Welcoming New Fellows to the Ocean Voices Fellowship Programme

Ocean Voices is excited to welcome five new Fellows to its growing community: Beatriz Naranjo-Elizondo, Benit Dorcas Davina Mbiakolo, Renee Richa Hill-Lewenilovo, ‘Elisiva ‘Akau’ola, and Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy. Additionally, two Fellows from the second year of the programme, Kalene Eck and Munshidha Ibrahim, will be continuing their fellowship. Together, these Fellows bring a rich diversity of perspectives across gender, professional backgrounds, and geographic regions, representing countries such as the Maldives, Belize, Fiji, Madagascar, Tonga, Congo, and Costa Rica. 

As the Fellowship Programme continues to flourish, Ocean Voices is proud to foster a supportive community of early-career ocean professionals from low- and middle-income countries and nurture opportunities for professional growth, new networks, and science-policy solutions. The programme is designed to offer sustained professional development that is directed by the unique, self-determined goals of each Fellow, contributing to a more sustainable future for our oceans. 

This year, Ocean Voices will focus on providing Fellows with negotiation knowledge exchange sessions to facilitate connections with ocean science-policy professionals and strengthen their ability to advocate effectively in international governance fora, ensuring their voices are heard on the global stage. The Programme will provide tailored ocean governance training, one-on-one mentorship aligned with their interests, and professional development sessions that reflect each Fellows’ goals. 

To further support their growth, Fellows will be encouraged and supported to attend international conferences, events, and negotiations, connecting with key partners and expanding their professional networks.  

As Ocean Voices enters its third Fellowship year, we are excited to continue nurturing the growth of our Fellows while contributing to a stronger, more connected ocean community.