Summary
REV Ocean has an ambitious yet simple goal – to ensure ‘One Healthy Ocean’. The ocean is a dynamic, interconnected global ecosystem that can recover if the negative pressures currently affecting the ocean are dealt with effectively. To do that, we need to improve our understanding of the ocean, get key stakeholders – decision-makers, researchers, business and civil society – aligned with that understanding and turn that knowledge into concrete solutions. To fulfil this goal, REV Ocean was established as a not-for-profit in July 2017, funded by Norwegian businessman Kjell Inge Røkke as a result of Mr. Røkke signing the Giving Pledge in 2017. REV Ocean will enable a new generation of ocean solutions and raise awareness of global impacts on the marine environment, focusing on 3 priority areas: 1) Plastic Pollution, 2) Climate change and ocean acidification and 3) Overfishing and environmental impacts of fishing. REV Ocean’s activities will be centred around research, innovation and communication projects to be undertaken on board the REV Ocean vessel (under construction in Norway). Once the vessel is operational, the research and expedition programme will be developed through a globally-open call for proposals for ship time. Amongst the key equipment already available for use are the 6000 m rated ROV Aurora, which did a first research cruise to explore deep hydrothermal vents under permanent ice cover in the Arctic in 2021, and the new Triton 7500/3 submersible Aurelia being launched in Barcelona at the end of April. Aurelia is the world’s deepest diving acrylic hulled submersible, with the capacity to take 3 people to depths of 2,286 m. REV Ocean will work closely with its sister organisation HUB Ocean, which hosts the Ocean Data Platform, to ensure that all collected data is available in open access, facilitating the transformation of scientific data and knowledge into concrete solutions for the ocean.
Brief biography
Nina Jensen is a champion of global environmental conservation and is currently the CEO of REV Ocean. She has a passion and commitment for the ocean and a proven track record of making a positive impact over a 20-year career. Inspired by witnessing threats to the ocean, she is now dedicated to ocean conservation and finding global sustainable solutions. As Secretary-General of WWF Norway, Nina was an active campaigner for defending the health of Norwegian waters and has fronted WWF's long-standing work of promoting robust marine protection laws. She was also an early advocate for the Norwegian Oil Fund to withdraw from coal and instead invest in renewable energy. Due to her tireless efforts as a prolific environmental crusader, she was appointed as a Young Global Leader in March 2014 by the World Economic Forum. Nina holds a Master’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of Fishery Science in Tromsø and has studied communications and marketing at Ogilvy& Mather. She is a Board member of The Business for Peace Foundation, Aker Offshore Wind, Aker Carbon Capture, The Norwegian Brain Tumor Association, Project Energy Reimagined, OceanWise and Hub Ocean. She is also a proud member of the Friends of Ocean Action, an Advisor to the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and a Jury member of the Postcode Lotteries Green Challenge. Nina is born and raised in Oslo, she loves to dive, fish, ski, hike and loves the outdoors.