Evolving from its original directory, Women4Oceans helps women connect and share their work, while making it easier for organisations, media and event organisers to find women with the expertise they need.
In late September 2026, The Ocean and Us launched the newly evolved Women4Oceans platform, expanding its original directory into a global space where women working across the ocean sector can connect, exchange knowledge and discover opportunities. The platform has already welcomed more than 200 members across over 50 countries, reflecting the diversity and global reach of the ocean community. Bringing together women working in science, conservation, policy, law, technology, business, the blue economy, ocean sports, art and many other fields, the network aims to foster connections, encourage the exchange of ideas and open up new opportunities for collaboration.
Founded by ocean advocate Farah Obaidullah in 2016, Women4Oceans began as a Facebook group before growing into a global network and an online directory. The aim was simple: make women working across the ocean sector easier to find, foster connections, and challenge the assumption that there are too few women experts available to speak at conferences, contribute to media coverage, or take part in ocean decision-making.
The new platform builds on that work. Members can create profiles, discover other women through a searchable directory and interactive map, connect directly, and share information in thematic discussion spaces. Discussion topics include the High Seas, coral reefs, polar oceans, the deep sea, the blue economy, ocean art and storytelling, gender equality, ocean governance, and much more.
“The Ocean is in a perilous state, and we must do everything we can to reverse this trend. Change is possible if we work together. Women4Oceans builds community to accelerate innovation and drive forward solutions. Women have been working to protect the ocean across many fields for generations, yet our expertise and leadership are not always visible. Women4Oceans seeks to change that”, says Farah Obaidullah, founder of Women4Oceans and The Ocean and Us.
The platform is designed for women working across ocean conservation, science, policy, business, technology, ocean sports, art and storytelling. It also serves organisations, journalists, conference organisers and others looking for women experts, speakers and collaborators.
“Whether you’re looking for a speaker for a panel, an expert to interview or someone to collaborate with, finding the right person can be harder than it should be. We want Women4Oceans to make those connections easier, while giving women a place to share their work and discover what others are doing,” says Stephanie Lerner, Communications Lead at The Ocean and Us.
Members can also share events and opportunities through the platform. Mentorship and further ways to support collaboration are part of its longer-term development.
Women working across the ocean sector are invited to join at www.women4oceans.org.
Building a network of partner organisations
Women4Oceans is working with a growing network of partner organisations to help spread the word about the platform and reach more women across the ocean sector. Our current partners are She Changes Ocean, The Ocean Opportunity Lab, Women Ocean Guardians (WCS), the project Win-Big, The Magenta Project, and the Marine Institute in Ireland.
