Women4Oceans has launched an expanded global platform connecting women working across the ocean sector, building its original directory into a space for professional exchange, collaboration and visibility. Developed by The Ocean and Us, the platform had welcomed more than 200 members in over 50 countries following its late September 2026 launch. It brings together expertise from science, conservation, policy, law, technology, business, the blue economy, ocean sports, art and storytelling. The initiative offers a practical response to the persistent difficulty organisations, journalists and event organisers can face when seeking women experts in ocean-related fields.

From Directory To Community

Founded in 2016 by ocean advocate Farah Obaidullah, Women4Oceans began as a Facebook group before developing into an online directory and global network. Its original purpose was to make women working across the sector more visible, while challenging assumptions that there are too few women with relevant expertise to contribute to conferences, media coverage and ocean decision-making.

The newly evolved platform broadens that remit from discoverability to direct connection. Members can create profiles, search the directory, use an interactive map to find peers internationally and communicate with other participants. The format is intended to help make specialist knowledge more accessible across a wide range of professional and creative disciplines connected with the ocean.

Farah Obaidullah, founder of Women4Oceans and The Ocean and Us, said:

“The Ocean is in a perilous state, and we must do everything we can to reverse this trend. Change is possible if we work together. Women4Oceans builds community to accelerate innovation and drive forward solutions. Women have been working to protect the ocean across many fields for generations, yet our expertise and leadership are not always visible. Women4Oceans seeks to change that”

A Place For Shared Expertise

Alongside member profiles, Women4Oceans includes thematic discussion spaces for sharing information and exchanging ideas. Topics currently span the High Seas, coral reefs, polar oceans, the deep sea, the blue economy, ocean art and storytelling, gender equality and ocean governance.

That breadth reflects the many forms of work shaping ocean health, from research and conservation practice to policy, communications and enterprise. By placing these areas within one international community, the platform creates a route for members to discover related work beyond their immediate field or geography.

Members can also post events and opportunities, creating a shared noticeboard for the community. Mentorship and further tools intended to support collaboration are identified as part of the platform’s longer-term development.

Improving Expert Visibility

Women4Oceans is designed not only for its members but also for organisations, journalists, conference organisers and others seeking speakers, collaborators and specialist contributors. The searchable format can help users identify relevant expertise while allowing women to present their work directly to a wider ocean community.

This is particularly useful for panels, interviews and collaborative projects, where a lack of visibility can be mistaken for a lack of available expertise. The platform positions its directory and connection tools as a resource for more representative participation in professional discussions about the ocean.

Stephanie Lerner, Communications Lead at The Ocean and Us, said:

“Whether you’re looking for a speaker for a panel, an expert to interview or someone to collaborate with, finding the right person can be harder than it should be. We want Women4Oceans to make those connections easier, while giving women a place to share their work and discover what others are doing,”

Partner Organisations Extend Reach

To extend participation across the sector, Women4Oceans is working with a network of partner organisations. Its current partners are She Changes Ocean, The Ocean Opportunity Lab, Women Ocean Guardians (WCS), the project Win-Big, The Magenta Project and the Marine Institute in Ireland.

The partner network is intended to help introduce the platform to more women working in ocean-related disciplines and regions. With members already represented across more than 50 countries, the initiative has established an international foundation on which to build further connections.

For organisations seeking more diverse expertise, the platform also provides a focused alternative to informal searches and closed professional networks. It gives the ocean sector a dedicated space in which women’s knowledge, work and leadership can be found more readily.

Community With A Shared Purpose

Women4Oceans’ expansion marks a considered step from a directory towards an active, member-led community. Its combination of searchable profiles, discussion topics, event sharing and direct connections supports both individual visibility and exchange across the sector.

As ocean work increasingly depends on cooperation between disciplines, the platform offers a clear route for women to meet peers, share opportunities and make their expertise available to those shaping public debate and professional action. Women working across the ocean sector are invited to join through the Women4Oceans website.