First Lady Debbie Remengesau Joins First Lady Akie Abe and International Women Leaders to Strengthen Network and Partnership on Ocean Conservation

November 8 – First Lady Debbie Remengesau joined First Lady Akie Abe, The Nature Conservancy’s Global Managing Director Maria Damanaki and Sailors for the Sea – Japan President Minako Iue and a group of dynamic, influential women at the “Leading Women in Ocean Forum” held in Yokohama, Japan on November 6, 2019.

During the one-day event, the leaders discussed dire challenges facing the world’s ocean including fisheries, plastic pollution and illegal, unregulated and unlicensed fishing (IUU) and how women can play a critical role in creating solutions to protect our ocean environment.

Keeping the momentum going, The Leading Women for the Ocean Network was launched during the event. This newly designed platform of the world’s top female leaders aims to bring the leaders together, through the wisdom and power of women, to lead ocean conservation activities to protect and conserve the ocean for generations to come.

First Lady Remengesau, a new member of The Leading Women for the Ocean Network, expressed her appreciation and commitments to bring about change and promote messages of sustainability. “As mothers, we are passionate about providing a good environment to sustain our children and future generations”, First Lady Remengesau stated.

Through the Network, the women leaders plan to convene several times in spring 2020 leading up to Our Ocean 2020 in Palau. 

The “Leading Women in Ocean Forum” successfully brought together, prominent women and men leading conservation efforts, including President/CEO of Pacifico Yokohama Kozue Nakayama, former Indonesia Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Walton Family Foundation Program Officer Teresa Ish and President of Ocean Policy Research Institute SPF Dr. Atsushi Sunami among other distinguished leaders.

The Leading Women for the Ocean Network is founded by First Lady Akie Abe and Maria Damanaki. The event was hosted by the Nature Conservancy and the Sailors for the Sea – Japan powered by Oceana, with support from the Galaxy Entertainment Japan.

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