continued his professional pharmaceutical activity, in Funchal (Farmácia do Bom Jesus).
2002/2004 did a postgraduate course in Viticulture and Oenology, at the Escola Superior de Biotechnology at the Catholic University, Porto.
Elected president of the São Jorge Parish Council, with an absolute majority, in 2009.
Elected deputy to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, in 2011
Re-elected president of the São Jorge Parish Council, in 2013, a position he would abdicate because he was elected mayor of Santana.
Elected Mayor of Santana, in 2013, with an absolute majority.
Re-elected Mayor of Santana, in 2017.
Dr. Teófilo Cunha
Regional Secretary for Sea and Fisheries, Madeira
Born in Venezuela, on January 26, 1969. He did primary education ( 1st Cycle of Basic Education ) at the São Jorge Primary School. He attended the Jaime Moniz High School from the 8th to the 12th year.
He has a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto – 1991/1996.
1997/2000 – Beginning of pharmaceutical activity, in community pharmacy, in Porto ( Farmácia Mafalda ) and in the city of Maia ( Central Pharmacy of Catassol ).
In 2000 he returned to Madeira and continued his professional pharmaceutical activity, in Funchal (Farmácia do Bom Jesus).
2002/2004 did a postgraduate course in Viticulture and Oenology, at the Escola Superior de Biotechnology at the Catholic University, Porto.
Elected president of the São Jorge Parish Council, with an absolute majority, in 2009.
Elected deputy to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, in 2011
Re-elected president of the São Jorge Parish Council, in 2013, a position he would abdicate because he was elected mayor of Santana.
Elected Mayor of Santana, in 2013, with an absolute majority.
Re-elected Mayor of Santana, in 2017.
Regional Secretary for Sea and Fisheries, Madeira
Director of Policy and Planning, Prince Edward Island Energy Corporation
Policy Officer, Associação Natureza Portugal - WWF Portugal
Rui Sabino
CEO, ESRI Portugal
Senior Executive with large experience in Strategic Planning, Sales, Marketing & Technical Management. Recognized as an expert in ICT & Geospatial knowledge, mixing together an objective-driven attitude with a long-term vision nurtured by continuous research and curiosity, always focused on problem solving and organizational growth. As also in his career a long experience as ICT Senior Consultant for major Financial Services companies in Portugal with more than 15 years of experience in Project Management.
Graduated in ICT Management from Universidade Lusófona and an MBA in Corporate Management from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, added also to Academic path a Post-Graduation in Project Management from Instituto Bissaya Barreto and a specialization in Business Strategy from Harvard Business School.
Working with Esri Portugal since 2006 a leading company in Geographic Information Systems in Portugal.
Rui Sabino
CEO, ESRI Portugal
Senior Executive with large experience in Strategic Planning, Sales, Marketing & Technical Management. Recognized as an expert in ICT & Geospatial knowledge, mixing together an objective-driven attitude with a long-term vision nurtured by continuous research and curiosity, always focused on problem solving and organizational growth. As also in his career a long experience as ICT Senior Consultant for major Financial Services companies in Portugal with more than 15 years of experience in Project Management.
Graduated in ICT Management from Universidade Lusófona and an MBA in Corporate Management from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, added also to Academic path a Post-Graduation in Project Management from Instituto Bissaya Barreto and a specialization in Business Strategy from Harvard Business School.
Working with Esri Portugal since 2006 a leading company in Geographic Information Systems in Portugal.
CEO, ESRI Portugal
David O’Sullivan
Our Shared Ocean - Programme Manager, Marine Institute of Ireland
David is from Ireland, a relatively small but formidable island in the Northeast Atlantic. He is a Marine Biologist and has been with Ireland’s Marine Institute for over 12 years across a number of sections.
Initially working with the Pelagic Fisheries team his research involved mapping of commercial fish stocks and larval transportation models, which contributed to sustainable management and provided practical advice on marine-spatial planning.
After moving to INFOMAR, Ireland’s national seabed mapping programme, he developed the value-added and education program to help translate complex seabed mapping data to a range of audiences. He has completed multiple offshore and onshore surveys including hydrographic, geophysical, fisheries and biological exploration. The latter included 152 ROV dives as Chief Scientist of a high impact, marine biodiversity assessment project, the EMFF Offshore Reef Survey ‘SeaRover’, which supported marine management and planning decisions in Ireland.
