Professor Ed Hill OBE, Executive Director, National Oceanography Centre
Professor Ed Hill is Executive Director of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC). The NOC is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and UK Research and Innovation, and has a remit to provide UK national capability to undertake and enable large-scale oceanographic sciences from coast to deep ocean. His research background is in physical oceanography where he specialised in the circulation of continental shelf seas, during which time he participated in over 20 research ship expeditions and led half as Chief Scientist.
Professor Hill has served on numerous national and international advisory bodies including the International Steering Group of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the European Marine Board (EMB), the cross-Government UK Marine Science Coordination Committee (MSCC), the Governing Board of the National Centre for Ocean Forecasting (NCOF) and NERC’s Executive Board and Science and Innovation Strategy Board (SISB).
He was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for services to environmental sciences.
Rachael Coccia, Director of Youth Initiatives, The Ocean Project
Rachael Coccia comes from a diverse background of ocean communication. Her past position as Host and Associate Producer of the educational children's show, Aqua Kids, sent her on a path to learn more about the challenges facing our ocean and to effectively engage others in working towards solutions. Rachael then received training and worked for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science while earning an MA in Marine Conservation and Policy from Stony Brook University. Being a true believer that youth are the leaders of today, Rachael is thrilled to be leading The Ocean Project’s youth engagement efforts. Through Youth for the Ocean initiatives including the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council and Sea Youth Rise Up, she helps connect dedicated young people from around the world and works to strengthen their efforts to create a sustainable future for our ocean.
