Bondi Patrol Podcast: Episode 14: Anita Kolni, Founder, Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival

We are all Ocean Lovers!

Anita is a positive, passionate and dynamic change-maker. She is the Founder of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival, an annual celebration of Ideas, Art+Music and Actions, showcasing some of the latest innovations, science, state-of-the-art technology and cool ideas for helping the ocean.

Anita successfully staged the first Ocean Lovers Festival in April 2019 at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach, as a place to provide hope and positive messaging around ocean issues. The Festival attracted around 15,000 people to mainly free events promoting eco and sustainable practices, showcasing global alliances as well as local best practice. After the delivering the 3rd festival in 2023, they achieved a combined total media reach of over 12.5M

Anita championed the Sydney Coast Hope Spot at the inaugural Ocean Lovers Festival with Mission Blue / Sylvia Earle Alliance, to recognise Sydney’s cherished coastline on the international stage. The Festival showcases successful marine projects restoring the coastal ecology, hero’s ocean innovating entrepreneurs and gives a platform to government initiatives, ocean champions, marine scientists and community groups.

Beyond inspiring action and behavioural change, Anita created the festival with a mission to turn ripples of action into waves of change. She is recognised as global connector in the ocean sector for her innovative approach of bringing inspiration and hope for the ocean, and engaging and empowering audiences to accelerate change that positively impacts our world.

In this interview we discuss:

1.     When did you become aware of climate change, the health of our oceans and what did you want to do about it?

2.     How will the oceans and beaches be impacted?

3.     Tell us all about the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival, and the Blue Solutions Summit?

4.     What’s next for Ocean Lovers?

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Bondi Patrol Podcast

Sadly over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year…

So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

You can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com