David was recently appointed Manager of Our Shared Ocean, a new programme to support research, knowledge exchange and capacity building in partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and it is about this programme that he is delighted to speak to you today.
David O’Sullivan
Our Shared Ocean - Programme Manager, Marine Institute of Ireland
David is from Ireland, a relatively small but formidable island in the Northeast Atlantic. He is a Marine Biologist and has been with Ireland’s Marine Institute for over 12 years across a number of sections.
Initially working with the Pelagic Fisheries team his research involved mapping of commercial fish stocks and larval transportation models, which contributed to sustainable management and provided practical advice on marine-spatial planning.
After moving to INFOMAR, Ireland’s national seabed mapping programme, he developed the value-added and education program to help translate complex seabed mapping data to a range of audiences. He has completed multiple offshore and onshore surveys including hydrographic, geophysical, fisheries and biological exploration. The latter included 152 ROV dives as Chief Scientist of a high impact, marine biodiversity assessment project, the EMFF Offshore Reef Survey ‘SeaRover’, which supported marine management and planning decisions in Ireland.
David was recently appointed Manager of Our Shared Ocean, a new programme to support research, knowledge exchange and capacity building in partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and it is about this programme that he is delighted to speak to you today.
Our Shared Ocean - Programme Manager, Marine Institute of Ireland
Derek Maggs
CEO, The Blue Beat Group
Derek is an ocean lover: sailor (since age of 6), SCUBA diver since 1990, free diver and fascinated by the biosciences of the seas and ocean. His career has been mostly based in Asia (25 years) but returned to Europe in 2021. Having worked for large companies like IBM and SAP as well as startups and SMEs derek has developed a passion for people. He truly believes that with the right selection, culture and support mechanisms people will always outperform their “book” potential.
Derek Maggs
CEO, The Blue Beat Group
Derek is an ocean lover: sailor (since age of 6), SCUBA diver since 1990, free diver and fascinated by the biosciences of the seas and ocean. His career has been mostly based in Asia (25 years) but returned to Europe in 2021. Having worked for large companies like IBM and SAP as well as startups and SMEs derek has developed a passion for people. He truly believes that with the right selection, culture and support mechanisms people will always outperform their “book” potential.
CEO, The Blue Beat Group
Pierre CG Rousseau
Independent Consultant, 3R EcoConsulting
Pierre is an Independent Consultant for Finance and Sustainability. His main clients are large financial institutions, renowned corporations as well new disruptive entrepreneurship initiatives. Indeed, amongst several mandates, he is a Senior Advisor for BNP Paribas and Blunomy, Project Advisor for Deme Group and Senior Advisor to the CEO of innovative nature-based businesses such TerraGrn and Blue Finance. Pierre is also a Senior Associate for Cambridge University For Sustainability Leadership.
Pierre CG Rousseau
Independent Consultant, 3R EcoConsulting
Pierre is an Independent Consultant for Finance and Sustainability. His main clients are large financial institutions, renowned corporations as well new disruptive entrepreneurship initiatives. Indeed, amongst several mandates, he is a Senior Advisor for BNP Paribas and Blunomy, Project Advisor for Deme Group and Senior Advisor to the CEO of innovative nature-based businesses such TerraGrn and Blue Finance. Pierre is also a Senior Associate for Cambridge University For Sustainability Leadership.
Independent Consultant, 3R EcoConsulting
Hendrik Tiesinga
Climate Tech Innovation & Investment
Hendrik is a leader in the global climate solutions movement. He is the founder of Climate Edge a climate tech innovation studio. He previously was the co-founder and chief strategy officer of New Energy Nexus, the world’s largest clean energy startup accelerator. In 2008 he part of the founding team of the Finance Innovation Lab, the first ESG focused innovation lab and accelerator in London.
Hendrik has over 20 years of expertise in ESG, climate and clean tech investing, supporting startups, and building innovation programs and ecosystems. Throughout his career he has reviewed and engaged with hundreds of startups in the clean-tech space, and is a frequent keynote speaker on clean tech, climate solutions and building innovation ecosystems.
Hendrik is the publisher and editor of “Accelerate This: a Super Non-Boring Guide to Startup Accelerators and Clean Energy Entrepreneurship” as well as “Labcraft; How Social Labs Cultivate Change Through Innovation and Collaboration”. He was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley.
