Seagriculture Speaker

About the chair: 

Fionnuala Founded Kelpy in 2021 with a vision to create a seaweed bioplastic alternative to the single use packaging items currently choking our oceans worldwide. With a background in social science, sustainable development and social planning, she was drawn to the positive role seaweed can play in restoring habitats and uplifting communities with regenerative blue economy jobs. She began her life in a small fishing community as a fisherman's daughter and saw first hand the decline in marine habitats and abundance of aquatic species. Fionnuala is passionate about ocean education and conservation working closely with First Nations knowledge holders and school age students to empower the next generation of ocean custodians. With a global network of partners and collaborators, Fionnuala and Kelpy are proud to be piloting our seaweed biopackaging solutions with Unilever and Colgate Palmolive. We aim to replace plastic on every continent with ethically sourced seaweed biopackaging providing sea-to-soil solutions and local level capability in tackling the plastic pandemic.

In the next 1-3 years Kelpy will be engaging with communities affected by the invasive sargassum blooms to valorise this catastrophic inundation into planet friendly biopackaging. We look forward to many more positive outcomes and partnerships with like minded leaders around the world.