Hendrik Tiesinga
Climate Tech Innovation & Investment
Hendrik is a leader in the global climate solutions movement. He is the founder of Climate Edge a climate tech innovation studio. He previously was the co-founder and chief strategy officer of New Energy Nexus, the world’s largest clean energy startup accelerator. In 2008 he part of the founding team of the Finance Innovation Lab, the first ESG focused innovation lab and accelerator in London.
Hendrik has over 20 years of expertise in ESG, climate and clean tech investing, supporting startups, and building innovation programs and ecosystems. Throughout his career he has reviewed and engaged with hundreds of startups in the clean-tech space, and is a frequent keynote speaker on clean tech, climate solutions and building innovation ecosystems.
Hendrik is the publisher and editor of “Accelerate This: a Super Non-Boring Guide to Startup Accelerators and Clean Energy Entrepreneurship” as well as “Labcraft; How Social Labs Cultivate Change Through Innovation and Collaboration”. He was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley.
Climate Tech Innovation & Investment
Brad Colwill, CPA, CA
Chief Executive Officer, Innovation PEI
Brad Colwill received his Chartered Accountant designation in 2007. He is a graduate of the University of Prince Edward Island, where he also assumed a teaching role as a sessional lecturer.
Brad Colwill began his career in public service in 2009. Since that time, he worked in a variety of roles in business development and finance until 2015 when he moved to the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning. There, he served as chief executive officer of PEI Student Financial Assistance Corporation, then executive director of Finance and Post-secondary Education until 2017 when he assumed the role of deputy minister for the department.
In May 2019, Brad was appointed Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Change and later became the Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action where he held that role until August 2023 when he became Chief Executive Officer of Innovation PEI.
As CEO, Brad works with the Innovation PEI team to achieve the goal of building a vibrant, diverse and growing economy in Prince Edward Island. He takes pride in seeing Island businesses foster innovation and achieve sustainable success in today’s business environment.
Born in Northam, Prince Edward Island, Brad now resides in Stratford with his wife and three children.
Brad Colwill, CPA, CA
Chief Executive Officer, Innovation PEI
Brad Colwill received his Chartered Accountant designation in 2007. He is a graduate of the University of Prince Edward Island, where he also assumed a teaching role as a sessional lecturer.
Brad Colwill began his career in public service in 2009. Since that time, he worked in a variety of roles in business development and finance until 2015 when he moved to the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning. There, he served as chief executive officer of PEI Student Financial Assistance Corporation, then executive director of Finance and Post-secondary Education until 2017 when he assumed the role of deputy minister for the department.
In May 2019, Brad was appointed Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Change and later became the Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action where he held that role until August 2023 when he became Chief Executive Officer of Innovation PEI.
As CEO, Brad works with the Innovation PEI team to achieve the goal of building a vibrant, diverse and growing economy in Prince Edward Island. He takes pride in seeing Island businesses foster innovation and achieve sustainable success in today’s business environment.
Born in Northam, Prince Edward Island, Brad now resides in Stratford with his wife and three children.
Chief Executive Officer, Innovation PEI
Alderman of the City Council of Machico
Executive Senior Manager, Sociedade de Desenvolvimento da Madeira
Our Partners & Sponsors
Thank you to our Partners & Sponsors for participating and supporting the event.
Câmara Municipal de Machico is the municipal body of this municipality and it is responsible for promoting the development of the municipality in all areas of life, such as health, education, social action and housing, the environment and basic sanitation, land use planning and urbanism, transport and communications, public supply, sport and culture, consumer protection and civil protection.
Madeira Promotion Bureau
The Madeira Promotion Bureau (AP Madeira) is a non-profitable association founded in August 2004 by a public entity and a private entity – the Regional Tourism Board and the Funchal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The association was born out of the need to create an entity which together with the Regional Tourism Board (DRT) would work exclusively on the promotion of the Madeira destination.
This association comprises a group of members whose activity is mainly directed to tourist activities. The creation of synergies between AP Madeira and its members is increasingly relevant in the promotion of our destination, enabling a more assertive communication and creating relations of trust which make it easier for both parties to develop activities.
Ultimately, AP Madeira aims at being an institution that conveys all the charm that Madeira and Porto Santo have to offer to their visitors.
By presenting these islands as a destination for experiences all year round, this association seeks to simultaneously develop a set of measures that boost the diversification of the offer that the destination presents, as well as ease the access to those who are interested in visiting us.
ECOS MACHICO is a project financed by European funds, promoted in cooperation between the Machico Town Hall and the Insular Geography Association, since January 2021. This develops a unique combination of Knowledge, Monitoring and Innovation, in response to the current requirements for the sustainability of the territory, in a context of evolution in the environmental, social and economic domain.
Europe Direct Madeira is a member of the Europe Direct network in Portugal, which, in turn, is part of a community of centers on a European scale. The centers make Europe accessible to people and lead them to participate in debates on the future of the EU. The network is managed by the European Commission.
After our successful projects in The UK, Egypt and in Bangladesh, our organisation is expanding its services to help grow impact and grow a community of impact-makers in other locations with less access to business development opportunities and support.
Many remote places have great potential to become incredible impact hubs; however, both local and international entrepreneurs or companies wishing to implement their ideas in such locations struggle with investment, bureaucracy & local legislation, networking & connecting to the right people, just to name a few.
The United Nations marks World Oceans Day each year on 8 June through an annual event coordinated by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (Office of Legal Affairs).
The inclusive event provides an opportunity to celebrate the importance of the ocean and to better understand how to interact with it in a sustainable manner.
MARE-Madeira is one of seven regional research units comprising Portugal’s Marine and Environmental Research Centre (MARE), a national centre for research, technological development and innovation. MARE-Madeira is hosted by the Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation (ARDITI), a non-profit organisation that supports research and innovation, promotes scientific and technological training and contributes to the development of Madeira.
ARDITI
The Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation – ARDITI, aims to support research and experimental development activities, the promotion of technological diffusion, training and scientific and technical information, as well as actions that contribute to the modernization and development of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (RAM). This support will be in line with the Region’s economic and social development plan, in particular with a view to ensuring the sustainability of economic growth and employment in the Region. This plan promotes a new paradigm of development policies based on innovation, entrepreneurship and the knowledge society, thus guaranteeing a significant increase in the population’s educational and training levels and, simultaneously, an increase in social cohesion.
The World Ocean Council (WOC) is a global, cross-sectoral ocean industry leadership alliance committed to “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”, developed by and for the private sector, with a unique and multi-sectoral approach to address cross-cutting issues affecting ocean sustainable development, science and stewardship of the seas.
The WOC believes that responsible and coordinated Ocean Business Community efforts are essential to a healthy and productive global ocean and its sustainable use, development and stewardship by a responsible Ocean Business Community.
To this end, the WOC engages and brings together leaders from the various ocean industries, including shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, renewable energy (wind, wave, tidal), ports, dredging, cables, as well as the maritime legal, financial and insurance communities, and others to collaborate on responsible use of the seas. We ensure that the Ocean Business Community’s role in ocean sustainable development is understood by all relevant stakeholders (decision makers, policy makers, intergovernmental bodies etc.).
The WOC is growing steadily, as an increasing number and range of ocean industry companies from around the world are distinguishing themselves as leaders in “Corporate Ocean Responsibility” by joining the WOC. More broadly, the continually expanding global WOC network includes 35,000+ ocean industry and media stakeholders around the world.
Startup Madeira More Than Ideas…
Business incubator, ideation and acceleration programs and continuous support to regional entrepreneurs are part of our strategy.
Since 1997, and currently under guardianship of the Secretary of Regional Economy, we act as facilitating entity and contact point of the regional entrepreneur ecosystem, supporting the creation and development of entrepreneurial projects with innovating potential.
Startup Madeira is the company legal name adopted in 2016 in order to keep up with the nationally designed strategy – Startup Portugal program and National Incubator Network, similar to our counterparts, that adopted the designations of Startup Lisboa, Startup Braga and Startup Sintra.
Besides supporting local entrepreneurs and companies, over the last years, Startup Madeira has been working on the development of international projects in the areas of Blue Economy and Tourism, having inclusively, developed a program to promote Madeira as a digital nomads destination.
Remote Eastcoasters was birthed in the end of 2019 following the initial hearing of the concept of the first Digital Nomad Village in Madeira – Ponta do Sol.
Dina de Freitas´curiosity as to what was the stir and why not Machico started rooting thoughts in her mind. After much deliberation and research she managed to contact Goncalo Hall (entrepreneur / founder) and Carlos Lopes (CEO Startup Madeira).Goncalos approach to creating a community was the foundation of a nomad village. Dina then found Sandra Gouveia ( local freelancer/ copywriter) and together the very first whatsapp group Eastcoasters was found. Today it is Remote Eastcoasters. ( aka REC) and without hesitation the approach of starting a Digital Nomad Village in Machico, Madeira began.
A vision in her mind to bring about noticeable impact in Machico with locals and remote workers she began. Building a strong foundation was the challenge, and building a community from scratch was no easy task either. Dina as an AL property manager started to invite guests that she would check- in into their various apartments asking questions whether they were digital nomads or just nomads, and if they wanted to hangout for some drinks or a coffee. From 2 members to 5 and then 15. REC began to show growth.It felt like family. Organizing the first yoga session on the beach once a week, inviting people into the whatsapp chat and slowly and organically the word spread and the chat group grew. Digital Nomads Madeira then added our community on their website, opening up Machico as another Digital Nomad Village of Madeira.it was official.
Various activities started to take shape from Fitness twice a week, yoga, hiking, potlucks, community lunches just to name a few. And eventually Nomads started to offer workshops and together this community was established.
Today 2023 with 370 members and growing we have been able to see the rewards of consistency and effort. Today we have digital nomads of all job descriptions from all over the world come to stay in Machico. The impact is clear and the vision to create connections and integrate locals with remote workers is apparent.
Dina has since started a Non Profit Organisation Amparo Nomad Cultural Experience to create further impact and fundamental advancements to gain funding or donations for The Workspace and members who are committed to this project.
The Association aims to integrate digital nomads, remote workers, entrepreneurs, visionaries, freelancers, artists, foreign community and others interested in this theme in the ecosystem of Madeira Island, their interaction, sharing of knowledge and experiences with the local community and this with those, promoting growth and innovation in the digital, social and cultural area. The pillars of the association will be personal development, physical and mental well-being, social responsibility, and inclusion through the development of activities, which include, but are not limited to:
- the development of sports activities and physical and mental well-being
- the development of social responsibility, charitable, and non-profit initiatives and events
- the assistance to local organizations in post-pandemic and other similar situations that require assistance
- the promotion of regional products and articles ‘made in Madeira’
- the development of activities to promote Madeira to the community, such as
- the creation of digital and non-digital content, workshops and knowledge sharing at events
- the promotion of local art and culture.
Our goal is to educate over the protection of our marine life in the waters’ of the Madeira archipelago through educational campaigns, workshops, events in collaboration with local artists. We also participate in regular beach clean ups every year.
In 2020 thanks to the SOA microgrants we started a campaign to try to eliminate single use plastics by creating our reusable cups with designs of local sea animals in collaboration with local artists, to disponibilize in bars and events.
We hosted 2 educational campaigns in 2021 and 2022 focusing mainly on 2 species being respectively : the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) through a campaign aiming to reduce the rate of bycatch in the fishing nets, and the very endangered mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). The 2021 campaign concerning the loggerhead sea turtle was also funded thanks to the SOA Microgrants.
Since the summer 2022 we are also helping in turning Madeira into a Whale Heritage Site, an iniciative created by the World Cetacean Alliance, to “formally recognise and accredit destinations around the world that support and demonstrate the importance of cetaceans and their ocean habitats” (quote From the Whale Heritage Sites website)
Also, as of September 2022, we are in the process of publishing a petition for the Madeiran and Portuguese government to vote in favor of a moratorium on deep sea mining. This petition should be turned public by February 2023.
Marine encounters since 2003. We stand for Water, Whales, Whale Watching, Whale conservation, Wellness and for Welcome. Lobosonda has been offering whale-watching tours in the southwestern waters of Madeira Island since 2003. As a responsible whale-watching company we see our work as so much more than simply running a business. We deem it a precious gift to enjoy the opportunity of meeting these wonderful animals out in the open ocean and it is an absolute pleasure to share these moments with our guests and raise awareness for the protection of our precious marine life.
WWF Portugal | ANP is a Portuguese non-profit ONG that works in alignment with WWF’s global vision and strategy.
ANP | WWF mission is to conserve national biodiversity and forest ecosystems, protect marine biodiversity and promote the sustainability of fisheries, the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and their water resources. ANP | WWF also intervenes on the topic of climate change and the promotion of sustainable consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can learn from world-leading experts from diverse backgrounds about the latest projects being deployed for the blue economy in island communities. Each session will be interactive with opportunities to ask questions and make connections. This year we are expanding to have even more features!
We are continually adding more speakers and sessions! If you would like to nominate a speaker click here.
We have limited opportunities for sponsors of specific sessions or the event as a whole. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please click here.
We always welcome ideas! Please get in touch.
